Don't Get Sick in this Country

[dotinthesky]

Kevin's fever hasn't gone away. He spent the night awake, pressing a wet cloth on his head to keep his temperature down. I slept fitfully, all kinds of bad scenarios playing in my mind.

This morning, I went with him to a walk-in clinic (we were not allowed to visit a neighbourhood GP because they are filled to capacity; I'm thinking more and more of going private with my healthcare.) He looked really pale by the time I left him in that grim NHS waiting room.

Comments

[casparian.livejournal.com]

Where did you take him?

The walk in clinic at the Royal London isn't great. But the one at Canary Wharf is brand new. It's NHS, but run by an independent sector contractor, it's all shiny and clean. It's also in a silly position so has been empty every time I've seen it, and last week i got seen immediately.

[noondaydemon.livejournal.com]

Many thanks for that suggestion. I've been going to Lewisham for various appointments but dread to think of similar dire waiting room conditions and time wastage during an emergency.

[casparian.livejournal.com]

There's also a brand new walk in centre at New Cross which is just as nice, and again, almost as empty! They're aimed at people who're too busy to be able to get to their regular GP, as they dont have their own registered patients it's often quite quick to see a nurse.

[noondaydemon.livejournal.com]

I had no idea about the New Cross branch either! This is stunning news on both accounts as my local South Street medical centre's often bursting at the seams with patients. The receptionists are often harassed and stressed, the GPs sometimes barely have time to conduct a proper appointment! Wonder why they're not shunting people off to these medical centres?

[kirstenlj.livejournal.com]

Send him get better vibes from me x

[pixxers.livejournal.com]

You're the second person on my flist to complain about NHS.

:( Poor Kevin. I hope he feels better soon.

[la-mascherina.livejournal.com]

Really sorry to hear Kevin is still under the weather.
Sometimes you can be seen faster and treated more directly if you go straight to A+E and wait, but it is probably more grimmer. Going private might not be a bad idea.
I hope Kevin gets back on the mend today.
xxx

[amanda-mary.livejournal.com]

I hope everything turns out for the best. I'll be sending "get well soon" thoughts his way :(

[sparklielizard.livejournal.com]

Best wishes to Kevin; you know how I feel about GP-level healthcare provision in this country :-(

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

awwwww I hope they get him sorted out!

[vilia64.livejournal.com]

You know, private isn't at all it's cracked up to be-

I don't know how private insurance differs between the US and the UK, but here, for full and total coverage I get royally reamed on each paycheck (even though I work for a private insurance company, go figure). True, I can set up an appointment and be seen usually in a few days (of course you wait about an hour in the office once you get there), and you pay a small co-pay depending on your plan. But the insurance companies often bungle payments to doctors which tees them off, sometimes they'll turn the full bill on you and it's more of an incentive to get out of taking insurance all together and then go charge some poor schmoe with no insurance triple what it was costing you.

[brokenhaze.livejournal.com]

Hope he's ok...
I had to hang around the NHS drop-in centre in Sheffield the other day, it is not a good place to be.

*hugs*

[greenteablack.livejournal.com]

I hope he's alright.

[evil-onna-stick.livejournal.com]

Awww! I hope he feels better soon (and that you don't catch it next). Positive, wellness vibes are coming your way.

[dawnkitten.livejournal.com]

Ouch! Best wishes to Kevin - hope he's feeling much better soon

[sor-eye-ah.livejournal.com]

You're not filling me with confidence! *afraid*

[margotmetroland.livejournal.com]

Hope he gets well soon.

[noondaydemon.livejournal.com]

I think the title of your post is apt....

Much of the loves to the Kevin unit! xxxx