After three days of a chronic migraine and emptying the pain killers it seemed prudent to seek out medical attention. If I was regularly sick sorting these matters out might seem like a snap, but this is the first time I've needed a General Practitioner (GP). This was my first opportunity to put the system to the test. After paying into the government healthcare system, I would now get to use it. Are the nay-sayers correct? Or is this National Health System, health-for-all, the way that all countries should be doing it --a model the U.S. should follow?
The experience might best be categorized as a journey and as such I've divided it into destinations.
Destination 1: Visit GP to Register and schedule appointment - I should have known the morning was going to go poorly when traffic was snarled by an accident. It took me 15 minutes to go the 1 mile to Stanmore Medical Centre. They have a small car park in the rear of the building off Crowshott Avenue. Arriving at about 8:35 a.m. I briefly waited in the line of 5 people to advance to the reception window. I asked to register and was informed this could only be done on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 10 and 11. Even with a little persistence I was assured there was no other way for me to register -- "...they were working people too." While waiting to receive the registration forms one of her colleagues asked me "Are you ok?" I responded "No, not really." To this she walked away and muttered that "she was sorry she asked." I found this to be very odd as this is supposed to be a GP and of course most people were not going to be "ok". Afterall, that is why most people would come isn't it?
Destination 2: Walk-In Centre -- Not having had success registering at the GP, I was told I could try the Walk-In Centre in Edgware which was meant for people like me who are in-between GP's (or don't yet have one as the case may be). I promptly drove across to the Edgware Hospital and parked in the lower car park. In accordance with my day, the pay and display machine was not working in that section so I had to walk to the upper car park, pay, and then return down the hill to my car to display. Once inside the wait line to the reception desk was about 5 people again and moved quite quickly. After filling out a short form (because it was my first time at the walk-in centre) I was told to have a seat amongst the 50 or so chairs. I took the opportunity to read, but ended up moving a few times to sit as far away as possible from all the snarling, coughing and sneezing sick people hovering everwhere -- they of course were not "ok" either!
After a short wait of 10 minutes my name was called and I was ushered into a nearby area. The nurse took my vitals; blood pressure, temperature, pulse and blood sugar levels. I was then given a small paper slip and instructed to return at 12:20 for an appointment with the Doctor.
Destination 3: Return to Walk-In Centre to meet with Doctor -- At my appointed time I returned to the walk-in centre. After handing in my paper slip and checking in again I sat down and waited for about 10 minutes until my name was called. This time I was met by the doctor who led me to the examination room. This was a quiet, generously sized room away from the noise and distraction of the waiting room. Here I was asked a few more questions. I was assured that all my vitals were fine. The doctor examined my ears, eyes, mouth and the side of my head and neck. I was told there was no sign of an infection and that I should stop taking the pain pills I have been popping over the last few days as they may be part of the problem. I shouldn't drink any caffeine. If I needed something for the pain I should take dissolvable aspirin. That was it. That was the final diagnosis --or non-diagnosis! If the pain persisted I shoud come back or register with the GP and get an appointment.
Destination 4 - Visit GP to Register and schedule appointment -- As tomorrow is a Tuesday, one of the days I can register with the GP, I may as well do the deed and have my first appointment. So I will likely take at least another half day off work and try to get some useful treatment that can identify the problem...not just shrug it off and offer aspirin.
At the end of my day my journey has led me back to where I started. My head is suffering from a banging sensation as much as ever, I've missed a day of work and I have received no useful help. On the bright side I should have more to write about the GP after tomorrow. I'll let you know how sorting out the GP works, or doesn't as the case might be. Then if need be I could call in the reserve forces -- BUPA, private insurance that offers top-up treatment.
The experience might best be categorized as a journey and as such I've divided it into destinations.
Destination 1: Visit GP to Register and schedule appointment - I should have known the morning was going to go poorly when traffic was snarled by an accident. It took me 15 minutes to go the 1 mile to Stanmore Medical Centre. They have a small car park in the rear of the building off Crowshott Avenue. Arriving at about 8:35 a.m. I briefly waited in the line of 5 people to advance to the reception window. I asked to register and was informed this could only be done on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 10 and 11. Even with a little persistence I was assured there was no other way for me to register -- "...they were working people too." While waiting to receive the registration forms one of her colleagues asked me "Are you ok?" I responded "No, not really." To this she walked away and muttered that "she was sorry she asked." I found this to be very odd as this is supposed to be a GP and of course most people were not going to be "ok". Afterall, that is why most people would come isn't it?
Destination 2: Walk-In Centre -- Not having had success registering at the GP, I was told I could try the Walk-In Centre in Edgware which was meant for people like me who are in-between GP's (or don't yet have one as the case may be). I promptly drove across to the Edgware Hospital and parked in the lower car park. In accordance with my day, the pay and display machine was not working in that section so I had to walk to the upper car park, pay, and then return down the hill to my car to display. Once inside the wait line to the reception desk was about 5 people again and moved quite quickly. After filling out a short form (because it was my first time at the walk-in centre) I was told to have a seat amongst the 50 or so chairs. I took the opportunity to read, but ended up moving a few times to sit as far away as possible from all the snarling, coughing and sneezing sick people hovering everwhere -- they of course were not "ok" either!
After a short wait of 10 minutes my name was called and I was ushered into a nearby area. The nurse took my vitals; blood pressure, temperature, pulse and blood sugar levels. I was then given a small paper slip and instructed to return at 12:20 for an appointment with the Doctor.
Destination 3: Return to Walk-In Centre to meet with Doctor -- At my appointed time I returned to the walk-in centre. After handing in my paper slip and checking in again I sat down and waited for about 10 minutes until my name was called. This time I was met by the doctor who led me to the examination room. This was a quiet, generously sized room away from the noise and distraction of the waiting room. Here I was asked a few more questions. I was assured that all my vitals were fine. The doctor examined my ears, eyes, mouth and the side of my head and neck. I was told there was no sign of an infection and that I should stop taking the pain pills I have been popping over the last few days as they may be part of the problem. I shouldn't drink any caffeine. If I needed something for the pain I should take dissolvable aspirin. That was it. That was the final diagnosis --or non-diagnosis! If the pain persisted I shoud come back or register with the GP and get an appointment.
Destination 4 - Visit GP to Register and schedule appointment -- As tomorrow is a Tuesday, one of the days I can register with the GP, I may as well do the deed and have my first appointment. So I will likely take at least another half day off work and try to get some useful treatment that can identify the problem...not just shrug it off and offer aspirin.
At the end of my day my journey has led me back to where I started. My head is suffering from a banging sensation as much as ever, I've missed a day of work and I have received no useful help. On the bright side I should have more to write about the GP after tomorrow. I'll let you know how sorting out the GP works, or doesn't as the case might be. Then if need be I could call in the reserve forces -- BUPA, private insurance that offers top-up treatment.
