Latest news with #GPs
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
‘Well-over six-figures': Young Aussie reveals the grim cost of her health battle
Madeline Lebski went from being financially stable and working full-time, to struggling to pay her bills because she was so sick that she couldn't get out of bed. Ms Lebski was only 27 when she got sick. She went from living in Byron Bay and embracing a healthy lifestyle to being bedridden and unable to go out with her friends, let alone hold down a job. 'I was just feeling a bit burnt out and then I took a month off, and didn't get out of bed for five years,' the now 36-year-old told Ms Lebski never imagined she would become disabled. She had always been healthy with no pre-existing conditions, and her biggest health concern used to be catching the yearly flu. When her health fell apart in 2018, she sought answers, but they weren't easy to obtain and it was also expensive. 'Every GP I went to said I had a virus and to go home and rest. I even showed up at the emergency department once, and they wouldn't admit me, and I said I needed to see a doctor for psychiatric issues,' she said. She was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and, years later in 2022, was diagnosed with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), a condition where certain cells inappropriately release chemical mediators that cause a range of issues. In Ms Lebski's case, the symptoms were brain fog, painful periods, fatigue, nausea, daily headaches, anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Living with that chronic disease was incredibly hard; there was so much 'medical trauma' involved and her whole life became limited overnight. 'I was thinking, will I ever travel again? Will I ever work again? I lost a lot of friendships because you can't go and be social,' she said. 'It is an invisible condition so people don't really understand.' The young Aussie explained that, once she started looking for medical specialists to try and figure out what was happening with her body, the expenses were 'crazy' and became debilitating. 'Medicare didn't cover anything I needed. It didn't cover much of the specialist appointments or alternative therapies,' she said. 'The financial stress of it exacerbates the condition. If you're in a stressful of a state you can't focus on being well.' Ms Lebski did everything she could to self-fund the cost of her ill-health. She even sold her perfume business for $80,000. 'I ended up selling my business because I needed the money. I sold that and it paid for me to exist for the next 18 months,' she said. When that cash ran out, she turned to Centrelink, but she wasn't eligible for payments because she lived with her boyfriend. 'I was at my wits end. I remember just breaking down on the phone to Centrelink. My partner earned like $60,000 at the time, and they were like 'It is too bad, there's nothing we can do'.' she said. The rub was that a $60,000 salary was barely enough to support two people, let alone when one of those people needed to attend special appointments that could cost over $600 per hour. 'I made multiple attempts at trying to get on Centrelink, at one point, my parents were like, 'what if you study online?' Just so I could basically get Centrelink.' She completed a graphic design course that cost $5000, making her eligible for Centrelink, and received some income for a period. However, she is not sure if it was worth it. The cash flow helped at the time, but she was left with a $5000 debt at the end of it. Things got so dire that her parents had to dig into their own funds reserved for their retirement to keep her afloat. 'They've had to use their personal savings (including) getting money out of their superannuation,' she said. 'It is hard because they're in their early 70s, they've worked incredibly hard, and this is a period of life where they should be able to enjoy that,' she said. Ms Lebski said, 'as a family, we would have easily spent well-over six-figures' just on her health, and she even moved back to her home state of Tasmania to get more support from her family. It has been seven years since Ms Lebski's health declined, and she's finally in a place now where she can work full-time and manage her condition. 'Thankfully all the time and money I have invested has paid off in my case. I work part-time and that is where I see myself sitting while my body is recovering,' she said. It has been such a journey and a struggle, but there have also been positive things that have happened along the way. The 36-year-old is thankful to have found a community online and has been sharing her story in the hopes of helping others feel less alone and isolated. Social media has helped her find 'community and some visibility', enabling her to make friends and connections, even when she was bedridden. Despite her complex experience with Australia's health system, she still also feels 'incredibly lucky' that we have Medicare. 'I think we are incredibly lucky for what we do have access to and I do really mean it,' she said. 'Even right now I'm on a mental health care plan and I'm so grateful for that, but I do think it is very restrictive and there's no nuance to what disability looks like,' Ms Lebski said. She also can't help but feel this general sense of being 'behind' everyone else because she spent so many years sick. 'In another life I would have hoped that working on my business and selling it would have been something I would have bought a home with …. but that isn't the case,' she said. 'We live in rental and have a housemate to share the costs. I'm 36 and I would have loved to be able to plan for some things.'
The Australian
3 days ago
- Health
- The Australian
Queensland Health confirms rare strain of monkeypox detected in Metro South region
An urgent health alert has been issued after a strain of monkeypox - confirmed to be a strain known to cause a widespread 'pox-like' rash - was detected in a returned Australian travelled. Queensland Health confirmed the case of monkeypox (Mpox) was detected in the state's Metro South region. Testing revealed it to be the Clade 1 strain of the virus - marking the second time in history the more serious strain has ever been detected in Australia. A Clade 1 strain of the monkeypox virus was detected in a returned Australian traveller, Queensland Health has confirmed. Picture: Supplied The case was acquired overseas but authorities say the risk to the wider community is very low. Queensland Health confirmed exposure to the public had been limited and contact tracing was underway after the detection. According to the Australian Immunisation Handbook, the symptoms of Mpox can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache and muscle aches, followed by a rash within 2-4 days of infection. It spreads primarily through close or intimate contact. Complications of the virus can range from bacterial infections to enciphalitus and pneumonia. The Clade 1 strain of the virus is known cause higher numbers of severe illnesses. Queensland Health said public exposure has been limited. Picture: NewsWire/Glenn Campbell Free Mpox vaccines are available to high-risk groups through sexual health clinics and GPs. 'Vaccination is available for post-exposure prophylaxis as well as primary preventive vaccination. High risk groups, including all sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men and their partners, are eligible for free vaccines through sexual health clinics and general practitioners,' Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said. Minister for Health Tim Nicholls said Queensland health was monitoring the situation. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Two doses are recommended for optimal protection. Those travelling to areas with Clade 1 transmission are encouraged to get vaccinated before departure. Queensland Health is monitoring the situation.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Queensland Health confirms Clade 1 strain of monkeypox detected, second time ever for Australia
An urgent health alert has been issued after a strain of monkeypox - confirmed to be a strain known to cause a widespread 'pox-like' rash - was detected in a returned Australian travelled. Queensland Health confirmed the case of monkeypox (Mpox) was detected in the state's Metro South region. Testing revealed it to be the Clade 1 strain of the virus - marking the second time in history the more serious strain has ever been detected in Australia. The case was acquired overseas but authorities say the risk to the wider community is very low. Queensland Health confirmed exposure to the public had been limited and contact tracing was underway after the detection. According to the Australian Immunisation Handbook, the symptoms of Mpox can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache and muscle aches, followed by a rash within 2-4 days of infection. It spreads primarily through close or intimate contact. Complications of the virus can range from bacterial infections to enciphalitus and pneumonia. The Clade 1 strain of the virus is known cause higher numbers of severe illnesses. Free Mpox vaccines are available to high-risk groups through sexual health clinics and GPs. 'Vaccination is available for post-exposure prophylaxis as well as primary preventive vaccination. High risk groups, including all sexually active gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men and their partners, are eligible for free vaccines through sexual health clinics and general practitioners,' Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said. Two doses are recommended for optimal protection. Those travelling to areas with Clade 1 transmission are encouraged to get vaccinated before departure. Queensland Health is monitoring the situation.
Business Wire
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Pantheon Raises $2.2 Billion for Third Opportunistic Credit Secondaries Program
LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pantheon, a leading global private markets investor, is pleased to announce the final close of Pantheon Credit Opportunities III (PCO III) and related vehicles, with total commitments of approximately $2.2 billion, exceeding initial targets by over 2.5x. PCO III is a core offering within Pantheon's integrated private credit secondaries platform, which includes dedicated pools of capital for U.S. and European senior private credit as well as opportunistic credit. This structure, combined with a solutions-focused partnership approach with GPs and LPs and a credit-first underwriting philosophy, enables selective capital deployment while offering investors targeted exposure to distinct strategies and diversified portfolios. In April 2025, Pantheon raised $5.2 billion for its third senior credit secondaries program (PSD III), which targets portfolios of senior secured, floating rate, primarily sponsor-backed investments across LP interests and GP solutions opportunities. PCO III continues supporting this growth trajectory, offering investors access to a curated and diversified portfolio of private credit investments backed by Pantheon's global network and institutional infrastructure. Including PCO III, PSD III, and other associated accounts, Pantheon has raised $8.3bn for its third generation of senior and opportunistic programs. PCO III attracted broad global support from institutional and private wealth investors, primarily across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Commitments came from a wide range of institutional investors, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and insurance companies, as well as a range of private wealth investors, underscoring the broad appeal of Pantheon's differentiated approach, experience, and track record in private credit secondaries. PCO III targets attractive absolute and risk-adjusted returns through diversified secondary investments in portfolios managed by leading private credit GPs, spanning senior, junior, asset-backed, and opportunistic credit — with a focus on quality, diversification, and downside protection. The strategy aims to capitalize on increasing liquidity needs through LP/GP transactions, market dislocations, and structural inefficiencies across the private credit landscape. Rakesh (Rick) Jain, Partner and Global Head of Private Credit at Pantheon, commented: 'Private credit secondaries are entering a new phase of maturity and growth, driven by increased deal flow, heightened liquidity needs and greater buyer and GP-led activity. As long-standing investors in both secondaries and private credit, our ability to provide creative solutions-oriented partnership capital to GPs and LPs is a key differentiator. We're excited to leverage our flexible mandate and deep sourcing capabilities to identify and execute on the most compelling opportunities.' Toni Vainio, Partner and Head of European Private Credit at Pantheon, added: 'We are grateful for the trust of our investors and proud to have built one of the most agile and diversified credit secondary platforms in the market. An experienced dedicated team manages both our senior and opportunistic credit secondaries strategies, ensuring consistency in underwriting and execution. Strong alignment, combined with our global reach and longstanding GP relationships, positions us to deliver strong outcomes across market cycles.' Notes to Editors About Pantheon Pantheon* has been at the forefront of private markets investing for more than 40 years, earning a reputation for providing innovative solutions covering the full lifecycle of investments, from primary fund commitments to co-investments and secondary purchases, across private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and real assets. We have partnered with more than 650 clients, including institutional investors of all sizes as well as a growing number of private wealth advisers and investors, with approximately $71bn in discretionary assets under management (as of December 31, 2024). Leveraging our specialized experience and global team of professionals across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, we invest with purpose and lead with expertise to build secure financial futures. * Pantheon refers to the subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings of Pantheon Ventures Inc. and AMG Plymouth UK Holdings Limited and includes operating entities principally based in the US (San Francisco and New York), UK (London), Hong Kong, Guernsey, Tokyo, Dublin and Singapore. Pantheon Ventures Inc. and Pantheon Ventures (US) LP are registered as investment advisors with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC'); Pantheon Securities, LLC is a broker dealer registered with the SEC and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ('FINRA'). Pantheon Ventures (UK) LLP is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ('FCA') in the United Kingdom. Pantheon Ventures (Guernsey) Ltd and a number of other Pantheon entities incorporated in Guernsey are regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. Pantheon Ventures (Asia) Limited is registered as a Type II Financial Instruments Business and Investment Advisory and Agency Business Operator with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau in Japan (KLFB). Pantheon Ventures (Ireland) DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland ('CBI') and is an appointed representative of Pantheon Ventures (UK) LLP in respect of activities carried out in the United Kingdom. Pantheon Ventures (Singapore) Pte. Ltd holds a capital markets service license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore ('MAS') to conduct fund management with accredited and institutional investors. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. © 2025
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Labour won't be in government long enough to witness the mess their NHS plan is creating
Having been brought up in a Welsh coal mining village where Aneurin Bevan was regarded as deity, and where generations of my family had been staunchly-socialist coal miners, I am desperate for the NHS to succeed. I worked in the NHS for almost 45 years, 30 of those as a cancer surgeon. My generation saw the NHS at its best. However, some aspects of the recently published ten-year plan for the NHS leave me confused and astonished. How many experienced clinicians were involved in the planning? We have been told that the plan was rewritten multiple times and by several teams of writers. I am left wondering how many of those people had ever worked at the bedside or had any clinical background. The authors have paternalistically assumed that patients would prefer to have treatment locally by an untested method of care, rather than stay under specialist hospital supervision. The change is being imposed by managers who assume that they know best. Yes, we need to reduce waste and increase productivity in the NHS but some of the planned reforms are based naively on ideology and expectation rather than on pragmatism and data. Top of my list of reforms destined to fail is the 'neighbourhood health service'. This is the plan to move patient diagnosis and management from hospitals into the community by providing a six-day per week, 12 hours per day local service. The new clinics will be multi-disciplinary with thousands of new GPs working with pharmacists, social workers, paramedics, palliative care nurses, physiotherapists and other health workers. These mega-clinics will also apparently provide employment support and even coaches to advise on jobs. In other words, the ten-year plan is anticipated to reduce the 7.4 million patients waiting for hospital tests and treatment artificially, by referring most back to GPs. This sounds like a magical plan to cure multiple problems but is nothing more than the creation of yet another expensive bureaucracy to trump even the 2012 Lansley 'reforms'. We've finally found where Rachel Reeves's £29 billion is being funnelled. Why won't it work? Because the core skill required for success is a functioning and efficient general practice, a service which is visibly failing. We know from a Health Select Committee report in 2022 that almost 60 per cent of GPs work three days per week or less. Although some GPs remain committed to the cause, sadly, as a service, their persistent failure to provide timely appointments and especially continuity of care appear insurmountable and incompatible with the requirements of the ten-year plan. Furthermore. GPs are not trained for the work required of them by the ten-year plan. The NHS is intended to become GP-centric which will make great demands on their limited breadth of knowledge. Hospital consultants train for at least six years while GP training is for three years, two of which are spent in general practice. Their training programme will need to expand to include several years of hospital subspeciality experience, a reality which has been ignored. And where will the thousands of new GPs come from? British medical students who have completed placements in general practice and having seen the problems, are reluctant to consider it as a career. We know that already, 55 per cent of GP trainees are International Medical Graduates recruited from low-income countries. Is this what we want? This leads on to another certain failure of the plan where it is predicted that within ten years, only one in ten doctors will be recruited from abroad. This is an impossible task given the present starting point. In 2024, the General Medical Council registered 9,285 UK-trained doctors and 19,279 doctors who had trained abroad. To close this production gap would need at least six new medical schools which is not mentioned in the plan, and which will not happen, at least not in the timescale. Although the current situation is untenable, we are taking a risky step into the unknown, it having been assumed that there is no other solution to the problems in the NHS. In ten years' time, this government and this Health Secretary will not be around to answer for the costly errors they have created.
