Daily love letter to the NHS: How DO I count the ways?
I’ve returned from Egypt with a couple of medical complaints (nothing major - a double ear infection and some kind of flu bug - but enough to keep me away from tonight’s TechCrunch UK launch party, sadly). I called my doctor’s office to see if I could be seen on short notice, and luckily the nurse had a cancellation this afternoon which would allow me to see her, though not an actual doctor. I also asked about that blood work I had done more than a week ago, as I hadn’t received any news from my doctor or the hospital, and was pretty stressed about it. The receptionist looked up my record, then told me that the results were negative (no, it wasn’t an AIDS test). Well, thanks for getting in touch to let me know! My x-ray results, which I was told would be with my doctor by October 14 at the very latest, have still not come through. Good thing I’m not in any pain, here. Oh, wait - I totally am.
The nurse’s advice about my ear infections? I’m supposed to put a few drops of olive oil in my ears, three or four times a day, for two weeks. If I’m still suffering then, I should come back to the nurse and let her know, and then we can schedule an appointment where I might be treated properly.
(Expect more posts like this. I know it probably got old really quick for everyone who thinks socialised healthcare is some grand project of human virtue, and maybe even for those who don’t, but some memes need to be pushed relentlessly. That the NHS is a complete wreck, and not to be emulated by other countries, is one of them.)
Filed under: Life, Politics, Survival, The State Is Not Your Friend
As far as I can see the problem is, drop-in US health care centre consultation (no appointment or insurance needed): $80. Private GP appointment in the UK: closer to 100 GBP. Is that right, and is insurance twice as much as well?
Alice, I’m pleased to say that for all the years when I had private health insurance (through work), I never once had cause to use it. (Actually, I probably should have gone to the doctor a couple of times during those periods, but didn’t out of a general aversion to doctors. Shame on me.) So I don’t know what the cost of a private GP appointment is in the UK, though I know that I could see an NHS consultant (for one of my issues) on a private basis for about £75. It’s not an urgent complaint, so I’ll probably endure the waiting period.
There are now some private urgent care centres in the UK, but I’ve never priced their services. Should do.
Keep up on the NHS!
Personally, I’m thinking of separating out my NHS posts elsewhere as I seem to find something else that’s a problem with it frequently.
Sorry you’re not feeling well. And what advice.. at least you’ve that low-cal cooking spray to give you the hi-tech advantage. I wouldn’t like to try getting olive oil in my ears using a dropper.
The NHS don’t, as a rule, get in touch to let you know your test results. The onus is on you to collect them. For some reason. This doesn’t even save money: they do post the results, to your doctor. Since your doctor’s going to do nothing with them unless chase them up, they could send the results to you for the same cost.
Olive oil softens up your ear wax; I’ve never heard of it killing infections before. They usually tell you to put it in your ears for a few days prior to having your ears syringed. Which might be fair enough: perhaps having your ears syringed in a few days’ time will cure the infection. But, if that is their reasoning, why didn’t they tell you so? Sounds to me like a nurse bullshitting you in the hope of keeping some bloody patient away from an important doctor.