What It Cost Me: Endo in the Outback
By Prue Luck
Around 29% of Australians live in a rural or remote area, with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare identifying that access to services in these areas is a key factor which contributes to poorer health outcomes (AIHW, 2018). For those affected by endometriosis in these areas, there is not simply limited access to services, there is often no access whatsoever to specialist endometriosis care, necessitating travel into regional hubs or major cities hundreds of kilometres from home to simply seek an opinion. In this blog we hear from Prue Luck, a pharmacist living on a property in central Queensland, two hours from the nearest regional town. Prue shares her experience of living with endo in the outback and shines a light on a huge added cost associated with her treatment after travelling to Brisbane to get the expert care she needed.
Endometriosis is a multifactorial illness and therefore we as sufferers require help from many different health professionals and medications. This, however, all comes at a price.
In Australia, it has been shown for women to spend on average $30000/year for endometriosis. This includes costs of medications, treatments, doctor’s visits, scans etc, but what this figure does not take into consideration is time and money spent on travel, particularly for rural Australians.
I live in rural Central Queensland on a property which is 45 minutes drive from the nearest town and 2 hours drive away from Rockhampton. In perspective, this is 45 minutes away from a town with a handful of GPs and a pharmacy and 2 hours travel for radiology and allied health such as physio. You may have noticed I have not yet mentioned a gynaecologist. Central Qld does have gynaecologists however none of which have excision of endometriosis as a speciality. This means it is a 7 hour drive away for specialist care of endometriosis in Brisbane.
Rural endo sufferers have the average expense + travel time + time of work to travel + cost of travel and sometimes accommodation. An example of this in full light was my last endometriosis surgery.
What It Cost Me
3 x Gyno consult (pre and post op) $500
1 x Speciality Pelvic Ultrasound $345
Surgeon fee. $3500
Assistant Surgeon fee $350
Anaesthetist $500
Pharmaceuticals (discharge pain meds) $50
Overnight stay in hospital Covered with Private Health
Flight to Brisbane $150
Post op Accommodation $1250
3 weeks sick leave (Me)
2 weeks carers leave (Husband)
Fuel for travel home $200
Food $500
Physiotherapy (Rehab) $150/session
*all fees are after medicare and private health contributions
$7495 + $120/fortnight for private health
For one procedure I was out of pocket just shy of $7500 and it required both myself and my husband to have time off work. Post op there are still check ups to be had and physiotherapy and pharmacotherapy that continue which still require more money and time off work to be outlaid.
I would argue that rural endo sufferers’ expense is felt harder than those who live close to help, however all in all its still a huge burden. Government schemes exist for rural travel subsidy however when applied for, I was informed that endometriosis was not a condition that required specialty care and I could see any gynaecologist through the public health system in Rockhampton instead and be reimbursed $50 for each trip.
This infuriating response from our government does not hold out much hope for us however it has made me incredibly determined to create change and is why I am helping spread awareness this Endometriosis Awareness Month of March.
Prue
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