When I saw Michael Pritchard last week his secretary mentioned he was booked out for the remainder of the year and she wasn't sure what was happening next year about where he'd be operating from. My Bupa private health coverage doesn't tick over until Feb 17 too so there is alot to think about.
I would be quite happy to have the procedure done by John O'Donnell if possible. I have heard great things regarding John from a friend at Collingwood FC. I am covered now for surgery for my choice of surgeon in a public hospital with a shared room, but I assume John does not do arthroscopy in the public system either.
It is a shame that Michael will not be operating in Melbourne in 2013 as, had I known that that was the case, I would not have organised a consultation with him. Ideally I would prefer not to have to go to Hobart with the added travel, expense and putting my family out. Obviously if there is no other option then I will have to head to Hobart.
Mr Pritchard has specific days for interstate patients to travel to Hobart, and as such they can be seen and have their surgery more quickly than in Melbourne. With only one operating session a month in Melbourne, surgery was booked out months in advance.
Travelling to Hobart for surgery means I can fly to Hobart on a Monday or Wednesday morning, have surgery in the afternoon, stay overnight in the hospital and return to Melbourne the following afternoon.
Therefore............I have decided to see John O'Donnell and have made an appointment on November 1 with surgery likely in Feb/Mar/Apr in Melbourne.
Mr Pritchard's office will get Michael to write me a referral and forward my MRI report to John's office. They offered friendly and helpful service during this experience. Stuffing around with upgrading my insurance and trying to sort out surgery can be a painful process but their lovely attitude to clients like me made it all a hell of a lot easier and I appreciated that and told them.
