I haven't blogged for a while, largely because I have been unwell, but also because I tend to wait until something moves me, or pisses me off enough to run screaming to the computer!
What pissed me off recently was a dreadful experience I had with the "private" medical world leaving me feeling vulnerable and fearful.
I had a worrying MRI scan of my back and my doctor said I needed to be referred to a neuro-surgeon. She said that at present they have an "arrangement" with the Nuffield private hospital which meant that she could refer me there to a neuro surgeon "Mr.Choksey", who would see me as a NHS patient.
As it happens, when I tried to arrange it all, it turned out not to be as straightforward as she had thought, and rather than start the whole procedure again, I decided to pay for the consultation.To see what I was dealing with and what my options were.
It was awful! This man was arrogant, condescending, and examined me as if I was a piece of meat . He told me I needed spinal surgery "As a matter of urgency" and it would need to be performed within the next day or two!
It felt like a bad dream, a real shock.
He then asked if I had medical insurance, which I haven't, and then said "Well I will have to refer you back to the NHS service -If you want to risk infection"!
Gez, who was with me was a bit panicked and said "Hang on a moment are you saying that my wife is MORE likely to get an infection if she goes into the NHS hospital?"
"Oh yes" said the surgeon "In fact that is why I left the NHS! , but they won't tell you that they will LIE to you!"
How much would the operation be privately? £15,000 , Quite out of the question for us!
When he realised we weren't going to pay for the operation, he very quickly added "Well if you go and see them, they may not agree with me of course"
It felt like he was touting for business, and had very little regard for the fact that he had now frightened an already very worried patient into thinking that where he was sending me was unsafe!
I was then charged with going straight to A&E in Coventry, where indeed they did disagree, thought that although the operation needs doing, it certainly was not THAT urgent.
They were professional empathic and KIND!
Now I have always been an absolute admirer of our health service, it has always been a beacon of integrity in my lifetime, and free to all patients! Which is so much more than people in many other countries have at their disposal.
Most of these surgeons have had their education free of charge too!
We do take it for granted, as with everything that has always been free, but every now and again something happens that makes us appreciate what we have.
There is also a perception that because we have free medical care, that it is somehow inferior, when of course that is absolutely not true.
Yes, there may be blips with administration, communication sometimes, but when it comes to illness, I have always found the care is second to none. I for one will add my name to anything that will protect it!
(I am not looking forward to this operation though!!)
