Inadequate healthcare, even if it’s free… is still fucking inadequate!

I know if I asked 10 Americans, what they think of the country’s healthcare system, I’d get 10 very different (and most likely very passionate) responses.  I’d hear about how Obama Care is “ruining the country,” and how expensive healthcare care has become.  I’d be sure to hear a Republican opinion and to the contrary, there would be an equally loud Democratic opinion.  Woman may have a much different opinion than men and I imagine black American’s would feel dissimilar to white Americans; and people of wealth might be more upbeat and confident about their healthcare options, than poor people.

What about here in the UK, you ask?  Well, I believe I’d hear similar praises and complaints about the NHS. (Minus the anti-Obama rhetoric, of course!)  There are some people here that love the NHS and would support everything it is and everything it stands for; while others would “throw the baby out with the bath water” and start over!

Just for a minute, let’s put all of that aside.  Forget the political side of healthcare.  Let’s let go of any nationalistic beliefs, regarding our county’s healthcare system.

As a human being…. what do you expect from your healthcare professional?

If I go to the doctor with a cough… I expect him or her to listen to my chest.  If I have an earache, perhaps looking in my ear with that little cone-head, light thingy would be appropriate. And if I complain of severe, intestinal distress… perhaps take a listen to my peristaltic sounds or even (if you’re cutting edge) gently press around down there, just to make sure Ridley Scott hasn’t planned another remake of that scene from Alien.

I have lived in the UK for 5 years and I am sick, a lot… (…but that’s another story!)  However, I can count, on one hand, the number of times my GP has “laid hands one me! ”

Seriously, I complain of a cough and I’m told by my doctor, who is sitting behind his desk, 3 feet away, “It’s a virus and it will go away.” I complain of a sore throat, and with his back towards me (because he is keying my complaint into a computer), he says, “It sounds like a virus, it will clear up in a week or so.”  And for my complaints about possibly recreating that scene from Alien…. Well, I must have done a really excellent job articulating those symptoms, because without nary a look, a listen or a feel, he diagnosed that as Irritable Bowel Syndrome! (IBS) and get this, he prescribed pills!  (Apparently that’s not caused by a virus and won’t go away on it’s on).

For fuck sakes, my cardiologist, in the last few minutes of my yearly £150 private appointment says to me, “Do you want me to take a listen?”  Huh?  What?  “YES, yes actually, I do want you to take a listen!  WTF?  No blood work. No checking cholesterol numbers. No stress test or EKG… just a 30-45 minute discussion about prolapsed Mitral Valves and arrhythmias.

Do I have cooties?

As an American, am I classified as an “untouchable?”

I take showers… daily!  So why the “hands-off” approach Doc?

When did being a doctor become a “conversational” profession?

Okay, maybe it’s just my GP practice (and my private Cardiologist!) and it’s not indicative of the entire NHS system.  I guess that’s possible!  …. but I’m sorry, I miss the good old American healthcare practices, where they poked and prodded you!

Where if you complained about intestinal issues long enough, your doctor ordered a Lower GI. If you had numerous sore throats, s/he took a culture and gave you an antibiotic. If you were prone to lots of coughs and colds, maybe they ordered a blood test or possibly took a chest x-ray!

I know I have free healthcare…  but inadequate healthcare, even it it’s free… is still inadequate!

Disclaimer:  “The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of any United States or United Kingdom citizens, regarding their countries healthcare system. Feel free to challenge me, disagree with me, or tell me I’m completely nuts in the comments section of each blog entry.  However, I do  reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason whatsoever (abusive, profane, rude, or anonymous comments) – so for fuck’s sake, keep it clean and tell me who you are!