It's a fair question. We have a public health system, and the people working in it are some of the best I know.

They are also stretched.

The Tasmanian Department of Health publishes its own outpatient waiting times. In the most recent figures, as of 31 July 2026, the public Diabetes Clinic in the North listed waits of 71days for urgent referrals, 137 days for semi-urgent and 334 days for non-urgent. For the North West and South it’s somewhat worse depending on how your referral is categorised.

That means you waiting months if your referral is urgent. If it's routine, the waiting up to years.

If you don’t live near specialist services you'll know the other side of this. Fewer services close to home, and a long drive for the ones there are.

Months and years is a long time to live with glucose levels that aren't where you want them. It's a long time to wait for a pump, or a sensor, or simply an answer.

Skilled, caring people work in the public system. There are just more of us needing care than it has hours to give.

So what does private give you?

Time, mostly. Your first appointment with me is 60 minutes. That gives us time to go through your history, your data and your questions, and to build a plan that fits your life, not just your blood test results.

You also see the same person each visit. You see me, every time, and I remember where we got to.

No referral is required.

You can start now. You can book online, in person or by telephone.

If you're in the North West or Hobart, telehealth means most of your care can happen from home.

Do I have to choose one or the other?

No. Private care works alongside your GP, your endocrinologist and the public clinic. Plenty of people see me while they wait, or in between, or for the pump and technology support that's hard to find elsewhere.

What about the cost?

There is a gap to pay, and I'd rather be plain about that. Medicare pays most of every appointment and you pay the rest. The fees are on the website, so you know before you book.

You might be newly diagnosed, struggling to reach your goals, considering diabetes technology or simply looking for another perspective. Wherever you are is a good place to start.