Infections and Plooks (scot inf = spots)

Reason number 2 of 'Benefits of Living here' is the unbelievable service in Health Care.



Here's how the system works (cos I didn't have a scooby...)

• You pick an insurance company (you might be there a while, there're quite a few)




• Decide on your package -how much excess you'll pay, do you want inclusion of free ambulances? And lots of other variables




• They send you a wee card to confirm you're covered which you show EVERYWHERE when you need medical treatment and/or prescriptions




• Pick a Pediatrician (if you have kids)




• Pick a GP (if you are likely to have general illnesses)




• Pick a Gynae (if you have a vagina)

You get the idea, aces in their places, you go see specialists when you're ill, not just your GP. And that's why it works. You don't overburden the GP and as a result they have more time and patience with er the patients. You can decide if you just want standard care (supposedly like NHS when there are no queues or waiting lists) half private or full on private. Our family cover costs us much less than our combined NI contributions in the UK.


Anyhoo, a story:


On Easter Monday Daisy had blood in her urine. As the docs were shut (and the kid was walking like John Wayne) we nipped her to the Kids A&E at the local hospital. We took our own sample, dropped it off and as they were busier than normal took our number, telling us they'd ring when it had been tested. On their actual instructions, we went off to 'relax for an hour or two.'


55 mins later, the lady did actually call (no will they/won't they UK expectations, this is Switz ffs) and within 20 mins we were in and out with a collection of medication large enough to replenish Boots.


They also told us to make an appointment with Daisy's doc for a follow up in a week's time and that someone would call in 2 days to tell us whether we were given the right antibiotics for the bacteria (stick with it)


Here's the thing:


2 Days later the Head Doctor from kids A&E left a message in both languages on our answer machine to apologise for not being there on the day and 'HOW IS DAISY?' (Eh? EH??) And could we call back. Three times that man called to talk to us to keep track on how the antibiotics were kicking in. Unbelievable. We cancelled the follow up as we felt it was a drain on resources. Ooh they didn't like that.
(Side note: I always think of @LuceKD when I'm in our local hosp. and how awful she's been treated. I was told by a nurse that hospital staff here love their job as they feel respected and are paid accordingly)


This week, Daisy has chicken pox, everyone gets them and at first I was very excited, get 'em early n'all that (these itchy plooks are little fuckers, actually). I asked Mr B to pick up the equivalent of calamine lotion from surgery with prescription (costs a fortune otherwise) and we already had some anti itch drops so bish bash bosh, no need for docs. Oh so you THINK so? Receptionist insisted we came in to confirm they were the pox as 'that's what we're here for, sir'. So we sat in quarantine at the docs for an hour to be told 'yes, you're right, it is chicken pox'. I hate wasting their time.




Chicken Pox has turned our angelic daughter into a little shit, but it translates as 'little wild bubbles.' And I like that.