MEDICAL HELP//

Photo of the week - Parakeets through the garden window, soon all the leaves will be gone and the splash of green in the trees is fantastic, who minds their squawking - not me!

Recently I had a recurrence of a niggling medical condition that returns from time to time. History told me I needed a course of antibiotics to clear it up.   I registered with a Doctor some time ago so I checked the Practice card indicating the opening hours etc.   Walk-ins are from 7.45 to 09.00 it says, so I thought I would pop by and pick up a prescription.  I didn’t wait long, a Doctor came out to collect me from the waiting room, nice touch, unlike the Receptionist in London who calls across the entire waiting room “Mrs R to room 8 please”.   Inside his office, before I could explain anything, the young Doctor went into a spiel to explain his Doctor position, which was basically he was qualified,  but doing training to become a GP.    This took a few minutes until he got to the end of his monologue and I agreed to be treated by him.  Oh well, I thought, he at least will know all the latest medicines if he’s fresh out of Medical School.

As I don’t go to the Doctor very often I save up a few items that need dealing with while discussing the real reason for the visit, ie a strange looking mole or something like that.  The, "while I’m here Doctor would you just take a look at this" sort of thing.  The Doctor was quite put out with this approach, confirming I needed a further prescription. You should have told me about that before I made the first prescription he said, I’ve printed that off now.  Oops! Off to a bad start.  Right, I’ll remember that next time I responded, making a mental note to rattle off all my ailments at the same time in the future.  I was just about to leave, when I was put further into my place, the Dutch way, which is always very direct and to the point. The next time you need to come, if you have more than one item to discuss you must make an appointment for the afternoon session.   Ah, said I, sorry I thought that you could just turn-up for the morning Walk-in sessions.  You can he replied, but only if you have one thing wrong with you because I cannot allow you too much time!!!   Well that told me.  I don’t know how you deal with that if you notice one ailment is causing another??   The prescribed antibiotics didn’t work anyway, so within a few days I was back at the Walk-in.  I want you to have some tests done said the Doctor, me foolishly thinking they would do it at the clinic.  No, you have to go to the hospital down the road.  But, he informed me, you must take two pieces of identification.   Here we go again I thought,  more paperwork. I already have my Medical Insurance Card which I always carry, but this was not sufficient, so I had to return home to get my passport.  Cycling at speed because I was late for another appointment, I chained up outside the hospital and rushed in.  A lady on the stairs with the sole duty of directing people to the right place accompanied me to the laboratory where I met the two nurses in charge.   Where is your hospital registration card one of them asked, are you registered with the hospital??  No, the Doctor sent me, here is the Form he completed.  Well if you are not registered we cannot accept this.  So how do I get registered I responded, now dear readers you know the answer.. go to the Registration Desk.    The Registration Desk had at least 6 employees sitting there doing absolutely nothing as this is a small Cottage Hospital for outpatients and minor injuries only,  but of course I had to chose the only person who was “in training” so to complete my Registration on the computers drop down menu took twice as long, with the finale being, sit on that chair as we need to take your photo.   I now have another piece of plastic, photocard for the local hospital, valid for two hospitals only, the main hospital in Oosterpark(?) and the annex close to home.  I dread to think what would happen if I got sick outside my zone.