I'm impressed! Reallly impressed!!!

cdv

This may not come as a news to you ... but I am really impressed by health care in Galway.
I've just returned from a doc that told me that she's not going to refer me to a USG because it's not her problem that I have pains (she's an infectionist) instead I should go to GP and wait 6 months (!!!!!!!!) for my turn!

O.M.G.!!!
In Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, it takes a few hours to get USG, and if you want a really good specialist, then it could be a matter of days.
People! You shouldn't collect money for Africa! You should collect them for yourself!
It's worse than Africa! It's worse than anything I've seen in my life!

Sorry for so many exclamation marks, but I'm honestly, deeply impressed!!
Not offended or something (I will fly home to see what's wrong with my guts), but really, really impressed!

Hey, here is an idea - what do you think if we start a campaign in Moldova, Poland, Romania with title "Donate to save lives in Ireland", or maybe "Save children in Ireland"

Oh man ... that doc really made my day

PopeBuckfastXVI

Ireland has a first world health system:

Rich people can pay for health care and poor people can f.o. and die.

biko

You just broke my sarcasm detector OP

cdv

PopeBuckfastXVI, I can pay! So who can I pay to get the USG this week? The pain is killing me

zdragon

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

Ireland has a first world health system:

Rich people can pay for health care and poor people can f.o. and die.

another way to fight with poverty

pseudonym1

Title of this thread is deceptively intriguing.

Go back to your doctor and demand an immediate referral or ask for a letter for A&E - am sure if it was serious would be admitted to hospital.

Hope you are feeling better soon

ScumLord

biko wrote: »

You just broke my sarcasm detector OP

That's what it was. The misuse of smiley's confused me.

Why do you have to wait 6 months for a GP?

The Irish health system is still working on the old principles of how to test for witchcraft. It's an ingenious way of diagnosing the important cases. If you die within the 2 years it takes you to get your appointment then your obviously sick and rushed to the head of the cue.

cdv

Just googled for the prices of USG machines. You can buy decent ones for less than 30K euro.

There are 70,000people in Galway, so It's about 50cents for a person!
Hey, here is an idea, lets collect money, 2euro per person and buy 4 of these magic devices!

cdv

ScumLord wrote: »

That's what it was. The misuse of smiley's confused me.

Sorry

ScumLord wrote: »

Why do you have to wait 6 months for a GP?

I don't (probably my English ...). The doc told me that the queue is 6 months long.

ScumLord wrote: »

The Irish health system is still working on the old principles of how to test for witchcraft. It's an ingenious way of diagnosing the important cases. If you die within the 2 years it takes you to get your appointment then your obviously sick and rushed to the head of the cue.

I also noticed that you have to tell them what you want them to do.
I mean, you can't just go and tell them that you feel pain. You also have to provide a few diagnosis and tell them what analysis you want to be performed .

Sconsey

cdv wrote: »

PopeBuckfastXVI, I can pay! So who can I pay to get the USG this week? The pain is killing me

Not sure what USG is (ultra sound?) but if you can pay then go to A&E here....http://www.galwayclinic.com/

If you are in pain and want it treated fast then the clinic is the place for you....if you are in pain and are willing to wait for hours then go to the main hospital.

biko

Perhaps if you could explain a bit of the background OP?
What pain & where?
There is a Long term illness forum where they could perhaps help better if this is an ongoing thing.

Btw, to lighten the mood: Who is the nicest guy in the hospital?

The ultra sound guy!

boredatwork82

Agree with above poster, Just go to the Galway clinic, excellent hospital, excellent facilities and and feck all waiting time.
Thats where I go the whole time. and VHI cover it bar the consultancy fee.

cdv

Guys thanks for caring!

I got a little too emotional with this thread (of course it's personal )
I already talked to my GP and already have some pain killers and I'm sure I'll be fine till Monday when I'm going to see her again and will decide what shall we do.

I hope I am wrong about my preliminary conclusions

galah

oh, believe me, I have lots of fun stories to tell about the Irish "health care" system. it's so bad, it makes me want to move back to where I came from (were I not engaged to an Irish man and therefore condemned to live here - things you do for love... :rolleyes:).

We spent 5 hours last Thursday in A&E in UCHG without even getting to see a doctor - it was like a walking freak show in that place - the stuff people are allowed to do with noone giving a monkey's (smoke inhalation victims running out for a fag, loads of drunk people who I hope had to pay 3 times as much for clogging up the system for their inability to hold their drink, blood-smeared people walking around the corridors, a lot of elderly people on trolleys with noone checking on them - this puts any third world country to shame). How the nurses work under these conditions I don't know, but I commend them for their bravery (they were really trying their best, but clearly, the system is so fecked, there's no getting through).

And just because westdoc didn't want to diagnose or take a proper decision (called westdoc with severe breathing problems and an inability to move - they made us go THERE (took forever and a day to get him into the car in his state) - and then turned around to tell us that is this state, hubby should not have travelled. No ****, sherlock, that's why I rang to request someone to come out to our place. She then said 'ah well, a lot of people ring up and request a callout, but when they get here they're fine.' At that stage, I was ready to scream.

Or the time where hubby got a hernia fixed and they managed to destroy his appendix in the process - which meant he had to go back to A&E two weeks later and spend 24 hours on a trolley with acute appendicitis - oh, and the doctor then said "well, clearly the other surgeon made a mistake, but if you want to sue him, I won't testify").

Or the time I went into A&E because I couldn't walk, and the doctor told me to 'Google foot pain' - and sent me home (not without charging me 120 Euros for that brilliant piece of advice).

Oh the memories...

It's infuriating. And it won't get any better, what with the cutbacks and all...

Willymuncher

The only issues I've had recently with the healthcare system here have largely been due to Eastern European doctors - I have lost faith in them, the ones I have gone to seem more interested in complaining about Irish doctors than actually caring for their patients...

cdv

Galah, you scare me!

We had a less serious encounter with UCHG emergency. My daughter pushed a ball up her nose.
After a few hours of waiting and a few thousand dead brain cells.
I just went to a late night farmacy, bought an instrument that docs use to grab things in inaccessible places (sorry, not sure what's the name for that in english) and pulled that ball by my self (while still in waiting room).

At least they canceled the bill

P.S.
But I must agree with you about nurses. Really nice persons working there!
Too bad they are so useless

cdv

Willymuncher wrote: »

The only issues I've had recently with the healthcare system here have largely been due to Eastern European doctors - I have lost faith in them, the ones I have gone to seem more interested in complaining about Irish doctors than actually caring for their patients...

Well, to be honest East Europeans tend to complain more than westerners, regardless of what is their occupation.
I have a lot of EE friends that brag about irish shops, irish food, irish drivers ... so on.
I usually just ignore them But in cases of healthcare, it looks that there may be a grain of truth out there.

Willymuncher

cdv wrote: »

Well, to be honest East Europeans tend to complain more than westerners, regardless of what is their occupation.
I have a lot of EE friends that brag about irish shops, irish food, irish drivers ... so on.
I usually just ignore them But in cases of healthcare, it looks that there may be a grain of truth out there.

If only it were just the complaining though, I could deal with that.

My wife was diagnosed with a very serious condition within minutes of stepping into the doctors office without any tests or a check up, she was handed a leaflet on cervical cancer and told to have a nice weekend, we had to pursue the issue with another doctor in Ireland and her own doctor in the US - both doctors were shocked at the bluntness and unprofessionalism of the first.

Maybe we got three bad ones in this town...I don't know, but I try to steer clear of the surgeries they are in.

It seems to me that they are ten times worse than their Irish counterparts whom they complain so much about.

ScumLord

Willymuncher wrote: »

It seems to me that they are ten times worse than their Irish counterparts whom they complain so much about.

Sounds to me like they've really gotten into the swing of this whole Irish lark.

Xiney

galah wrote: »

Or the time where hubby got a hernia fixed and they managed to destroy his appendix in the process - which meant he had to go back to A&E two weeks later and spend 24 hours on a trolley with acute appendicitis - oh, and the doctor then said "well, clearly the other surgeon made a mistake, but if you want to sue him, I won't testify").

:eek:

That's shocking.


Would your husband not consider going back with you to wherever you're from?

I'm from Canada and we're moving back there before we have kids - no trust in the HSE at all.

Webbs

You will find good and bad stories about every healthcare system, I am not saying that bad things happen but I and my gf have used the health system here 3 times and on all occasions have been seen quickly, courteously and had nothing to complain about.

I used to work next to UCH in London and if you think that the A&E is bad here then you aint seen nothing, there were security guards (with stab vests) throughout the treatment area, I went there once on a thursday evening and 8 hours later I still hadnt been seen. And yes there were people on trolleys there as well

As for the poster about Canada a friend went there and was taken ill, they wouldnt even see him until his wife had produced insurance documents and a credit card! When they treated him they said he had to have his appendix out even though he kept telling them he had had that out years before and showed then the small scar, they didnt believe him or contact his GP in the UK and proceeded with the operation anyway. No apology afterwards and just shipped him home with a very large bill for his insurance to deal with.

There are huge problems with the HSE system here, not least Mary Harney and her crackpot scheme to produce an american style health system, but lets not carried away with the idea that all is wonderful elsewhere.

Webbs

cdv wrote: »

P.S.
But I must agree with you about nurses. Really nice persons working there!
Too bad they are so useless

Why are they useless if its the system you object to then fair enough but these are people who work in an stressful job, in an underfunded environment.

If you want to go round being obnoxious about people then am not surprised you get treated badly!

NickCarraway

cdv wrote: »

This may not come as a news to you ... but I am really impressed by health care in Galway.
I've just returned from a doc that told me that she's not going to refer me to a USG because it's not her problem that I have pains (she's an infectionist) instead I should go to GP and wait 6 months (!!!!!!!!) for my turn!

O.M.G.!!!
In Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, it takes a few hours to get USG, and if you want a really good specialist, then it could be a matter of days.
People! You shouldn't collect money for Africa! You should collect them for yourself!
It's worse than Africa! It's worse than anything I've seen in my life!

Sorry for so many exclamation marks, but I'm honestly, deeply impressed!!
Not offended or something (I will fly home to see what's wrong with my guts), but really, really impressed!

Hey, here is an idea - what do you think if we start a campaign in Moldova, Poland, Romania with title "Donate to save lives in Ireland", or maybe "Save children in Ireland"

Oh man ... that doc really made my day

Why has no-one pointed out that the OP's initial post makes no sense?
The doctor was an infectionist. Do you mean a Consultant in Infectious Diseases? If so, why were you seeing her about pain? Is it the case that you were seeing her about an infectious disease and you said "oh, by the way I also have this pain...". in which case she doesn't have to get involved, she is a specialist and you have brought to her attention a probelm that has nothing to do with her.
She was right to suggest you see your GP. If the specialist orders the test then she is required to follow-up on it, then either refer you on or treat you. Even though it has nothing to do with her speciality!
As for waiting 6 months for a USG (I'm assuming USG means ultrasound, I'm afraid I'm not up on all this high-tech Moldovan medical jargon) thats ridiculous, the waiting list isn't that long - weeks if on a public list, a few days if private.
So apologies if my interpretation of events is totally off and if USG means something else. It would help enormously if you clarified your post.

cdv

Nick, I'm not a doctor. All I know is that I'm in pain. I had a previously scheduled appointment with a doctor at infectious diseases clinic (for first visit I had to wait 7 months and to get results I had to wait 2 months, so in total 9 months for a test which Moldova is performed roughly within 2 weeks).

So, at this second visit I complained about pain (for which I have no diagnose - I'm not a doctor!)
She said it's not her problem (first shock), because tests are negative for hepatitis B (the thing I was tested for).
Now, here is something not really clear to me - I was tested for liver problems. And I complain for pains in that area. And I feel really bad.
And all I get is "go home"?!

That's not the way you treat cases like this!

Hey, guys, maybe you don't know how a good healthcare looks like?
Maybe you need to see russian system, or your EU partners - polish system ?!

P.S.
Another big shock was waiting time for ultra sound (by the way, cut the arrogance crap: http://www.google.ie/search?&q=define:USG).
I don't know if she was mistaking about 6 months. But If she's right, you really have problems here ... I wonder how did you learn not see them?!

cdv

NickCarraway wrote: »

you really have problems here ... I wonder how did you learn not see them?!

Correction - I have a problem

NickCarraway

cdv wrote: »

Nick, I'm not a doctor. All I know is that I'm in pain. I had a previously scheduled appointment with a doctor at infectious diseases clinic (for first visit I had to wait 7 months and to get results I had to wait 2 months, so in total 9 months for a test which Moldova is performed roughly within 2 weeks).

So, at this second visit I complained about pain (for which I have no diagnose - I'm not a doctor!)
She said it's not her problem (first shock), because tests are negative for hepatitis B (the thing I was tested for).
Now, here is something not really clear to me - I was tested for liver problems. And I complain for pains in that area. And I feel really bad.
And all I get is "go home"?!

That's not the way you treat cases like this!

Hey, guys, maybe you don't know how a good healthcare looks like?
Maybe you need to see russian system, or your EU partners - polish system ?!

P.S.
Another big shock was waiting time for ultra sound (by the way, cut the arrogance crap: http://www.google.ie/search?&q=define:USG).
I don't know if she was mistaking about 6 months. But If she's right, you really have problems here ... I wonder how did you learn not see them?!

Finally, a coherent post. No need to get snippy, I was just pointing out your original post made little sense. By the way, you don't need to go to an ID clinic to get tested for hepatitis, your GP could have done that and had the result a week later. Sorry you had to wait so long, seems pretty pointless.

galah

NickCarraway wrote: »

As for waiting 6 months for a USG (I'm assuming USG means ultrasound, I'm afraid I'm not up on all this high-tech Moldovan medical jargon) thats ridiculous, the waiting list isn't that long - weeks if on a public list, a few days if private.

The last time I had to have an x-ray, the waiting list was 3 months long...Granted, that was last year. So I wouldn't be surprised if it actually is 6 months.

Fact is that the 'service' seems to be totally disorganised and chaotic, with too much admin going on for their own good.

Of course, no country is perfect, and there are shortcomings everywhere, but here, they seem to be basic things that are wrong - like the fact that there are people waiting on trolleys in corridors. Should not happen unless the town's in a state of emergency, say after an earthquake or so. Or the high MRSA rates or general hygiene. Inever even knew what MRSA was before I came to Galway. Or the fact that they still have open wards there.

Back home, my dad wanted a 4-bed room when he had to go for surgery cause he was bored and wanted company - they told him they only do 2-beds. Here, a terminally ill cancer patient in the last weeks of her life had to endure a 12-bed open ward. Utter misery, no privacy, and increased infection risk, not to speak of the noise.

People don't seem to stick to visiting hours, and staff does not care.

Maybe UCHG is particularly bad, but still....

Have to stop, working myself into a rage again...

NickCarraway

galah wrote: »

The last time I had to have an x-ray, the waiting list was 3 months long...Granted, that was last year. So I wouldn't be surprised if it actually is 6 months.

Wow that's awful. GPs can generally refer for same day/next day x-rays.

galah

That was with a GP referral. And I am not kidding.

NickCarraway

galah wrote: »

That was with a GP referral. And I am not kidding.

Terrible. Was any explanation forthcoming?

galah

Nope. I then decided to leave it and go private - paid 90 quid in the Galway Clinic (plus the consultants fee, obviously), but at least I had the x-rays within an hour or so...How people survive here without private health insurance, I don't know.

That said, all my previous examples were experienced while being a paying member of VHI - so it's not like money will help ya always...