Healthcare in the UK
Posted by: Justin on 14 July 2004
Folks,
I read and hear from prepubescent medical students in the US who are scared shitless of universal heathcare that countries that have such a system are in shambles. One person said that she had to wait years to have her tonsils removed.
I tend not to believe a word of it, given that you all seem a happy lot and, in any event, your enjoyment of healtcare seems every bit as technologically advanced and proficient as that in the US.
But I want the truth. For those who live in the UK (and Canada), what has been your experience?
By way of comparison (in case you don't know), in the US a typical course of treatment for chronic tonselitus would look something like this for a person with private insurance:
January 1: Call to make an appointment with primary care physician for sore throat. Because it is an accute condition with possible bacterial infection, appointment would be scheduled for same day or next day. Say 2:00pm next day.
January 2: Arrive at 2:00pm and wait for 45 minutes to be called back into examination room. Wait additional 15 minutes in exam room. Doctor comes in, looks at throat, ears, etc. declares tonselitus and infection. Prescribed antibiotics. Then looks in chart and notices this is 7th time in two years for the same complaint. Suggests tonselectomy and writes referal to see ENT.
On checkout patient presents his insurance card, pays "co-pay" (average about $25 for an office visit). Insurance company will be charged $90 for the visit. They will "write it down" to $67, subtract the $25 patient just paid as the "co-pay" and pay the doc $42.
The patient goes to the drug store (pharmacy), waits 20 minutes for the scrip to be filled and pays about $10 for the anti-biotics (because it is generic and/or common).
Patients calls ENT's office and schedules earliest consultation for 45 days out.
Feb. 17: Patient arrives at ENT's office at scheduled time and waits 45 minutes to be called back to exam room. ENT prescribes tonselectomy and schedules it three weeks out at the local outpatient surgery center. Patient pays $25 copay.
March 6: Have surgery. Outpatient surgery center bills private insurance $1400 for use of the surgical suite, nursing staff and recovery supplies. Insurance "writes it down" to $650. ENT bills seperately for the surgery and bills insurance company $900 for the procedure. Insurance company "writes it down" to $450. As is typical, the patient has an "80/20" plan with a $250 deductible. Hence, the insurance company pays (in total) ($650 + 450 - $250)x.80 = $680. The surgery center (or ENT) charges the patient the addition $250 "deductible" and the 20%.
After all is said and done, it took about 2 months (give or take) to have her tonsils removed and cost her about $470.
Walk me through how this might go in the UK.
judd
I read and hear from prepubescent medical students in the US who are scared shitless of universal heathcare that countries that have such a system are in shambles. One person said that she had to wait years to have her tonsils removed.
I tend not to believe a word of it, given that you all seem a happy lot and, in any event, your enjoyment of healtcare seems every bit as technologically advanced and proficient as that in the US.
But I want the truth. For those who live in the UK (and Canada), what has been your experience?
By way of comparison (in case you don't know), in the US a typical course of treatment for chronic tonselitus would look something like this for a person with private insurance:
January 1: Call to make an appointment with primary care physician for sore throat. Because it is an accute condition with possible bacterial infection, appointment would be scheduled for same day or next day. Say 2:00pm next day.
January 2: Arrive at 2:00pm and wait for 45 minutes to be called back into examination room. Wait additional 15 minutes in exam room. Doctor comes in, looks at throat, ears, etc. declares tonselitus and infection. Prescribed antibiotics. Then looks in chart and notices this is 7th time in two years for the same complaint. Suggests tonselectomy and writes referal to see ENT.
On checkout patient presents his insurance card, pays "co-pay" (average about $25 for an office visit). Insurance company will be charged $90 for the visit. They will "write it down" to $67, subtract the $25 patient just paid as the "co-pay" and pay the doc $42.
The patient goes to the drug store (pharmacy), waits 20 minutes for the scrip to be filled and pays about $10 for the anti-biotics (because it is generic and/or common).
Patients calls ENT's office and schedules earliest consultation for 45 days out.
Feb. 17: Patient arrives at ENT's office at scheduled time and waits 45 minutes to be called back to exam room. ENT prescribes tonselectomy and schedules it three weeks out at the local outpatient surgery center. Patient pays $25 copay.
March 6: Have surgery. Outpatient surgery center bills private insurance $1400 for use of the surgical suite, nursing staff and recovery supplies. Insurance "writes it down" to $650. ENT bills seperately for the surgery and bills insurance company $900 for the procedure. Insurance company "writes it down" to $450. As is typical, the patient has an "80/20" plan with a $250 deductible. Hence, the insurance company pays (in total) ($650 + 450 - $250)x.80 = $680. The surgery center (or ENT) charges the patient the addition $250 "deductible" and the 20%.
After all is said and done, it took about 2 months (give or take) to have her tonsils removed and cost her about $470.
Walk me through how this might go in the UK.
judd
Can any of you Pro's out there enlighten me on the legitimate production and use
in UK of medicinal Opiates and Heroin ? As far as I'm aware they're probably the
World's most important drugs in Western and Eastern medicine and the daily use
of them I believe far outways any illegal cum Junkie related requirements ? It
seems rather strange that we never seem to hear about the beneficial sides of
these ancient important pain killers ?
Fritz Von We'reoffontheroadtomandaly
in UK of medicinal Opiates and Heroin ? As far as I'm aware they're probably the
World's most important drugs in Western and Eastern medicine and the daily use
of them I believe far outways any illegal cum Junkie related requirements ? It
seems rather strange that we never seem to hear about the beneficial sides of
these ancient important pain killers ?
Fritz Von We'reoffontheroadtomandaly
Andy,
Thanks a lot for you answer but with all due respect you havent touched
what'soever upon my question. I don't want to know about the effects of opiates
and their history so much as how the NHS, etc, in UK supplies its patients with
large amounts of poppy derived Morphine, etc. Afghanistan comes to mind, and we
often hear about it's dreaded illegal trade (I wont comment about the building
of the B.Empire, etc )though somebody else may well do ?
Tens of millions of
people rely daily on its pain reducing elements, and I find it rather odd that
this vital World Industry is never touched upon, except in the illicit/gangster
mafia related terms, which as I "guessed" at in my first post would seem minimal
in contrast to the legal stuff in financial terms, if you get my drift ?
Fritz Von Ourvictorialikedadropoflaudinumtooblessher
P.S. I make no moral comment at all on these highly important (Wonderful) medications, I merely find it strange that nobody likes to talk about them in the same way as say aspirin, or penicillin ? Cheers, F.
Thanks a lot for you answer but with all due respect you havent touched
what'soever upon my question. I don't want to know about the effects of opiates
and their history so much as how the NHS, etc, in UK supplies its patients with
large amounts of poppy derived Morphine, etc. Afghanistan comes to mind, and we
often hear about it's dreaded illegal trade (I wont comment about the building
of the B.Empire, etc )though somebody else may well do ?
Tens of millions of
people rely daily on its pain reducing elements, and I find it rather odd that
this vital World Industry is never touched upon, except in the illicit/gangster
mafia related terms, which as I "guessed" at in my first post would seem minimal
in contrast to the legal stuff in financial terms, if you get my drift ?
Fritz Von Ourvictorialikedadropoflaudinumtooblessher
P.S. I make no moral comment at all on these highly important (Wonderful) medications, I merely find it strange that nobody likes to talk about them in the same way as say aspirin, or penicillin ? Cheers, F.
Cheers John,
Thanks for that it would be very interesting too to know what kind of figures we're talking here as the tax payer is paying for the stuff afterall, maybe Ali G could broker a more sensible realistic deal ?
Fritz Von Stickthatintheirpipesandsmokeit
Blythe old bean, sounds like you got a result mate, but knowing two cases here in recent years of adults getting tonsilitis (much worse than with kids, risk factor etc) they were both operated on within 24 hours, the risk factor infection wise for patient and others I believe is very high so dragging folk all over the place is tantamount to (I wont say it ).
Cheers, Fritz Von Tudes
Thanks for that it would be very interesting too to know what kind of figures we're talking here as the tax payer is paying for the stuff afterall, maybe Ali G could broker a more sensible realistic deal ?
Fritz Von Stickthatintheirpipesandsmokeit
Blythe old bean, sounds like you got a result mate, but knowing two cases here in recent years of adults getting tonsilitis (much worse than with kids, risk factor etc) they were both operated on within 24 hours, the risk factor infection wise for patient and others I believe is very high so dragging folk all over the place is tantamount to (I wont say it ).
Cheers, Fritz Von Tudes
Cheers anyway John:
Fritz Von Don'tthinktwiveit'sallright
Fritz Von Don'tthinktwiveit'sallright
Of course you can sideline the Doctors in many cases and go for this approach which I believe is growing very very rapidly in popularity, except with the insurance & drug companys naturally! (Fuck em)
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/
Fritz Von Turnoveranoldleaf
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/
Fritz Von Turnoveranoldleaf
The suburbs wax healthier´
The National Health Service is one of the British institutions that needs to be
made more egalitarian and efficient. The present NHS is rum on that demand
(sometimes nil-priced, therefore infinate) is thrown at a limited number of
hospitals and practitioners, who are given no incentive to provide health care
either most cost-effectively or where it is most needed. After 40 years in which
the NHS has increased poor Briton's low life expectancy by less than rich
Briton'shigh one, it now staffs pleasant south English suburbs with one-third
more doctors per inhabitant than poorer northern slums which sometimes have
three times their sickness rates. It imposes West Europe's longest pre-surgery
waiting lists on patients in pain, before they can get into often-dirty
hospitals. The amount spent on health care each year is not decided by how much
of the expensive new lifesaving technology Brotons show they want, but by a
Treasury that is usually more worried about something else - such as foreigner's
flight from sterling when other government spending surges. This misery is set
to grow worse. There will be a lot of desirable but expensive new medical
technology, which the NHS will decide it cannot afford for its fast-increasing
number of elderly patients, with much higher wages for its staff, at a time when
Britain's weakening balance of payments may be testing every Chancellor's nerve.
It is pointless for Labour and the Alliance to pretend this can be cured by
promising to increase the real health-care spending by perhaps a percentage
point more than the average annual 3% increase which Mrs Thatcher has provided
in the past eight years; the opposition parties would in practice be likely to
increase health spending by less than she has done, because frightened
foreign-exchange markets note they have also promised to increase public
expenditure on practically everything else.
The real reforms could come only
through increasing cost-effectiveness several fold, by introducing some positive
incentives. What is now the reward for an NHS manager who moves to curb such
inefficiencies as that a patient with the same illness often stays twice as long
in an expensive London hospital as in a cheaper northern one? His reward is
that doctors complain that he is interfereing with their patients, and the local
press vilifies him for releasing some half-sick old lady early into the cold.
What punishment awaits a consultant who is slow in clearing his queue of
pain.ridden people waiting many months for surgery? The pleasant punishment that
longer queues generate extra private pay patients. An ordinary general
practitioner is paid as much if he overprescribes for rich suburbanites in Esher
as when his beat is midnight missions through council estates where he fears
being mugged. He chooses Esher.
The minimum reform for British hospitals is a
system that allowed each District Health Authority (DHA) - certainly each one in
poor areas - to seek the best care for its residents even in hospitals outside
its district. The Alliance favours this; the other two parties are silent. Any
system should also give incentives to DHA's to provide cost-effevtively the
services other areas have most in demand. If there is a long queue for
non-emergency surgery like hip operations in one district, let some hospital in
another district expand hip operations - and get a "profit-sharing bonus" for
all its staff if this cuts other DHA's cost.
Once such a system were in
operation, all wages, subcontracting and incentives (eg, giving GP's who
prescribe economically half the savings they generate?) should be decided
locally. The underdoctored areas would have to pay more to attract doctors, but
they are often the depressed areas that could pay below trade-union rates for
ancillary or sub-contractor's staff. Don't call this exploitative: it would
increase jobs and health care in poor towns.
The Economist May 23 1987
N.B.
Some may be no doubt wondering what the hell Fritz is doing revamping all
these old articles from centuries past ? but I reckon they're just as relevent
today as they were then, and in some ways more so, as we can track those
records, but can only speculate on the future obviously. I find it personally
interesting as it was in the milk snatchers years, and to be honest I really
don't see too much of a difference between then and now after reading this
report. The "Red Queen Hypothesis" comes to mind named after the Red Queen in
"Alice through the looking glass", where one has to keep running to stay in the
same place.
Fritz Von Enoughineedacoldbeer
The National Health Service is one of the British institutions that needs to be
made more egalitarian and efficient. The present NHS is rum on that demand
(sometimes nil-priced, therefore infinate) is thrown at a limited number of
hospitals and practitioners, who are given no incentive to provide health care
either most cost-effectively or where it is most needed. After 40 years in which
the NHS has increased poor Briton's low life expectancy by less than rich
Briton'shigh one, it now staffs pleasant south English suburbs with one-third
more doctors per inhabitant than poorer northern slums which sometimes have
three times their sickness rates. It imposes West Europe's longest pre-surgery
waiting lists on patients in pain, before they can get into often-dirty
hospitals. The amount spent on health care each year is not decided by how much
of the expensive new lifesaving technology Brotons show they want, but by a
Treasury that is usually more worried about something else - such as foreigner's
flight from sterling when other government spending surges. This misery is set
to grow worse. There will be a lot of desirable but expensive new medical
technology, which the NHS will decide it cannot afford for its fast-increasing
number of elderly patients, with much higher wages for its staff, at a time when
Britain's weakening balance of payments may be testing every Chancellor's nerve.
It is pointless for Labour and the Alliance to pretend this can be cured by
promising to increase the real health-care spending by perhaps a percentage
point more than the average annual 3% increase which Mrs Thatcher has provided
in the past eight years; the opposition parties would in practice be likely to
increase health spending by less than she has done, because frightened
foreign-exchange markets note they have also promised to increase public
expenditure on practically everything else.
The real reforms could come only
through increasing cost-effectiveness several fold, by introducing some positive
incentives. What is now the reward for an NHS manager who moves to curb such
inefficiencies as that a patient with the same illness often stays twice as long
in an expensive London hospital as in a cheaper northern one? His reward is
that doctors complain that he is interfereing with their patients, and the local
press vilifies him for releasing some half-sick old lady early into the cold.
What punishment awaits a consultant who is slow in clearing his queue of
pain.ridden people waiting many months for surgery? The pleasant punishment that
longer queues generate extra private pay patients. An ordinary general
practitioner is paid as much if he overprescribes for rich suburbanites in Esher
as when his beat is midnight missions through council estates where he fears
being mugged. He chooses Esher.
The minimum reform for British hospitals is a
system that allowed each District Health Authority (DHA) - certainly each one in
poor areas - to seek the best care for its residents even in hospitals outside
its district. The Alliance favours this; the other two parties are silent. Any
system should also give incentives to DHA's to provide cost-effevtively the
services other areas have most in demand. If there is a long queue for
non-emergency surgery like hip operations in one district, let some hospital in
another district expand hip operations - and get a "profit-sharing bonus" for
all its staff if this cuts other DHA's cost.
Once such a system were in
operation, all wages, subcontracting and incentives (eg, giving GP's who
prescribe economically half the savings they generate?) should be decided
locally. The underdoctored areas would have to pay more to attract doctors, but
they are often the depressed areas that could pay below trade-union rates for
ancillary or sub-contractor's staff. Don't call this exploitative: it would
increase jobs and health care in poor towns.
The Economist May 23 1987
N.B.
Some may be no doubt wondering what the hell Fritz is doing revamping all
these old articles from centuries past ? but I reckon they're just as relevent
today as they were then, and in some ways more so, as we can track those
records, but can only speculate on the future obviously. I find it personally
interesting as it was in the milk snatchers years, and to be honest I really
don't see too much of a difference between then and now after reading this
report. The "Red Queen Hypothesis" comes to mind named after the Red Queen in
"Alice through the looking glass", where one has to keep running to stay in the
same place.
Fritz Von Enoughineedacoldbeer
quote:
Originally posted by reductionist:
Fritz,
I might have missed it but why are you so interested in the NHS and all things UK political? Do you yearn for a return to these isles? Or is everything so perfect in Germany that the only chance for a moan is at the state of the UK state?
Thank you for that classic observation, no I'm just neutrally interested like the rest of us, and lean in no particular direction except Bars.
Fritz Von Nowe'reineurope
"Ick Bin Ein Barleaner"
Fritz,
I think you'll find that being non-patent medicinal heroin is actually dirt cheap.
Enid Blyton was a smackhead you know. Became addicted after a shoulder operation or somesuch.
Here's a picture of some legal NHS 'Class A' Horse:
Also avaiable on the NHS is a synthetic opiate called Diconal which handily includes an anti-emetic so you can get off your tree without dribbling vomit down your best shirt.
Matthew vonhelpingthekidsgetofftheirtrolleyssafely
I think you'll find that being non-patent medicinal heroin is actually dirt cheap.
Enid Blyton was a smackhead you know. Became addicted after a shoulder operation or somesuch.
Here's a picture of some legal NHS 'Class A' Horse:
Also avaiable on the NHS is a synthetic opiate called Diconal which handily includes an anti-emetic so you can get off your tree without dribbling vomit down your best shirt.
Matthew vonhelpingthekidsgetofftheirtrolleyssafely
Thanks for that Matt, me mate Dave wouldn't mind two score if that's alright ? he could always dribble better than Beckham anyway even shirtless. I've just started my second ice cold bottle of Bud (Czech) unlike Cheryl's early moaning Buzz, anf I feel tipsy already, amazing I just can't take myself anywhere, ans I really hate taking advantage of mesen too.
Fritz Von Willachequebeoksquire ?
P.s: And the Jailer Man & Sailor Sam were searchin everyone **** & I ad t'pay f'me At !!!
Fritz Von Willachequebeoksquire ?
P.s: And the Jailer Man & Sailor Sam were searchin everyone **** & I ad t'pay f'me At !!!
quote:
Originally posted by reductionist:
Fritz,
I might have missed it but why are you so interested in the NHS and all things UK political? Do you yearn for a return to these isles? Or is everything so perfect in Germany that the only chance for a moan is at the state of the UK state?
In past experience I have unfortunately encountered on virtually every trip
to the UK during an enjoyable evening either in a pub or restuarant with friends
or family, that at some stage the implications of your question arise, and I
submit that many other ex-pats have endured similar precious wasting of their
time ?
The fact that I choose to live here in Berlin is not a secret amongst
afore-mentioned folk, but at some stage (even though I've expressed the desire
for it not to be known it always somehow becomes a theme on-site, through either
stupidity, jealousy, weak pathetically poor sarcasm & copied humour" arrogance, or sheer bloody-mindedness). My own personality
and character switch off at this point and I (like many I know) go into
so-called automatic pilot, and cannot leave the place quick enough, ruining the
meet generally.
I'm not going to go deeper into this subject, but I just find it
(as always; exceptionally Sad) that little ego's and mindlessless can have so
much impact on others perceptions, and that pre-concieved steriotypical racism
abound healthily in the UK (as elsewhere ) which subsequently closes the show
before it even has a chance to show its worth and open.
Fritz Von I've hearditallbefore
P.S. I know that other ex pats around will know what I'm saying (I don't mean
the 20,000 + in security in Iraq earning $20-$30,000 a month either, they are
obviously HEROS ", I mean the sincere members of the Human Race, innit. Put that
in yer pipe and smoke it, and please don't follow up with hypocrytical smartie
point attempts at explaining yourself, I know exeactly where you're coming from
Mister and you make me sick. P.s. as a Private Eye reader of some 30 odd years I
have gained a ´taste for quality invenstigative journailism, wether it's shite or not, what's your excuse, nobbing Mr Cambell are we ?
P.P.S. And like the hounourable member for Swindon, we probably consisder each
other total wankers (forum-wise) but respect each others right Not to have to
justify ourselves to any man (cept Matt maybe ?) no, not even her.
The biggest Bug Bear in my tiny life is HYPOCRACY I hate it, and always try to
avoid kids being a part of it's devastating corruption, and the imlications of
your snide pointings are the very essence of that HYPOCRACY (nothing personal
John or Joan, sleep well !!!)
Wasn't that nice Dear, we'll have to invite that young man over again sometime and play play/try out this sincerity nad honesty game sometime it really does seem like fun doesn't it ?
Shabby Nazi Trick !!!
I hope you enjoyed that suprise, analyse it if you like, you'll get nowhere and feel even the worse for it, innit.
Jeez Fritz that's the angriest I've ever known you to be (in my limited time on this here Forum ).
Your supervisor at Wickes must have 'ad a right go atcha'
Kind regards,
JonR von 'eezjustavvinnalarfhonestguv
).Your supervisor at Wickes must have 'ad a right go atcha'
Kind regards,
JonR von 'eezjustavvinnalarfhonestguv
As Phil Lynott would sing "Don't believe a word" but to cover my ass, never mind John believe me I's untouchable.
Fritz Von Youcangoyourownway
N.B. And just remember just because a patient isn't paranoid it doesn't mean they're not after him, innit !!!
Fritz Von Youcangoyourownway
N.B. And just remember just because a patient isn't paranoid it doesn't mean they're not after him, innit !!!
Recent Government/PFI funded research at the University of Oldham for clever
bastards and low paid egoists has come up with incredible new results. Prof. Dr.
John Plenty in charge of the 5 year, £3,5 Billion project reports that in
layman's terms - NHS patients being visited by Consultants & Senior Doctors
sporting Bow Ties, rather than conventional ones have up to 80% less chance of
catching viruses and diseases from other patients beds and body's due to their
being out of touch as it were !
This new innovative approach is very likely to be rewarded with a Knighthood for Prof Plenty in the New Years Honour's list,
assuming he's not poorly that is, as a payrise is totally outr of the question, innit.
From Our Own Correspondent selling the fags, running the bets, and making the
dicky phone calls (ask for Charlie / Ward D).
bastards and low paid egoists has come up with incredible new results. Prof. Dr.
John Plenty in charge of the 5 year, £3,5 Billion project reports that in
layman's terms - NHS patients being visited by Consultants & Senior Doctors
sporting Bow Ties, rather than conventional ones have up to 80% less chance of
catching viruses and diseases from other patients beds and body's due to their
being out of touch as it were !
This new innovative approach is very likely to be rewarded with a Knighthood for Prof Plenty in the New Years Honour's list,
assuming he's not poorly that is, as a payrise is totally outr of the question, innit.
From Our Own Correspondent selling the fags, running the bets, and making the
dicky phone calls (ask for Charlie / Ward D).
Upon seeing a specialist last thurday afternoon after work, he calmly announced
that I had a tumour on my neck which was quite a shock to put it mildly.
Insisting that I sign off work for a week sick and report the following morning
at 07:30 hrs for blood tests, etc, etc, and a mountain of paperwork signing to
get through, and my new boss to inform, which went down really well I can tell
you. & some 8 hours later I was lying on an operating table for the first time I
can remember, pretty stone-hengely drowsy (most sureal) then fully out on
aenesthetic, awoke whenever in a strange environment and rather floaty still,
which was pretty good actually.
All along there's been no pain whatsover with he
whole caboodle, but to be honest it has been rather tiresome (like me I'm sure)
waiting this very long week for the results of the biopsy etc. I've seen the Doc
twice daily for dressing changes etc, and I must say the whole experience has
been very fast, thorough, and no question óf waiting at all at all, and I think
the only point that suprised me a bit was on the day of the op, in that if I
didn't appear on time, and totally free of having eaten, drunk, etc, I'd be
fined €450 pronto for wasting their time, which is fair enough in anybody's
book I suppose, unless of course one has a bloody good reason not to be there,
innit. The speed and efficiency of the whole action is my point, and I expect
such treatment doesn't come cheaply anywhere in Europe if one actually had to
pay for it at cost price so to speak? I would sympathise with anybody who had to
wait months (if not longer) to have any kind of (potentially life-saving
surgery, where time is of the essence, rather than the actual severity of the op
itself, (which in my case was miniscule) and a prompt and accurate diagnosis
being the order of the day as well. I say this as in some cases in the UK, one I
know of to be fact right now, has come too late, and is seemingly all too often
the norm, and is/are put down to other factors, which blur the true picture, and
do nothing to improve or raise the moral of the good people of the NHS either,
end of sermon ! Well nearly the end, wasn't it nice to see how quickly the PM
got his ticker looked at the other day, now 2 Jags likes to make it very public
that he's an NHS man, so I wonder how long it would've taken him to get sorted
if he'd had the very same problem ?(Be Honest Now!!!).
Graham George Von Whatalongoldweekthatwas
AND IT'S BACK TO WORK IN THE MOANING; WOT A LARF EH - - it's almost enough to
drive a person to drink ? thank fuck for Padded Cells, Sad³ or What!!!
N.B. Latest in from The Daily Star, "Home Secretary soon to resign".
Pish: I've just been informed that my lump was benign so that's allright then
innit.
that I had a tumour on my neck which was quite a shock to put it mildly.
Insisting that I sign off work for a week sick and report the following morning
at 07:30 hrs for blood tests, etc, etc, and a mountain of paperwork signing to
get through, and my new boss to inform, which went down really well I can tell
you. & some 8 hours later I was lying on an operating table for the first time I
can remember, pretty stone-hengely drowsy (most sureal) then fully out on
aenesthetic, awoke whenever in a strange environment and rather floaty still,
which was pretty good actually.
All along there's been no pain whatsover with he
whole caboodle, but to be honest it has been rather tiresome (like me I'm sure)
waiting this very long week for the results of the biopsy etc. I've seen the Doc
twice daily for dressing changes etc, and I must say the whole experience has
been very fast, thorough, and no question óf waiting at all at all, and I think
the only point that suprised me a bit was on the day of the op, in that if I
didn't appear on time, and totally free of having eaten, drunk, etc, I'd be
fined €450 pronto for wasting their time, which is fair enough in anybody's
book I suppose, unless of course one has a bloody good reason not to be there,
innit. The speed and efficiency of the whole action is my point, and I expect
such treatment doesn't come cheaply anywhere in Europe if one actually had to
pay for it at cost price so to speak? I would sympathise with anybody who had to
wait months (if not longer) to have any kind of (potentially life-saving
surgery, where time is of the essence, rather than the actual severity of the op
itself, (which in my case was miniscule) and a prompt and accurate diagnosis
being the order of the day as well. I say this as in some cases in the UK, one I
know of to be fact right now, has come too late, and is seemingly all too often
the norm, and is/are put down to other factors, which blur the true picture, and
do nothing to improve or raise the moral of the good people of the NHS either,
end of sermon ! Well nearly the end, wasn't it nice to see how quickly the PM
got his ticker looked at the other day, now 2 Jags likes to make it very public
that he's an NHS man, so I wonder how long it would've taken him to get sorted
if he'd had the very same problem ?(Be Honest Now!!!).
Graham George Von Whatalongoldweekthatwas
AND IT'S BACK TO WORK IN THE MOANING; WOT A LARF EH - - it's almost enough to
drive a person to drink ? thank fuck for Padded Cells, Sad³ or What!!!
N.B. Latest in from The Daily Star, "Home Secretary soon to resign".
Pish: I've just been informed that my lump was benign so that's allright then
innit.