Three journeys in the public health system and what I learned

By Jan Corcoran. 

Journey One – The beginning 

In 1998 I was the victim of a home invasion. I remember freezing, and my heart beating out of my chest, as the invader came into my bedroom.  

This traumatic event had a huge impact on me, and I believe, caused a stroke a mere six weeks later, followed by another four weeks after that.  

The strokes happened either side of my cerebellum. I had just turned 50. Unfortunately, I had no private health insurance. 

I live in Far North Queensland (FNQ), and at the time there were no neurologists at the Cairns Hospital, so I was under the care of a gastroenterologist.  

It was five weeks of stop and start, and time was wasted in my treatment. Finally, my husband took charge, and he rang a doctor in South Australia who suggested that I needed an MRI. 

The MRI showed that I had had multiple strokes, but I was discharged anyway, without a plan. My husband and I felt lost, so we went back to see my local GP, who managed to organise some rehabilitation for me.   

My rehab was in the Geriatric Clinic at the Cairns Hospital. That was the best they could offer me. Honestly, I didn’t care what it was called. I figured if the clinic could help people in their 80’s, it could help me. I was extremely grateful there was a pathway which could help.  

As we had only moved to Cairns six months prior to my strokes, we were isolated and didn’t know anyone. But that clinic became like a second home for the next year.  

What a way to meet the locals and make friends.  

My experience lit something in my belly, and since my strokes (20 years ago) I have been committed to advocating for stroke patients in FNQ. This fight has become part of my own recovery. Volunteering, running a houeshold, and looking after my husband, have all been challenges that I have embraced. I have seen these activities very much through the lens of rehab. I feel if I am up and about doing things, then that’s rehab. 

My volunteering has led me down a very happy path. I ended up on the Steering Committee for Rights in Action, Advocacy for vulnerable people with disabilities. Initially I was very slow and steady with the work, I couldn’t say a sentence when I started volunteering, I had to type everything, but they made room for me. Now I can talk the leg of a chair. 

Advocating has also provided me with a front seat to watch, and to be part of, the improvements in the public health system in FNQ, and it has been an exciting ride. 

I think back to when I left hospital without a discharge plan, when I desperately needed one. Then I look at today and my heart sings - oh, how things have changed.  

Journey two – The change 

In 2016 my husband, and carer, was diagnosed with prostate and bowel cancer.  

Now we were both in the public health system. He was in and out of hospital having tests, radiation, clinic visits and longer stays in hospital.  

At this time, I was about 80 per cent better, so my brain was able to cope with the role swap. I had learned some valuable lessons to help me advocate in the public health system, which made things a lot easier.  

My hubby’s experience was a lot different to mine, 18 years of improvement in the health system and our hospital had made a huge difference.  

I was in awe of how much support and assistance we received. The team were brilliant. Unfortunately, they ultimately couldn’t save my husband and he passed away in March 2020. 

Cairns Hospital is our hospital, and I am proud of it. I know that regional health care can be behind city-based hospitals. But I am grateful that in Cairns we have a good hospital and a great public health system, which supports our health workers and patients. 

Journey three - Today 

Lately, my health has been going backwards for the first time since my first strokes. It was deteriorating and I felt like my strokes were the underlying cause of it. 

After numerous tests I got my results. I have two rare cancers. 

It may sound dire, but actually it’s not. They are both very slow growing and I hope to die of old age before the cancer gets me. 

I have sticky blood Factor 5 and Hodgkins Lymphoma, no treatment needed just yet, but I have two oncologists and a team waiting in the wings.  

Again, I am indebted to the public health system, and the staff who work in it. Again, Cairns Hospital will become my home away from home.  

At Christmas I had some time to reflect whilst watching the COVID mayhem in other countries, and I thanked my lucky stars that I live in Australia.  

We are all fortunate to have a good public system in place. I want to thank Cairns Hospital, Hinterland and Health Service for supporting ‘FNQueenslanders’. I want to thank them for supporting my family. I have never seen a team work harder to give people back their lives.  

Lastly, here are a few of my tips for self-advocating within the health system.

Take a few deep breaths before you ring the hospital, speak to a staff member or anyone else. Being sick, or supporting a family member who is sick, is bloody stressful. 

Ask questions, ask lots of questions. Even if you think you will sound silly – ask - each and every time, even when people are rushing around.  

If you are waiting for a letter from the hospital and it’s late, ring and ask about your appointment. Don’t wait, your blood pressure will rise and that’s no good for anyone.  

Repeat to yourself, the person on the end of the phone is doing their best and are here to help. They will call back. 

But, if they don’t, keep your cool and ring again, and again and again. Advocacy can be a long game.  

If you’re really unhappy with the service, or you are in crisis and not thinking straight, get an advocate. There are usually social workers at the hospital – use them. 

When you are going to appointments, bring a family member of a friend to write notes, to hold your hand and take you through what was discussed over a cup of tea – after the appointment. 

Don’t put stuff off.  

Jan.