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Doctor Couldn’t-Care-Less
By ella | March 8, 2006
I am repeatedly grateful for the National Health Service that we have in this country. Whenever the children are unwell I am particularly grateful for the prompt, free medical care that we have. As an aside, the NHS may be “free” but a good chunk of the tax on my income - mine and everyone else’s - goes to paying for it. The doctors may think they are providing a free service to an ungrateful public but we have definitely paid for it.
But NHS or not, there is no getting around it: my doctor is a sh*t.
Sometimes I can’t quite believe that the two doctors at my local surgery are actually qualified. One is known not-so-affectionately as “Dr Don’t Know” and the other has such a simpering manner that I want to grab him by the neck and give him a good shake. Until now I have been able to live with these shortcomings. We are currently going through a week of fevers of viruses, fevers, vomiting, diarrheoa and general unwellness. Eldest Son, Harry, normally a boisterous four, has been reduced to lying on the sofa pathetically watching an endless round of DVDs and children’s television, but mostly asking to go to bed. Unheard of.
Last night, having made a partial recovery yesterday, he went rapidly downhill and I considered calling the doctor. However I thought, OK he’s ill but not that ill so I’ll wait until the morning, out-of-hours docs are for those who are really sick and can’t wait. Morning came and he was worse so I called the doctor and explained that he was very unwell. For the first time ever (as however sick any of us has been I have usually staggered into the doctor’s office) I asked for a home visit. Without even pausing Dr Don’t Know said no, I would have to bring Harry in. I explained he was very unwell with a very high temperature and had been unable to get out of bed. “You’ll still have to bring him in” said the all-caring doctor.
I felt like crying. I have Harry who is sick, Second Son William who is also sick but not quite so bad and Youngest Son Ben who is sick with diarrheoa. All three would require carrying from the car to the waiting room. In the rain. And one who was so poorly that getting him out of bed would be fraught with tears.
So for the first time ever I will be changing doctors. And I don’t intend to slope off quietly to another surgery and sign up there; I shall be making it clear to Dr Don’t Know why I am leaving. And I will be finding a new doctor that will treat all the members of my family with a bit of compassion when they’re poorly. Because that’s their job even if they don’t think it is.
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Categories: Daily Life
4 Comments
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Aaaaawwwww! I hope you all feel better soon and find an amazing new doctor for your family! Good luck!
I agree. some docs are really crap and make you feel like you are wasting their time or something. Good luck finding a good one, they are out there.
Hi, found your blog via Blogging Brits. Sorry to hear of all the illnesses, hope they’re all feeling better soon.
I have a poorly husband and daughter at the moment, so I can fully sympathise. The cat is healthy though so it’s not all bad!
Pop by my blog and say hello…
How awful! I’m so sorry.
We pay about 33% income tax and don’t get free healthcare. I have been thinking about American healthcare a lot lately. Some of our friends are self-employed and it is nearly prohibitive, cost-wise, to get health insurance.
But back to your issue - expensive as it is - we probably do feel more in control of our care.
I hope you get a better, more compassionate doctor who is not too far away.