Good morning.....Kettles on....Anyone joining me?
So I opened a can of worms......or at least exasperations voiced at last.....and I'm glad. It's really important the UK realises that despite what the media suggests, it is not the only country with a health service. Sadly that service is sliding away from you.......I shall never forget how shocked we were when we moved here by the system we were moving into. Like anyone with no comparisons, we had thought we were well cared for by the NHS but suddenly we found out about care. OH had been a Type 1 diabetic in the UK. He thought his six monthly check up and repeat prescription ok but when he came here.....once a month.....list of annual appointments, eyes, cardiologist, hospital consultant for diabetes, and as equiptment has improved replacements plus three monthly visits from diabetic nurse. Blood tests early, before the need for breakfast, at home. Naturally, this costs the government but not us. Occasionally a specialist has to be paid by us and we are reimbursed a few days later straight back into our bank. If you can't pay ....doctor's have systems so the reimbursement comes first....but that's rare because the low paid are in a scheme where they don't have to pay for anything anyway. Both diabetes and cancer, plus about 40 other illnesses are in that category. The rest.....a sore throat for example....gov pays 70% and you can top up with insurance for rest. If you don't go to doctors much other than for refunded illness, the insurance is very affordable. Ours really just covers hospital luxuries like private rooms but you often get that anyway as all rooms only have two beds. As you can imagine, we found this increase in care astonishing. We are now used to it as the ' norm'.
One thing which helped which again would be very controversial in UK was that everyone is charged 1€ for any medical transaction. It doesn't sound a lot but if you imagine every single appointment or treatment gives the government a pound( ish) that adds up on populations of plus 60 million in a year. And it helped to fund the service here when things were getting difficult. It's been in place for about 8 years now. That's a lot of euros!
I expect there are problems with this system. The biggest is attracting young specialists to rural areas but it has become attractive to Eastern Europeans who seem very well trained, respectful and efficient. Both our dentist and ophthalmologist are Rumanian.
My own cancer treatment was first class. I won't list some of the differences now but I do have a prescription for an annual mammogram for the rest of my life. It's very reassuring.
I hope you have some success moomy. Why don't you take your husband in his dressing gown?.....and when you get to the surgery, go in and ask for help to get him out of car. At least it would make the point!
Take care all. I do think about you all especially when I read posts about situations which I know shouldn't be happening.
Love Karen
Morning all! Love the spirited discussion and agree with all the points made, interesting to hear the experience you have in France x hope the knee is healing well? Gorgeous wild flowers snowys mum. So far so good on the docetaxel here, I feel much better than when on the EC so far although I’ve woken this morning feeling a bit worse and sense I’m deteriorating which I did kind of expect only having had treatment on Tuesday but 
hope your nausea is improving tired minion, I do feel for you. Glad the scan is behind you Moomy and fingers crossed for the results. The gp sounds like he needs a big reality check. Lots of love to you all and have a good day x
