I've just had a phone call with someone who gave me the feeling that she generally cared about my well-being. She was knowledgeable, well-informed, and really took the time to listen to what was concerning me, patiently asking all the right questions, and then providing advice in a reassuring, but not patronising way. I feel reassured and valued.
Who is this person - a concerned close friend? A member of the family. No - NHS Direct.
I don't know about you, but I absolutely hate going to see the Doctor. Maybe it's just my bad luck, but any GPs who I've managed to see in the recent past have exuded such crushing world-weariness that I could almost have imagined that every patient in their entire career had been to see them that morning just before I arrived. They were not pleased to see me. And that's once I'd got past the receptionist, to whom the following Victoria Wood lines are appropriate:
the receptionist: "Can I help you?"
me: "Well, you could put that machine gun down for a start!"
The whole experience has always been quite an ordeal for a sensitive soul like me. And so it is that I've let episodic knee pain go untreated for the last two years. Until now. After calling NHS Direct I was able to explain the whole problem to a nurse (who phoned me back!). Of course, the upshot of it all is that they advised me to go and see my GP, but now at least I've found a different way to get the sympathy and empathy which I believe is an essential part of the patient/healthcare provider relationship, so I can cope with the rigours of the next Dr. Brusque.
Posted by Eurodan at June 4, 2003 11:41 PMOh dear, I'm sorry to hear that (a) you've been suffering from knee pains and (b) you've had such shoddy treatment from your GPs. My advice to you is to find one who's applying for promotion - their surgeries are videoed for peer review, so they *have* to be nice to you. This worked for me last year - naturally, being a public-spirited citizen, I'd agreed to the cameras rolling for the following consultation...
Dr: "And what seems to be the trouble?"
Me: "I've ripped my foreskin."
Dr: "Umm... OK..."
He was solicitousness itself.
Posted by: Erato at June 5, 2003 9:56 AM2 years!!!! unbelievable. That's why I'm so happy with our Belgian system. They are nice, you don't have to wait,can make an appointment around lunchtime for the same evening.And most of it is paid back by social security.
Read last week an article about English and dental care, I was shocked.We have to go to the dentist every 6 months. Please,dental care is a very important issue:other people have to watch your teeth and sometimes they put their tongue in your mouth.
But I still love you English guys!!
Posted by: Fred at June 5, 2003 11:32 AMWell, I guess it's easy when you've only got half the population of London... :-)
Posted by: Erato at June 5, 2003 12:57 PMIt's NOT half the population of London but the population of London tout court.
And it is an argument that makes no sense.
Posted by: Fred at June 5, 2003 1:06 PMNow now gentlemen, please!
Let's not fall out over a question as academic as the relative population sizes of Greater London and Belgium!
I think we can all agree that Belgian dentistry is something of which the country is rightly proud. After all, I wouldn't like to be providing dental care in a country famous for its pralines and waffles. Come to think of it, that, and the understandable fondness for such delicious beer and chips probably puts a strain on the healthcare system - so bravo plucky little Belgium for doing so well under such difficult conditions!
Posted by: Eurodan at June 5, 2003 1:30 PMThanks for your support :-)
Do you want me to bring over some of those delicious things next time I come over (we of 13 June)? Chocomel? Pralines? Beer?
What a lovely idea! Chocomel is always gratefully received ;-)
I've only been to the doctor's 4 times in this country but each and every time-and my ailments were very diverse-I was told to go home and take some paracetamol. Consequently I've given up on the NHS and treat myself now! I'm glad that you've had a positive experience though, Dan. But reading the other comments I'd just like to point out (as I would!) that even in a country like Germany that has a larger population than Britain the health system works!! Even though the idea behind the NHS is great, it just doesn't seem to work in many areas. Back home my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and he was operated within a month. Since the cancer was at a very early stage, thank God!, here they would have put him on a waiting list for 2 years!Well, I guess there'll never be the perfect country where everything is just as you like it...but whereas I can put up with an appalling public transport system I think looking after your health is really important and if I were to need a serious operation I would have it done in Germany!
Anyway, enough of that!
Good luck, and knock 'em dead, Dan
Eva
Here, here, Eva! My experiences of the German healthcare system were also completely wonderful.
Just being able to look up a specialist in the phone book and make an appointment there and then for the same week is unhead-of in the UK!
Posted by: Eurodan at June 6, 2003 11:49 AM