The Political Asylum

Vintage Girl · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject: Dr's Appointment

I needed to make an appointment to see my doctor today. When I rang the surgery they were delighted to inform me that there had been a cancellation and they could fit me in at 4.15pm. I wasn't sure if I could get there in time so I asked if I could have one for tomorrow or Monday instead. I was politely informed that if could take the one offered the next available appointment was in 25th April. Shocked

To add insult to injury, there are about 5 or 6 doctors in that practice so I asked if one of them could see me instead and even then the earliest they could offer me was next Tuesday. Needless to say I left work early to make it. Evil or Very Mad

It really does annoy me. My problem is not an emergency so they won't fit me in as one. Their latest appointment time is 5.30, the earliest is 9am and they don't open on Saturdays even for emergencies, so basically, unless I can give approximately 2 weeks notice, I have to take time off work to visit my doctor.

What kind of public service is that?
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cherrybabe · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 345

It's a nuisance, i saw a nurse practitioner last time i went because there were no doc's available. Unless you are at deaths door you might as well kiss goodbye to seeing any doctor let alone your own GP, and the receptionists are like the gestapo the way they speak to you. I only go now if i really have to, and i ring up and ask for my blood requests to be prepared so i don't have to see any of them such is my dislike for the whole surgery process.
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I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me.

Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

BlueEmperor · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject:

This was all over the news recently. GPs give such appalling service and are totally resistant to all attempts to get them to change their working hours to offer the British public a better service. They're a bunch of overpaid, complacent arseholes.

B.E.
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The doctor is in!

Dame Brunhilde Golightly · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 9

My Doctor recently couldn't understand why I couldn't make an appointment within her working hours.

The fact that I worked 20 hours more than she did and had another 10 hours a week travelling time on top and all for 75% of her salary went straight over her head.

And on top of it all...her diagnosis was wrong. Wasted 12 months of my life worrying that I would die young.

Cow.

Vintage Girl · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject:

To add insult to injury it was a waste of time going.

Nothing she could do for me, suggested that I might just have to put up with it.

Gee thanks. Rolling Eyes

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Girls are like phones. We love to be held and talked to, but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

Mpls Druid · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:42 am Post subject:

I guess I'm envious that you have the NHS. I have no insurance, I'm coming down with bronchitis (again!) and no way to get the medical attention that I need. If something were to happen to one of my knees, the only way I could see the orthopedic surgeon would be to pay out of my own pocket. This is severely fucked up. Pardon the language.

Jen · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 64

You post puts it into perpective Druid. We are lucky to have the NHS, even with all of its faults.

My previous doctor didn't have an appointment system, you went when you were ill and waited to see him, he said he wanted to see his patients when they needed to be seen, not three weeks down the line when they were either getting worse or dead. His practice got bigger and he had to implement an appointment system, the longest we waited to see him was 24 hours. He had pre bookable appointments for routine stuff, check up, BP etc.

Now we've moved house we've had to move to a new doctor, I rnag for an appointment yesterday morning at 10am and saw the doc at 2pm.

poppycock · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 533

I go to a group of 3 GPs and 2 PAs so it's not difficult to get an appointment within two days if you're prepared to take whomever is available. If you need a particular doctor, then it could take 3-4 days. From 7:45 - 9:00 each morning, you can just turn up if it's for something that needs urgent attention.

There's a sign at the front desk to let them know if you haven't been called by a nurse within 30 minutes. Once you've been weighed, had your temperature and blood pressure taken, etc., it can take another 15 minutes before the GP/PA sees you. I've generally been happy with their service.

Thankfully, I've rarely had to visit a specialist.

Vintage Girl · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:48 am Post subject:

Poppy and Jen, you both sound as if you have efficient surgeries. Not everyone is that fortunate.

Druid, I take your point about the system in the US but, make no mistake, the NHS is not free. We all pay for it through taxation and National Insurance. Sadly, the service we get is often not commensurate with the amount of money the government takes from us.
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Lady Viola Wellbeloved · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 66 Location: Out of this World

Some of these sound like the last practise we used in Lincoln. They were target obsessed.

The present one here in Kent is brilliant. You nearly always get to see a doctor the same day you call, usually the doctor of your choice too. They can order repeat prescriptions by email collectable from the surgery within 2 days. Don't even have to go to a chemist to get it filled as there isn't one within several miles.
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BlueEmperor · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject:

You make a very good point, Lady Viola.

Targets are the bane of the NHS's existance.

If I became Prime Minister tomorrow the VERY FIRST thing I'd do - day one in the job - is abolish the Department for Health.

B.E.
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The doctor is in!

JuanaLaLoca · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

It takes a long time to get an appointment here, but that is probably the price I pay for going to a large facility, which is excellent. Sometimes they surprise me and I get one quickly. After my ERCP the other day, the gastroenterologist said he wants to see me the next time I have jaundice, and I mentioned that it could take a month to get an appointment, so he told me to call his office directly and tell them that he wants to see me right away. Usually, when I have had jaundice, it has mostly cleared up by the time I see anyone, and then they don't believe me until they take a blood test and see my elevated liver levels (if they are still elevated by then).

Mpls Druid · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject:

VG, I know that your system is paid for through your tax and insurance system, but people like me that don't have anything and a meager job would be grateful to have your system, flaws and all. My husband went in to see the dr about an annual physical, and in the process the drew blood for a few different tests. He now has to pay over 200 bucks and he has insurance! When he went into the emergency room at the hospital last week, they had monitors on him, blood draws were done, and there was the ambulance ride. That will surely be over a thousand bucks for that visit. Shocked

SilverMiniCooperS · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 195

We're starting to get our insurance statements for our recent emergency (for those of you who know about it) and so far it's around $70,000, and by no means is that all. Shocked

Vintage Girl · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:20 am Post subject:

Are you covered for all of that Jen? Shocked

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Girls are like phones. We love to be held and talked to, but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

SilverMiniCooperS · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 195

Yes...we have a deductable, or out-of-pocket limit and the insurance picks up everything else...I think!! This is the first time we have had to used it, except for some dental and glasses.

Vintage Girl · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 1:34 am Post subject:

I hope you're right. You certainly don't need to be worrying about how the bills will be paid at a time like this.
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Girls are like phones. We love to be held and talked to, but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

BlueEmperor · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 12:34 pm Post subject:

Say what you like about our shitty NHS, it is fair play to say that we're compartively lucky. Imagine the insult that would have been added to the injury if, after she'd died, we'd been presented with a huge medical bill for Nan's long hospitalisation. It's too monstrous to contemplate. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that the NHS is underperforming and that there is a clear case for reform. Other countries in Europe and elsewhere have socialised medicine that works far better and more efficiently than it does here in the UK. We need to look to these countries for inspiration so that Britons can get the health service they deserve.

B.E.
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The doctor is in!

Mpls Druid · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject:

I know this may be a stupid question, but does the NHS run Canada's system?

Vintage Girl · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject:

Not to my knowlege, no.
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Girls are like phones. We love to be held and talked to, but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

BlueEmperor · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject:

No, the UK National Health Service has no relationship whatsoever with Canada, which is a separate country let's not forget. The healthcare system in Canada, while it may appear similar to the NHS to American eyes, is very different. Canada has a publicly funded health care system but most services are provided by private entities rather than by a nationally-owned infrastructure as in the UK. It is not socialised medicine. Their system is regulated by the Canada Health Act (1984), under the terms of which publicly-funded insurance plans are required to pay for medically necessary care but there is a great deal of variation across the provinces as to the extent to which certain costs are covered.

B.E.
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The doctor is in!

Mpls Druid · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

thanks for clearing that up, Andy.

Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

My main gripe with the nhs is not being able to get an nhs dentist, yet I'll bet our freeloaders all have one.

I also think the nhs 'postcode lottery' meaning that depending on what nhs trust you fall under, detemines what treatments are available. There should be more consistency here. I think the same treatments should be avaiable for all.

And, there should be a stop put to 'health tourists' as well who currently costs the nhs £62million a year, although it's feared that the true figure could be as high as £200million.

Lady Viola Wellbeloved · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 66 Location: Out of this World

I'm with you on the NHS dentist thing. It makes me see red when we are supposed to be entitled to free health care yet can't get registered with a NHS dentist for love nor money.

We did manage to find one when we moved here 18 months ago but it was 30 miles away and we had to wait 4 months for an appointment. The a month after the appointments, we got a letter saying they were no longer NHS and would we like to join their private list.

The expression "go and indulge in sex and travel" sprang to mind...
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ukus · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 72

My mum lives in a little village in Cornwall. The doctor's still make house calls if they need to. My mum had a really bad back and when the doctor came to visit her (she was in bed ) she called to my dad that she had heard him arrive but he hadn't been in . "We're watching Cricket I'll be there soon" came a reply from the doc "it's not like you're going anywhere " he added.

I'm very happy with the treatment both my mum and dad have received from the NHS..... but you are right about the dentist thing. They have to pay for any dental work ..... which luckily these days isn't a big deal as they both have false knasher's.

poppycock · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 533

SilverMiniCooperS · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 195

That's funny ukus!! I remember when the doctor came to the house. I remember two of our childhood doctors...Dr. Fear (not a typo) and when he retired we had Dr. Sibley.

Vintage Girl · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject:

I remember as a child the family doctor just 'popping in' to see that we were all OK. No-one had called him, he would just turn up and would always stay for a cuppa and a chat.

It's my belief that in those days people became doctors out of a sense of vocation whereas these days it's more of a calculated career move. I'm not saying that there aren't excellent caring doctors out there but they're a dying breed.
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Girls are like phones. We love to be held and talked to, but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

ukus · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 72

Same with the Vet's.
Not much 'All creatures great and small' care any more. Try and get a Veternarian to visit to your home, ha.

When our Sam was recovering from his 'bloat' surgery the vet's closed at 6pm and I had to move my poor dog, that evening of his surgery and still close to death, to an emergency clinic for the night so he could be watched (I'll never forget that)

I did have a good Vet though when we moved to Friendswood ... Dr. Crump was of the old school but alas he retired....

Our Vet's here in Katy are good ... know what they are doing but the care is very expensive and the caring, well like I said......

Vintage Girl · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:20 am Post subject:

While I was away this weekend my boyfriend put his back out.

It happened on Sunday afternoon and, despite a couple of hot baths to try and relax the muscles it got progressively worse. By the time I returned home at about 10pm he was completely immobile and unable to even get off the sofa.

I insisted that he call the emergency doctor which he did. They took all his personal details and a brief description of the problem and said he would be called back within the hour. I have to say they called back very quickly but having made a diagnosis of a torn ligament over the phone they said he would need to visit their emergency surgery to pick up some pain killers. I was appalled! He had told them he couldn't walk but when he asked if someone could come out to him they said "No, you have to come to us!" What if their diagnosis was wrong and he would be causing more damage by moving. Shocked

It was absolute murder for me to get him there and into the consulting room and very painful for him. Bloody ridiculous! Mad

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Girls are like phones. We love to be held and talked to, but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

JC · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 46 Location: New Jersey

They damaged torn ligaments by phone Shocked

One of our boys just tore some ligaments in his ankle, this was diagnosed by a visit to the orthopedist, x rays and some measuring of the x rays to check to amount of damage.

kitchenwitch · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:

My husband frequently puts his back out...it's no picnic. But his doctor gave him a supply of pain killers and muscle relaxers to have on hand when he starts to feel the twinges. If he takes a couple of those and gets some heat on it right away then I don't have to help him move to do necessary things. It just seems once you do something like that it happens over and over.

We have a really wonderful vet, although I don't know if he would make house calls. I suppose if it was dire enough he might. But it would cost you as well. It gives me pause when we have to take the boys to the vet for their yearly shots & exam and then the bill is presented. Medical care isn't cheap for anyone.

Vintage Girl · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject:

wakeyboy · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:32 pm Post subject:

I have to deal with doctors' surgeries on a regular basis when at work.

When trying to make appointments for people the 'gestapo' want to know why/for what reason I am making the appointment. I usually say "I'll discuss that with a doctor thankyou!"

If theres an error on someone's prescription we have to write out another request for the script to be ammended then wait another 48 hours!!!

On the whole, though, I'm glad we do have the NHS. The US system seems abhorrent.
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JC · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 46 Location: New Jersey

Mpls Druid · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject:

wakeyboy · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

It seems so immoral.
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cherrybabe · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 345

wakeyboy · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbAWNnGSVCw
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Mpls Druid · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:

wakeyboy · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject:

Are you on carbimazole?
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cherrybabe · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 345

Beth i am so sorry you have to go through all this crap, and have the added worry of trying to find the cash to keep well. It is just plain wrong to have to gamble with your health like that.

I had Graves disease and i was on carbimazole but it didn't work, my condition got progressively worse and my white count was all over the show (not a good sign) until the only option was to operate. I am now on Thyroxine and Calcium supps for the rest of my days, but thanks to the NHS and a wonderful edocrinologist i am here and healthy.

I don't pay for my Thyroxine, i am exempt but i have to have my card with me or they are like the Stasi questioning me at the chemists Razz

http://www.medicinenet.com/hypothyroidism/page3.htm#toc5at

Here are some of the side effects you can experience with Hypothyroidism. My mum was very depressed before her diagnosis, she has to take twice the daily dose that i take but she is much better now.
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I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me.

Vintage Girl · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject:

BlueEmperor · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject:

As monstrous as the American system is, I have a MASSIVE downer on the NHS right now. Apart from Mum and Mick's problems, I have been suffering from a serious stomach complaint for several weeks now (possibly months, as I have been ignoring it for a long time), which I strongly suspect is either a bacterial infection or an ulcer. I managed to get an appointment to see my new doctor... I'd have been better off visiting some Swazi medicine man. She diagnosed 'stress', which seems to be the common diagnosis for everything in the medical profession now, particularly when they can't be bothered to give you a proper examination or actually listen to all of your symptoms. Do you remember a few years ago it was 'depression'? We were all 'depressed'. Now it's 'stress'. We're all too 'stressed'. Bollocks! People being bombed out of their homes during the Blitz and sleeping in Underground stations. THAT was a 'stressful' situation. I do not have bloody 'stress'! Anyway, she prescribed Gaviscon and a litre of peppermint tea a day.

A litre? A litre??? I'd be hard-pressed to drink a litre of anything, least of all peppermint bloody tea! I can't stand the wretched stuff. Besides, what kind of 'prescription' is that for a stomach complaint, friggin' peppermint tea? I might as well have visited a bloody homeopath!

B.E.
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The doctor is in!

SilverMiniCooperS · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 195

Over here, unless it is an obvious symptom which can be diagnosed, the first thing they do is 'blood work'. They should have done that with you Blue. They run various tests on the blood which can show various ailments. Then having determined what they think it might be, they run further tests to confirm that.

In Klaus' case not only did they do the blood work, they immediately ordered an MRI because he had the neurological symptoms, and within one day knew he had cancer of the brain. A cat scan two days later told them he also had it in his lung and liver. Treatment commenced immediately.

To tell you to drink a litre of mint tea a day is bordering on ludicrous, especially since it could be something serious. Can you go to another doctor, or are you stuck with this quack?

Mpls Druid · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:15 pm Post subject:

CB, I read with great interest the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, and to my dismay most of those I have! Thanks for the article. I have to lay down and get some sleep...

JC · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 46 Location: New Jersey

Blue did she do any kind of diagnostic testing ?

cherrybabe · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 345

kitchenwitch · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

Good grief. I'm counting my blessings that I'm healthy and rarely need to see the doctor.

Peppermint tea is an interesting prescription. I do know that peppermint tea is good for settling an upset stomach and aiding digestion, and really isn't a bad alternative to pills and such - sometimes I think we're all too willing to take unessessary medications - but if you don't feel that your health issues were properly considered I wouldn't hesitate to get another opinion.