Hi everyone,

I had my first appointment with a surgeon at the Avenue in Melbourne last week. I was so excited to take the first step!

Anyway, because it looks like my health insurance won't be availble until the end of October (was supposed to be April but it's a complicated situation...) he has put me on the public waiting list and said I would be a good candidate for the public list because he would recommend me as healthy and fit (as can be at my weight... :thumbdown:) and if I got called up I would be operated on by one of the private surgeons from the Avenue and at no cost.

So this seems too good to be true! Has anyone else heard of this happening, anyone know what my chances are of being called up for a public place? I thought the public waiting list was years long??? So confused... :eek:

I think its shortened somewhat, due to more surgeons participating. I dont know how long it is though.

So that means, you could be done publically for free and if not, then your health insurance will kick in anyway by october and you'll get done then?

Nothign to lose really, is there? what a bonus.

Thanks Jacqui. Yeah, either way I will be banded by the end of October, so like you say, nothing to lose!

It would be awesome to get it done publically, my poor credit card could do with the reprieve! Either way, I can't wait!

Hey Tully,

My surgeon at the avenue did the same thing - put me on the public list. What I found was once I had made that initial appointment with the surgeon I COULDN'T wait to be called on the list and found the money to pay for it. But seeing as how your insurance doesnt kick in until October, it is probably the best thing you can do. Hope you dont have to wait too long!!

hi i was banded 28th jan this year by jason winnett at

williamstown hospital. i was on the public waiting list for 18 mths and the op didnt cost me a cent,just my drs visits do!! was worth the wait!!

cindie

I started all of this last january so 13 months - as for an appointment with a surgeon though i didn't get that until june and didn't really start the process until august.

I was done on the public health system. It took 2 years from my initial appointment. I was banded in December