Watty's Awakening

rtandon27

Sending love and support over the ether xxx

Watty1

Thank you all. Not for the first time I find myself wishing I was being treated by a vet. I know there would be a bill but at least it would be quicker than this "waiting". Yesterday there was the faff of getting parked - finally found somewhere I could park for free and walk so that was a very good MSE trick. Will use that again. Found ward, was told they were running late - now full marks to the lovely receptionist who booked me in and then took my number so she could call me when the person before me was seen. That meant I could go to the coffee shop rather than sit in the soulless waiting room. Fabulous service.

Coffee shop and the marks and sparkles way over priced compared to their usual places. Found that annoying as they have a captive market, and, the staff are being fleeced by them - there were a lot of staff purchasing.

Vets scoring highly here as they offer free tea/coffee and biscuits whilst waiting

Finally seen by doctor, struggled to follow the conversation as although I asked her to look up she didn't so I had to really concentrate to hear (ok I need to get my hearing tested!) She didn't answer any of my questions, I was clearly on a conveyor belt. Full marks to nurse who was in the room and answered them for me afterwards. (Vet always make sure i understand and are happy to discuss any research I've read).

Referred for surgery - sent for pre op assessment to be told couldn't be done because it was lunchtime and I would need to come back next week. Who knows when to go back for surgery - they will tell me and no I cannot choose where or when because they are busy. By now was seriously considering asking if vet could do the job - might not be trained in humans but the service aspect better.

VNM explained it was because we pay vets, and, looking at my last credit card bill, clearly I pay vets a SUBSTANTIAL sum on a regular basis which is clearly why the service is excellent. I am sure the medical care is excellent if, due to pressure, rather conveyor belt, but I'm still preferring my vets I must say.

rtandon27

Sadly that is the state of public healthcare, and you are not wrong in your assesment of getting good service because your hard earned cash is their incentive!

greenbee

Vet appointments are also 15 minutes for a standard appointment, 7 minutes for a GP. And lots of no-shows too.

Hopefully you'll be sorted soon - I've realised I need to chase for my biopsy results and review of my blood tests as I should have had both by now.

Slinky

Sorry to hear you're going through this Watty.

Healthcare services can be patchy. I've been waiting over a year for a small growth on my skin to be removed, apparently I'm nearing the top of the list. I've been waiting since June for a first appointment about another area of skin I'm concerned about. I did phone and suggest they get me in quicker, since I may need both bits removing so why not do them at the same time….. Didn't hear anything back from that.

However I was referred to the local hospital for a chest X ray, as a walk-in. I went on Monday, and I was in and out in 13 minutes! I got through quicker than a lady with an appointment time (I apologised to her as they called me in; she'd gone in behind me by the time I'd changed back out of the gown).

At least we aren't faced with the massive bills of the US.

daisy_1571

Its a tricky one, I sometimes think if a doc suggests something I must really need it whereas at the vet its a licence for them to print money by offering this test and that test. Because they can do so much now, i know there's an obligation to offer everything to all the owners in case an owner would complain later that something may have been found in their pet earlier if a test had been done, it must be a difficult line to tread with varying expectations and bank books.

I do feel if I was independently wealthy it would be amazing to afford private doctors for everything.

Anyhoo, that aside, hope you get seen quickly and it sorts out whatever the issue is.

Dxxx

(I had surgery on both feet a few years ago and hired a mobility scooter so once I could hobble to it I could walk the boy instead of mr d having to do every dog walk plus deal with me. Then when I was getting better I walked from the house and mr d rode it till I couldn't go any further. Saved me trying to work out when I needed to turn back so I could get home 😆 Long story sorry, I meant to say I might be the only female in my surgeon's history who complained about the scars. I am genuinely still a tiny bit annoyed he used inside stitches to get a lovely barely noticeable thin scar. I want dots either side like a proper scar 😆 🤣 😂 According to Mr d I'm a weirdo! 😆 🤣 😂)

badmemory

I had to laugh at the dots on either side of the scar. I still have some on my appendix scar from almost 70 years ago. My other scars not so much.

beanielou

I honestly don’t care about scars and I have many 🤷‍♀️

badmemory

A friend of mine once said that if you get to our age & you don't have a few scars then what have you been doing all your life.

WelshmansDaughter

I did think to myself I wouldn't pay for the service I get at my local surgery. But then in Ireland we have to pay for GP visits and if you go to a and e (not charged if admitted)