[StevieD]

Here's one - just interested in what would happen in NZ.

Not being one to slander the NHS easily, I feel so annoyed by what is happening to Jan, and bemused by the whole system.
My wife, Jan, hurt her wrist 3 weeks ago on Sunday. Very painful, went to hospital, x-rays inconclusive as per the norm with suspected wrist breaks.
Had a temporary splint fitted, come back in a week when the swelling has gone down etc. Told MRI scan would be needed.
Went back to fracture clinic expecting to go for scan, doctor poked, prodded, pulled, very painful. X-rays inconclusive he says, have to have an MRI scan, but let's change that splint for one with a thumb support. "We thought that is what we were having today". No he says, we have to book an appointment for that, get one within a week.

None in, have to order one, don't worry it will be here tomorrow. Phoned up next day, can you come in next week?? No we can't I'm in agony here! Oh, ok well come over then. Took 1 minute to fit.

Six days later, MRI scan, technician said it must be extremely painful, what did she see? Wait for results. Phoned today (Monday) told it will take minimum of 6 WEEKS for the results to come through. So that will be a total of 9 WEEKS at least for diagnosis. Absolutely pathetic. If there is a problem, what then? Break and re-set? An operation? It's very poor.
There is a 6 week backlog in the scanning department I just wonder what would happen if some "celeb" had the same - would they be put through the same??

So, what is the norm in NZ?? Would people be expected to go through the same? I know the NHS is "free" but as Jan says, if somebody gave you free teabags but they were weak, would you not go and buy better teabags?
It is creaking at the seams, with drunks and drug abusers overloading the system. I can't understand what is going on. Maybe my abscess is making me so irate, but probably not. Rant over :mad:

Steve

[Moorf]

Two experiences with NZ A&E and doctor....


a) Car accident in Chch - hubby and I taken to hospital by ambulance. I was seen immediately by a triage nurse to assess and put in queue with neck/back pain. I was seen by doc who recommended Xray - I was taken straight to xray dept and xrayed. Doc reviewed xray with me and decided I needed CT/MRI - so went into CT/MRI and was scanned. Scan seen by doc who then gave prescriptions. Woz, who had to have glass removed from his forehead had been seen to within the first half hour. We were there a total of 6 hrs.

b) Fell downstairs. Went to doc who said go for xray. I booked an xray in a Chch medical centre (lots to choose from across Chch) the next day and turned up, was seen within 15 mins, had xray, a doctor reviewed the xray with me and details were sent to my doc at the medical centre. It cost me (if I remember correctly) about $60 in total.

I guess when, like me, you hate hospitals because, like me, in the UK you've been parked in the corridor of a neurological ward for 6 hrs after being admitted as an "emergency" whilst being unable to feel your legs then the above is marvellous.

[StevieD]

Wow fantastic, thanks Moorf, just goes to prove that the sytem is on it's knees. Jan is not one to pop pills lightly, or to complain about pain, but she is in agony, and is taking more pills than she has done in a lifetime. Just doesn't add up with us that we have to wait this long.

Thanks Helen

Steve

[Singel]

Sorry to know about your unpleasant experience with NHS. Hope Jan is recovering well from her injury.

Not sure about the service of the hospital here, maybe someone else could tell you.

[StevieD]

Thanks Ivy, guess we just have to put up with it for the time being.

[Moorf]

Can also add that I've had 3 docs here - due to moving around a bit - and all three (2 of which were Brits and current one is German!) are fab. In UK I was having treatment for a condition for which they sent me to a specialist here - a specialist that, had I seen privately would have cost me $100 per consultation and I'd have been on a 6 mth waiting list. Via doctors recommendation I was seen within 3 months, for free. Over a year later I'm still under same specialist, for free, and am coming along in leaps and bounds.

I'm not sure whether or not working conditions are better here for doctors, but I feel here they have more time for you and a more genuine concern.

The health system here isn't without it's problems though - with a couple of strikes earlier this year and waiting lists for surgery in some areas. Above are just my experiences.. I'm sure there are bad experiences too. Personally the only wait I've had has been for dental work.. it's a nightmare here trying to make a dental appt.

Edit: Just after I posted the above the news came on and headline was that govt have coughed up $200m to fund more surgery! http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/840471

[jubjub]

We did an A&E trip with the wee fella last week, we were back home within an hour, having filled out the forms, sat in a clean and quiet waiting room (well it was until AJ threw up in it!), and seen by a doc. It did cost $25, but that was the late night rate, and have since found out that there is one round the corner that does not charge at all for babies.

I dont know if its just my docs surgery, but we get appts the day we need one, unless we want to see a particular doc, as they have different days off/shift patterns, our doc is english too. All the staff are really nice, and come and sit and chat to you while you are waiting for doc, and they remember you too.

There are problems and shortages here, midwives is a big one apparently, and it showed when I was in hosp after AJ's birth, once I was up and about, and they knew I was not putting the nappy on his head, and checked I could feed OK, I would sometimes go through a whole shift of nurses, without seeing any of them (unless I needed them), and there were several agency nurses every day.

Its not perfect here either, but its way better than my previous medical experiences in the UK, so far!

[marcia]

Personally the only wait I've had has been for dental work.. it's a nightmare here trying to make a dental appt.




Noooooooo don't say that - thats one of the first things on my list - need to find a good dentist!! :no

Stevie - hope Jan gets sorted quickly (and you too with your teeth - teach you to mock me :D ) - i would be ringing the hospital on a daily basis to check if they have the results yet - also try going back to your own GP and play on the pain and see if they can rush things up a bit!! Worth a try!

[pinkpiggy]

One of my neighbours is a consultant doctor (not sure of the correct terminology) but he works with stroke patients who, for obvious reasons, are mainly old people who have a multitude of other ailments.

Anyway he started a new job about a month ago but when they were sorting out his contract they tried to write a clause that he would do his ward round in 90 minutes. Bearing in mind there are potentially 30 patients at anyone time that's 1½ mins per patient!!! He told them no way could he do it in that time. I'm not sure exactly what he arranged but he was aiming for 5 mins per patient. He has also now managed to fight for and been given a new House Officer. He said the first few weeks of this new job have been hell one earth and this from a man who comes from the Lebanon!

On a slightly better note I had a small operation a couple of weeks ago and apart from it being cancelled on the Monday (due to an elderly woman developing problems in the operating theatre) and being rearranged for the Thursday, the care and attention I received was next to none. The staff were all really friendly and kept popping back to check that I was okay.

One thing I did notice though was the number of foreign doctors/nurses/anaethetist etc. I personally noted Polish, Italian, Russian, Asian and of course English/Scottish.

[voxel]

The medical labs are great here (at least in Wellington) - just walked in with my doctor's note and was out (sans blood and other things).

My friend went through a horrible NHS experience herself - miscarriage: a dead baby inside her for 3 days because NHS wouldn't schedule surgery immediately. At a day, she went to private hospital/clinic (not sure of the term Brits use) instead. After this experience they left the UK...

[StevieD]

Thanks folks, I don't want to stick the boot in to the NHS, because they do a wonderful job under the circumstances. But it was just frustration boiling over with post.

I feel for the doctors and nurses and the conditions/treatment they have to put up with, as seen above, and I do honestly believe it is because managers have been introduced into the fold who have no medical background whatsoever.

As for the dentist, I have just registered, and yes Marcia, it is karma isn't it - :laugh

Steve http://bestsmileys.com/dental/1.gif

[Moorf]

managers have been introduced into the fold who have no medical background whatsoever.




This is exactly what nurse friends of mine used to say in the UK, patient care came 2nd to budgets and performance.

Marcia - there are tons of dentists in Chch and some you can walk into for an instant appointment :yes - just not in my area. The dentist I had my root canal done by in Chch was brilliant and all mod cons etc.

[K&CS]

Voxel, waiting 3 days for an ERPC following a missed miscarriage is not at all uncommon. I waited over a week after my first one! Sometimes, you can have an ERPC immediately having established that the pregnancy isn't viable, but generally you're scheduled in for a couple of days later (and often longer). While emotionally, it is an awful thing to go through, it simply isn't a medical emergency. Often, you also need a day or so to come to terms with the bad news you've just received and to be sure that an ERPC is the right thing for you to have.

Stevie, I'm sorry about the delay you're experiencing. Could she possibly go private just this one time? - at least she wouldn't have to wait around in pain.

I haven't had enough experience of the public system here to comment - we've had a couple of private consultations and they were excellent, but then again, so were BUPA! I never had any problems with the NHS, but I know it differs from area to area.

Kate

[sidabrine]

Wow, thats a useful thread! Could someone help us and explain the process of getting medical help, x-rays, etc.

Hubby sprained his ankle while surfing. Its not bad, he can walk (limping) and doesn't scream in agony. But we'd like to do an x-ray, just in case.

So how do we go about it? Go see a GP first and get a referral to the xray lab? We don't have a GP (haven't had a medical problem yet), plus its a long Labour weekend. Do we wait till Tuesday? Obviously, his situation is not too bad, so it would seem unfair to go sit in the emergency room and take the doctors' time from serious patients. Or should he?

We're completely new to this NZ healthcare system - do they have large public healthcare centres here or do they have small clinics? Where should we go in this case???

Sorry if this sounds completely clueless to you, we just haven't been needing much of medical help...

[jubjub]

Get yourself to a 24 hour emergency centre, and take it from there, they will refer you to wherever is necessary. There is a charge, think ours is something like $70 for an adult, and the earlier in the day you go the cheaper it is too, well thats how ours works anyway!

[sidabrine]

Hi there, just found this piece of info on the web:

"If you are not sure about whether you need medical help you can phone Healthline on freephone 0800 611 116. Healthline lets you talk to a registered nurse any time, 24 hours a day, and it is free and confidential. The staff at Healthline will advise you what action to take. Healthline also incorporates PlunketLine, which is responsible for advice for children under five years of age."

So in my husb case he was adviced not to seek medical attention (surprise surprise :), if it doesn't get better in 3 days, see the GP and go from there...

Thanks jubjub anyway! It was useful to call around local A&E centres, so we know where they are in case we need them.

[jo-and-jeff]

I've sprained my ankle numerous times in the past, and if it just really aches, it's probably just a sprain, so I usually don't get an x-ray. However, on one occasion, the pain was unusually sharp and severe, the ankle and whole foot swelled up twice what it does for a standard sprain, and turned completely dark purple. I finally did go for an x-ray, and it turned out that I had chipped a sliver off of my ankle bone.

So if the pain is mostly just a strong, dull, ache, it's probably just a sprain. He should stay off of it and keep it elevated as much as possible (hello, couch with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other!), and ice it frequently (no hot at first). After 24-48 hours, alternating hot and cold packs should help speed the healing.

I hope that he feels better soon!

Jo

[sidabrine]

:laugh thanks, jo and jeff!

Hubby particularly took the "couch with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other!" part of the advice!!!

I can see him getting better as I write this... :)

:cheers

[Migueliones15]

My friend went through a horrible NHS experience herself - miscarriage: a dead baby inside her for 3 days because NHS wouldn't schedule surgery immediately. At a day, she went to private hospital/clinic (not sure of the term Brits use) instead. After this experience they left the UK...
OMG :wah

[westies]

I won't bore anyone with the details, but after working in ED over here for the past 6 months, it definately does have its problems just like the NHS, health care is 1 of those areas which is impossible to please everyone, there will always be waiting lists, I work on the front line and see major trauma, and priorities have to be made and so waiting lists grow bigger, whether here or in the uk hundreds of thousands are on waiting lists and have to wait. The only option if you want more predictable care is to go private, I guess 1 thing is, yes it is busy here, but I don't find it as stressful as the UK, maybe I havent been here long enough yet!