NOW COMING TO MY MAIN GRIPE! THE SERVICE WAS SET UP TO PROVIDE FREE HEALTH CARE FOR THE PATIENT, BUT THE PROVIDERS OF THE SERVICE HAVE PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE ADMIN SIDE AND BY DOING SO ARE WASTING A COLOSSAL AMOUNT OF THE MONEY WHICH SHOULD BE SPENT ON PATIENT CARE.

Here is my own experience at visiting a specialist when I lived abroad. (1) The necessary x-ray was taken, he discussed the x-ray with me and made a decision there and then in the one visit. Here, in order to fit in with the admin side - (1) after waiting weeks to see a specialist, you are then informed that an x-ray is necessary, (2) more admin necessary whilst you wait weeks for the appointment, (3) you travel to the x-ray dept and afterwards told to telephone for the results in a fortnight's time, (4) you telephone, more chasing up and possibly more admin as you are asked to make another appointment (5) more travelling and yet more stress as possibly the original x-ray has been mislaid when you eventually get to the appointment. Just think how many people are employed to weave their way through all this admin and the further stress and exhaustion caused to the poor patient. There is unnecessary admin even at the level of visiting the doctor. I'll give you one example.

On a visit to my doctor I was informed that I needed my blood pressure taken. I was told to (1) make an appointment with the nurse on my way out of the surgery. (2) This involved queuing at the reception desk in order to make the appointment, (3) the receptionist perusing her computer in order to find a vacancy, (4) writing out the appointment card, and (5) my having to travel by car the following week to the surgery, (6) engaging the receptionist once again, and (7) wasting part of my day waiting in the surgery WHEN IN THE TIME THE DOCTOR USED FOR INFORMING ME THAT I NEEDED A BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK, HE COULD HAVE CHECKED IT AND SO SAVED ALL THAT WASTED TIME, ADMIN AND MONEY. I know you will all have similar stories that you are dying to get off your chest. I DO WISH THE 'POWERS THAT BE' WOULD LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER - THE PATIENTS.

So, now that we are just around the corner from winter winds and ailments, let us aim to keep out of doctors' surgeries.
WHO DO YOU THINK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH? - THE GOVERNMENT? THE DOCTOR? NO, YOU ARE ! Y 0 U ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOU - YOUR HEALTH. SO LET'S TRY AND DO SOMETHING IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.

 

 

 

 

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