Another Waiting List

It seems like there is always something with us and the National Healthcare System (NHS). You might remember last year we dealt with a possible problem with Cerys and ended up paying privately to get some answers. Thankfully it was all sorted fairy quickly after we paid for her to be seen. I'm so thankful we are taken well care of by our company, so that we can be able to pay a private doctor for things like this. But then there are a lot of people here that can't do that and that makes me sad for them. Especially those waiting for years for operations due to lack of beds in hospitals or long waiting lists to see specialists.

My recent minor operation to remove that fatty lump (gross) was taken care of fairly quickly. The GP didn't know what to do with me, so she referred me to a specialists at a private hospital. I got in to see him within a few months, which was quite good I thought considering all things. After I got my first appointment, things moved fast since he asked if I could pay for the scan and the surgery. If I had not been able to pay, it would have taken longer.

Around the first of December I had the GP look at a mole I have (sorry, another gross!) because I'm so fair skinned and have had several removed, I thought this one was worth having a doctor take a look. She agreed it needed to be removed and said it could be done in the office. Wow. I was surprised that it would be that easy. Should've known. I was told I would be contacted by the secretary and made an appointment time to come in. I never heard anything, then a few days later we went to Africa. After we returned, I had a letter in the post saying that I had been referred to a dermatologist at the hospital (not sure what happened to "oh, we can do it in the office") and I should be getting an appointment time soon. Remember, that you can't make your own appointments for things like this. They just send you a letter in the post and if you can't make it at that time, you go back on the waiting list. So, after months of waiting to hear from the hospital, I phoned them today to ask where I was on the list.

I was told that I was on the "routine" list and from the start of January it was 5 months long. Once I reach the top of the list, I would be contacted again to make an appointment. So, I'm looking at maybe getting a chance to set up an appointment sometime in June.

Several of you have emailed and asked what our opinion of socialized medicine is. We appreciate you asking. Maybe this will help some of you understand what millions of people here are facing. We've had some good experiences with the NHS, we really have - but right now, I think there are some serious things that need to change. I have a friend here that has an 11 month old baby that needs to be seen by a pediatrician. She is not sitting up or standing and there is major concern, as you can imagine, with this sweet mother. She is STILL waiting for an appointment with a pediatrician at the hospital. She was told last week that it would be July before she was able to be seen. My heart breaks for her. My other question is...so they are telling her that every pediatrician at every hospital is booked solid- patient after patient-5 days a week- until July? I don't think so. Something does not add up.

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