The healthcare system

[Delderek]

Not too sure what you mean by idiot NHS. I have never had reason to fault them. Our health centre offers regular health checks if you are 55 plus.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Well Del, there are many reasons.  When I had hepatitis, before it was confirmed, there were many tests and phone calls back and forth.   I phoned at a quarter to five in the afternoon to get the final diagnosis but guess what?  The stupid women at the doctors' office weren't answering the phones lest they be delayed in leaving.  We drove over in a panic - I needed to know what the hell to do, and what not to,  before another three days passed.  Well, the stupid women took umbrage.  GP came out and we pointed out that we paid our taxes for a SERVICE which they were not providing, and she denied it!  They are nothing but a bunch of fuckwits.

We had yearly blood tests at our disposal - cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, blah blah blah blah blah blah.  Regularly, when our cholesterol test came back high, they offered us a 'clinic'.  That was a chat with a 'nurse'.  In other words, we, as regular runners with BMIs about 25 or less were offered the chance for a talk with a woman with an ass as big as Kansas. 

The NHS sucks as far as I am concerned.  Many people have had good results from it but in this day and age I think that is becoming rarer.

[Delderek]

Well as in everything good and bad. When diagnosed with high cholesterol. Given the choice between diet or Statin. Took the Statin. 15 years ago. Now eat anything and everything. Cholesterol 3.8.and I do eat a lot of rubbish and really enjoy it. So I give my health centre 10 out of 10.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Well as in everything good and bad. When diagnosed with high cholesterol. Given the choice between diet or Statin. Took the Statin. 15 years ago. Now eat anything and everything. Cholesterol 3.8.and I do eat a lot of rubbish and really enjoy it. So I give my health centre 10 out of 10.

Good for you.  Make sure - insist - they give you regular liver function tests.  This should be done with your yearly blood test.  It is very important as statins are not good for the liver.  (As mentioned I had hepatitis so I'm particularly liver-sensitive.)

[Delderek]

If my liver is unwell. It won't be Statin that caused it:'(

[Mazoka]

Overall I believe that the healthcare system is excellent.

But I had my doubts a few years ago when my doctor sent me to see a heart surgeon after I told him that I had a tightness in my chest, which I thought was due to my dogs backcombing their hair on the sofa.  No I didn't, I told him that it was probably due in some way to the hairs from my dogs.

I went to see the heart surgeon, and after a brief chat he sent me for various blood tests and a treadmill test.

A couple of hours later I was back in the heart surgeons office for the results from the tests. He informed me that I had "coronary heart disease" and would need to take a few different types of medication for the rest of my life. I told him that I felt that there had possibly been a mistake in the test results. He was not best pleased and was very dismissive about my comments.

I told him that I wanted to take whatever test there was available which would establish without a doubt whether or not I had coronary heart disease. I was given an appointment to have procedure where a small camera in a tube is inserted into the groin to look at the heart condition from within the body. The procedure was carried by a different heart specialist who informed me that there was no sign of coronary heart disease and that everything concerning my heart was fine

I wonder how many people may have been given a similar misdiagnosis and accepted what they were told and are now taking medication for the rest of their lives unnecessarily. As I have said earlier the overall healthcare system is excellent...but mistakes can be made.

[Nova]

The website for hospital USP Costa Adeje is redirecting me to a page for hospital Quirón Costa Adeje.  Has it changed names?  What I mean is, if I make an apopintment with them, can anyone confirm it's the same place?

[Janet]

Yes, same hospital. It was taken over by the Quiron group last year ... see HERE

[Nova]

Cool, thank you!  Appointment request sent.

The pain is excruciating now, I can't do a damned thing!  Except use my computer, for some reason my computer doesn't hurt, but washing my hands does, as does opening the fridge, lifting things, even adjusting my clothing!  God only knows how I'm going to cope at work 

[Janet]

no pinch and pull involved with a mouse or to type ...

I'm glad you made the appointment