So Reassuring

[Roboframer]

To know how one can depend on the NHS when one gets ill - and I don't get ill often - touch wood.

The week before last I got some 'bug' or other - probably flu - aching joints, fever, throat etc etc. The symptoms went one by one but I'm left with what seems like a chest infection, plus today I've gone practically deaf in one ear.

The panadol, strepsils, gargling with diluted hydrogen peroxide and inhaling tea tree oil vapour - is not going to sort this - antibiotics/other prescribed stuff is what I need.

So -on the way home today I said to my wife that I must make an appointment to see the doc tomorrow. (as opposed to the old days - you felt unwell, you just turned up and joined the queue in the waiting room - what was wrong with that?)

She said why not just call in to the medical centre on the way home - they'd be open still.

Really?

Well, I think so!

They were indeed - great - hey, maybe I'd see a doctor right away, I mean, the waiting room was empty .........

Very nice receptionist - cleavage, the lot ........

The next available appointment, for any doctor, never mind my own GP, was next Wednesday! It took me a while to realise that that was actually 6 days hence, by which time either my immune system would have sorted it, or the doc would have to come to me, as I'd be incapable ...... or maybe I'd have turned up at A&E on a trolley.

But .... ah .....BUT ... she says if I ring them at 8 am - not 7, not 7:30 - not 7:55, but at 8am - when the line would be engaged, engaged, engaged, engaged .... but if I kept trying until it rang - I could make an appointment with the Triage Nurse.

Lovely - milky feckin' milky.

I'm thinking that the reason I can't get to see a real doc for a week (not that I give a stuff who prescribes me what I already know I need) is that people book an appointment per week, you know, just in case they are ill; then, if they are not ill, and if they can be arsed, cancel if they are not ill. The rest of us have to ring at 8 to grab those cancelled spots.

If I got ill more often I think this would be the way to go.

REALLY p's me off - pay all my taxes and NI contributions - call them in and people that effectively work for me give me this Mickey Mouse SHOITE!!!

Put your tits away lady - and stop looking at me like ..... well, like I look at customers giving it "Oooh I just want a skinny black frame for my HUGE poster"

But that's different .... OK!!!

[WelshFramer]

No appointment system here. Just turn up - but make sure you have a good book to read. The other week I had to wait about 2 hours and, if it hadn't been for the screaming kids in the waiting room I might have finished my Agatha Christie before I got called in.

[barefaced framer]

We have the same problems as you Robo, and if you ring up for an 'emergency' I'm dying appointment ,they need to know what 's wrong with you before you see the doctor. Even though they are just the receptionist.
That's why I'm booking an appointment to see a DOCTOR to tell him/her NOT you.

As for the wait. I've walked out because they were overrunning - I was the ONLY person waiting and after 30 minutes over my appointment time another customer walks in and is told of the delay- but the receptionist didn't tell me when I booked in, or then,even though I was 2 feet away.

I have come to the conclusion they all go a customer DISSATISFACTION course before they start as receptionists.

[Jonny2morsos]

Did you hear about the GP practice that had its budget reduced because they had no complaints?

Apparently each practice has to show how it deals with complaints and in turn for meeting the standard they get a bit more cash from the NHS. However, this particular practice had not received a single complaint so they could not provide any evidence of a complaints procedure and consequently had the money docked.

Now we all know that success should be rewarded but as an ex healthcare professional I can say that the above is fairly typical.

Our GP practice (12 doctors) has the same "ring back at 8am for an emergency appointment" system but of course they tell that to so many people during the course of the day you can never get through so you ring back later in the day.......... and guess what they tell you?

John.

[Roboframer]

I got through at about 8:10 - saw the triage nurse at 10.40 - waiting room stuffed - thought I'd be there hours, but they must all have been waiting for doctors, I was called in 2 mins early!

Chest and ear infection (ears totally free of wax) temp a bit high, blood pressure fine. 7 day course of capsules.

She asked me if I was allergic to some place in Wales called 'Pen - y - silyn' but I've never been there.

Anyway feel like total carp so I'm going to bed in a minute.

[framejunkie]

Get well John.
I hope you're back soon to dispense your wisdom(and to rant about whatever is irking you!)
I'm not even going to bore everyone by telling you about the NHS in inner-city east London, but i will just mention that everyone i know who works in the NHS thinks that the target culture is pointless hoop-jumping which has a negative effect on patient care and wastes everyone's time on endless form-filling. The system most GP practices operate for appointments is designed to make their statistics look good, not treat the sickest soonest

[Bill Henry]

As much as we in the U. S. like to complain about health care here, it’s now where near the horror stories I hear from you guys and from my Canadian relatives up north.

A couple of weeks ago, I hyperextended my knee to the point where putting any weight on it was difficult. I called my doctors office, explained the problem to his nurse. Within an hour, he called me back with some suggestions, then faxed an X-ray and MRI requisition form to the hospital. The next morning at 8:30 I had them done.

By one p.m. they were read by the radiologist and my doctor called me back with an appointment to see an orthopedic surgeon in two days. Had I been immobile, they would have admitted me immediately.

Because of my work schedule, in the past my physician has kept his office opened until 8 p.m. to see me when I had a real emergency.

Now, as you probably know, over here the Obama administration is pushing a “universal” health care system run by the gum’mint. I fear the days of good, fast, efficient medical care is soon to be over.

[framejunkie]

I fear the days of good, fast, efficient medical care is soon to be over.

That depends how much tax you want to pay, Bill.

[Roboframer]

Well we do have private medical insurance, wouldn't call it in for something this routine, but we did once for a (minor) surgical problem, for my wife, and we were very impressed.

Couldn't believe how much it (would have) cost though!!

[Jonny2morsos]

At the hospital I worked in there was a private hospital next door (in fact there was a joining corridor).

The consultants all used to do work there and it was affectionately known amongst them as "The Golden Nugget". All other staff were paid in line with NHS rates though.

John.

[prospero]

A man goes to the doctor. He gets a though checkup and afterwards the doc says, "Hmmm.... I think you may be suffering from chronic myalgic encephalomyelitis. Tell me, what is your annual income?"

The man wonders what his earnings have to do with anything, but he tells the doc anyway.....

"I see........", says the doc. "You're just a bit run down".

[Bill Henry]

That depends how much tax you want to pay, Bill.

Roughly, what percent of your taxes go to NHS? Currently, I am under my wife's policy and as part of her benefits package, her employer pays about $375 / month.

[framejunkie]

I don't know what percentage of taxation revenue is used for healthcare, but about 8.5% of GDP is spent. This includes private medical provision, however. This is below the average figure for western Europe, but is way up from about 6% 12 years ago. I had a google around and couldn't find the figures i wanted

[Roboframer]

She said "It's been some time since we've seen you"

"Yes" I said "I've been ill" (Quite pertinent really!)

She said "Do you smoke?"

"Only 5 a day" I said

"Shouldn't be too difficult to stop altogether then" She said

"Sure" I said "In the day, but what about the 35 a night"

Both ears affected now BTW! Please use caps.

There was a framed x stitch on the wall, I remembered framing it to be donated to the health centre - kept quiet though - frugal job. Was laced though.

[WelshFramer]

She asked me if I was allergic to some place in Wales called 'Pen - y - silyn' but I've never been there.

Not worth visiting. It's raining.

Good luck Robo - hope it's a quick recovery.

[Roboframer]

Thanks Mike & Simon,

Wished I lived in Cornwall and Doc Martin was my doc.
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Wished I lived in Cornwall anyway.

[stephen34]

Bill in America mentions he is under his wife's health care insurance. For the level of care he describes I'm betting his wife is employed in government or a tax funded service industry. They are lucky. Health insurance is being provided by fewer and fewer companies as costs climb. Paying for health insurance for past and present employees has been a significant factor in bankrupting the American car industry. Bill, if your wife did not have insurance, what would you have to pay as a self-employed business man to provide equivilent coverage for your family?

[Bill Henry]

Stephan,

No, she works for a private, for profit, hospital, not the gum’mint.

If she or I worked for government, we would have long term disability, and dental insurance which we do not have.

Could I afford insurance by myself? It would be very tough.

I could get it through my business, so it would be tax deductable, but premiums would take a very big bite out of the bottom line. I am guessing that if I shopped around, I would need to pay somewhere around $7,000 per year for the coverage we have now.