N.H.S. = No Hope Specialists pt 1

February 04, 2010

Having watched the debate about the "new" initiative on health care n the United States make its burdened way through the House and stalling in the Senate, I can say without a doubt, no matter how bad, American's have it nice compared to the socialized medicine of the N.H.S. You might ask how a bloated system of over-priced procedures, expensive drugs and having to pay through the nose for basic coverage can be better than free medicine for all with low cost drugs. Simple answer is at least you stand a chance of actually seeing a real doctor who might actually get the diagnosis right back in the U.S.
One of the people who I consider a friend stepped wrong while at work. He felt something pop in his ankle. Of course you know the story. Ankle swells up like a balloon. He thinks he has sprained it, so tries to make an appointment at the local clinic. Answer he gets is simply can't fit you in today, you will have to come back tomorrow. You would think you could try the emergency room right? Well, the A&E (accident and emergency) is only for major injuries. Besides, who is going to sit for four hours just to be sent home.
He makes an appointment and is seen by the local G.P. who calmly tells him he has sprained the ankle. The G.P. does however decide they should x-ray the offending ankle a few weeks later when the ankle has not healed at all.
Telling my friend they could find nothing wrong with the inside of his ankle, they are baffled. Wait did I forget to mention, it was the outside of the ankle which was swollen. The G.P. decides to refer my friend to a specialist. The wait time is only a month or three.
The specialist promptly run an MRI on the troublesome ankle now six plus months later since the original injury. Verdict. . . He has torn one ligament and the second one has ruptured completely. Result, he will have to go in for surgery. Yup, he is placed on the waiting list for another few months until they can fit him in. Surgery one results in being in a cast and sidelined for two months.
Returning to the specialist, the ankle has still not healed. They decide to give plastic inserts to put in the shoes in the hope it will straighten his ankle out. Come back in a few months to see.
Ta-dum. Problem solved! Oops, wait. The first surgery didn't correct the problem at all. It seems they should have fused several of the small bones together to actually correct the problem. Fine, put him on the waiting list again.
It is now I think over eighteen months since his first visit to the G.P. for a sprained ankle and next week, he goes in the second surgery. He figures he will be out for only about three months this time.
Watch out for anything which may cause you damage in this country. They might get around to fixing you shortly before they bury you. . . .