Hobart mum borrows so she can get surgery done in private system

A Hobart mum has decided borrowing money and forking out almost $20,000 for kidney surgery is better than treading water on the public elective surgery waiting list. ALISON’S STORY >>

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• Funding boost to ease state’s surgery waiting list

A HOBART mum-of-two has decided it is better to pay a whopping medical bill of $19,000 and get the surgery she needs rather than continue to languish on the public elective surgery wait list.

Alison Johnson, 36, who needs a kidney removed, is one of more than 11,000 Tasmanians waiting for operations.

Ms Johnson found out in January, 2019 she had a blocked kidney and it needed to be removed.

“I had no previous health problems but when I was pregnant with my second child it was identified that my kidney could not be saved,” she said.

Alison Johnson with children Elywn Griffiths 1 and Eila Griffiths 3 at home in South Hobart. Alison has been waiting for some time for removal of a kidney that has failed and has now been forced to go through the private health system. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

A stent was put in to drain the kidney and that needs to be removed soon.

After being referred for surgery she joined Tasmania’s public system elective surgery list as a Category 3 patient in April.

Ms Johnson says she is fortunate to be in a position where she could scrape together the money needed to go private.

“I understand I am one person in a big and struggling system but what about those perpetually waiting? We have put ourselves in a vulnerable financial position but I have to look after my health to be able to look after our children,” Ms Johnson said.

Alison Johnson with children Elywn Griffiths 1 and Eila Griffiths 3 at home in South Hobart. Alison has been waiting for some time for removal of a kidney that has failed and has now been forced to go through the private health system. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“I have had great experiences in the public system when having babies but not so with elective surgery. I have been making numerous inquiries by phone and email and getting no answers on when the surgery might go ahead,” Ms Johnson said.

The Tasmanian Government announced last week that the health system would be given a $45m injection to improve elective surgery waiting times.

As part of Thursday’s state budget, the funding will allow for about 8500 elective surgeries to be carried out across the next 18 months.

“I know the system is under a lot of stress and the focus is on getting the urgent elective surgeries through. But it was the lack of communication which tipped me over to go private instead.”