Healthcare is not a level playing field. I know that excellent care IS possible but right now, my mother is not getting it and my concerns are being ignored. I cannot get her hospital doctor to call me, I cannot call him, the nurses feed me platitudes and misinformation and erect barriers between me and the doctors and my mother's health is getting worse. I need some information, I need communication, I need respect and I need the power games to stop. When I raised my concerns with the ward NUM, I was told that my mother was getting first class care and that I should show some trust in Dr X who "is one of the best". I engaged Dorothy Kamaker from PAA and things improved within hours. Probably because the hospital realised I was capable of finding support and that their care and behaviour were being monitored. 24 hours since making that call, we have had a) a care & meds review, b) an acknowledgement that I have been dismissed, c) a dietitian consultation and d) THREE PHONE CALLS from "concerned" doctors. Amazing result.

I’m terminally ill and have had the need to contact Dorothy twice in the last few months. In early May I presented to A&E in Adelaide, dreadfully sick and in shocking pain. They refused to admit me believing, absurdly, that I was some attention seeker or time waster. I refused to leave and phoned Dorothy late at night in despair. They were persuaded to do a CT abdomen and found stage 4 bile-duct cancer. The second time was last week where I was the meat in the sandwich between two different arms of palliative care and found myself despairing of finding a solution for my care. Dorothy advocated on my behalf and was able to get through to people who could actually make the decisions. She was professional and prompt and had a solution for me that I’d been trying for weeks to achieve. She was so kind and strong and committed to solving my situation at a time when I have virtually no strength left, certainly not to be wasted arguing my case through complex layers of administrative procedure. I can’t speak highly enough of her nor thank her enough for her efforts on my behalf.

My wife and I became ill on a recent working trip to Australia. We were advised to contact Patient Advocates Australia as they provide a concierge medical service: akin to having an executive PA but for health. The head advocate, Dorothy Kamaker did an outstanding job. She overcame barriers, navigated us through the bureaucracy, found top notch specialists and generally made our experience stress free (almost ). Dorothy is an ICU RN and her up to date expertise impressed our medical team. Our costs were covered by our employer’s insurance and Dorothy liaised with our US based insurer and made sure every document and charge was document and dispatched. Patient Advocates Australia gets

I am a full time carer for my 74 year old husband, who has stage 4 cancer that has metastasised throughout his body. He is in palliative care and is currently participating in a Clinical Trial at the Macquarie Uni Hospital which is providing his only hope of a cure.

My caring responsibilities have been frustrated by the fact that for 36 years I have been a type 1 diabetic who also suffers severely from 'impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia' episodes. As a pensioner, with no private medical cover, I have been unable to afford the purchase of a Continuous Glucose Monitor which I am needing to alert me of an impending hypo. My husband is now no longer able to assist me with getting through these hypo's, whereas previously I depended on him for help to prevent the inevitable coma, especially with my frequent nocturnal hypo's. The frustration of this has certainly added stress to our situation and has made our current life style tense and unsafe.

I had sought assistance from every government, medical and diabetic department imaginable, only to be told that if I was under 21 years of age, I would be eligible for a government subsidy for help - but otherwise nothing. That is not what a 70 year old needs to hear! I was at my wits end.

Consequently I approached Dorothy Kamaker at Patient Advocates Australia for advice. Even though she was overseas on leave, she took my call and immediately responded with providing helpful contacts and suggestions. Her commitment to helping others find solutions to their medical problems was most impressive. I am now thrilled to report I have been provided with a Continuous Glucose Monitor to ensure my future safety and reduce the stress my husband and I have been facing.

Based on this experience, I would recommend the services of Patient Advocates Australia to anyone needing assistance with medical problems.

Thank you for this review site. I saw the 5* review of Patient Advocates Australia ( Dorothy Kamaker) and engaged her to help me when I had an unexpected diagnosis of cancer. She has been fantastic. She comes with me to appointments, takes notes, ensures that my questions are answered, co-ordinates my tests and appointments and arranged a second opinion. She is very "mainstream" but she supports my complementary regime of yoga and nutrition management. My oncologist is very impressed (a doctor endorsing an advocate!!!) and is beginning to refer other patients to her.

She charges $125/hr and so far it is the best money I have spent.

Mary Dap.

I was unhappy with the standard of care from both my hospital and from the surgeon. Dorothy Kamaker from Patient Advocates Australia was recommended by the nurse manager and she was an enormous help. She negotiated with the hospital and the surgeon without creating a confrontation. I had an apology from the surgeon and a decided change of attitude from the hospital. I have to have similar surgery in 5 months time and I will engage her again to PREVENT any problems this time.