Looking for a medical specialist made easier for regional Australians with new Medical Specialist Search website

Victoria – Australia June 2015

Regional Australians are being forced to wait up to 10 months for a medical specialist appointment if they want to be seen close to home.

A young Wollongong woman was frustrated after being told the next available appointment for a local neurologist was in 8 months. This was despite her GP’s referral, which outlined concerns about her migraines.

Investigations revealed that new patients were waiting at least two months for an initial appointment for specialties including dermatology, paediatrics and obstetrics. It was also revealed that some specialists had temporarily close their appointment books due to overwhelming demand.

According to the latest figures released from the National Health Performance Authority, around one in four adults living in regional areas referred to a medical specialist felt they were waiting longer than acceptable to get an appointment.

Waiting times for specialist appointments was one of the major concerns identified in the new report on the healthcare issues affecting regional areas.

“As a leukaemia survivor who would have died within weeks had my condition gone undiagnosed, this kind of wait to have serious (or even just seriously irritating) medical conditions which impact on quality of life looked at does not sit well with me at all,” says Darren Lemin, now Director of I Need A Specialist, a search engine to help Australians looking for a specialist doctor.  “The reality is there are many medical specialists qualified and available for appointments, but GPs and hospitals often only recommend to their own referral base and don’t look further afield” www.ineedaspecialist.com.au/

“For example, many medical specialists now consult via Telehealth, which aims to remove some of the barriers for Australians who have difficulty getting to a specialist or live in rural and remote areas” Darren added.

When it comes to health, an area where inefficiencies could mean life or death, Darren believed something more should be done to show patients how to see a specialist faster. That’s why he created I Need A Specialist (INAS), a free website that provides a fast and easy way to search for Australia's leading healthcare specialists and request an appointment online.

I Need A Specialist offers full access to Australia's leading healthcare specialists, including those that consult via Telehealth, giving Australians real choice and peace of mind when it comes to selecting the right healthcare specialist for their family. www.ineedaspecialist.com.au/

“We have had many regional patients contact us desperately trying to locate a medical specialist as their health had been deteriorated whilst being on a  waiting list. We have been able to quickly connect these patients to medical specialists via Telehealth. There are many medical specialists on the I Need A Specialist site that only consult via Telehealth, like Dr Rodney Farnbach, an experienced Melbourne Psychiatrist.” Using this method of consulting, Dr Farnbach is now able to treat patients across Australia without leaving his office” says Darren.

Search for and discover how to see a specialist faster at www.ineedaspecialist.com.au/.