The joy of Irish "healthcare"
I had heard multiple stories on Irish healthcare: overcharging, misdiagnosis, and general incompetency. I now have the pleasure to announce that I've experienced all of the above myself, in only one visit.
I've been sick for the last three days. My symptoms lead me to believe I am a victim of the flu, and since I'll be missing work for over three days, I need a note from a doctor.
This morning, after calling various GPs (all overbooked), Tom finally reached an available GP for me. So we got there, and I saw a man well beyond retirement age opening the door. The surgery was a mess, there was no space for auscultation whatsoever and it smelled of damp and dust. We stayed anyway, as I needed a fucking note for work and didn't have much luck calling other GPs. So the so-called doctor took my pulse and looked at my throat and told me I had a "flu-y" viral infection and needed to sleep and drink a lot (I wouldn't have guessed that myself!). So not only did he not examine me, ask me to undress or anything, but he didn't even come up with an actual diagnosis. And then he prescribed penicillin.... PENICILLIN!!! We're in the 21st century for fuck's sake!
This wouldn't bother me as much if he hadn't asked for 50 euros at the end of the visit. I keep telling to myself I shouldn't have paid, but when you're sick to death and have high temperature, you're kinda doing your best just to keep standing.
So that's the story of my first visit to an Irish GP. I understand why life expectancy is one of the lowest in the EU. I got screwed again today by rip-off Ireland, and God it hurts!
I've been sick for the last three days. My symptoms lead me to believe I am a victim of the flu, and since I'll be missing work for over three days, I need a note from a doctor.
This morning, after calling various GPs (all overbooked), Tom finally reached an available GP for me. So we got there, and I saw a man well beyond retirement age opening the door. The surgery was a mess, there was no space for auscultation whatsoever and it smelled of damp and dust. We stayed anyway, as I needed a fucking note for work and didn't have much luck calling other GPs. So the so-called doctor took my pulse and looked at my throat and told me I had a "flu-y" viral infection and needed to sleep and drink a lot (I wouldn't have guessed that myself!). So not only did he not examine me, ask me to undress or anything, but he didn't even come up with an actual diagnosis. And then he prescribed penicillin.... PENICILLIN!!! We're in the 21st century for fuck's sake!
This wouldn't bother me as much if he hadn't asked for 50 euros at the end of the visit. I keep telling to myself I shouldn't have paid, but when you're sick to death and have high temperature, you're kinda doing your best just to keep standing.
So that's the story of my first visit to an Irish GP. I understand why life expectancy is one of the lowest in the EU. I got screwed again today by rip-off Ireland, and God it hurts!
Brought to you by Sandrine @ 1:21 pm
3 Comments:
Houlla, la pénicilline ! Ils sont a la pointe de médecine dis-donc, il ne t'as pas fait de saignement avec des sangsues aussi non ?
50 euros ! ils ont tout compris à la médecine.
tu es guérie au moins ?
Guérie, oui....
Pas grace a la penicilline que je n'ai meme pas achetee, mais parce que la grippe ça finit bien par passer!
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