This is Why I Hate Going to the GP ⚕️
Yesterday I went to my local GP for a whooping cough prescription, and to get the results of a blood test. I need the injection for my son to allow me to snuggle my grandchild when he comes. Exciting times.
The doctor was in her room for a good ten minutes with the door open before I was seen, ten minutes after my appointment time. I presumed she was looking up my history, ready to see me. This wasn't the case, as when I walked in she introduced herself to me, as if this was the first time I'd seen her, yet only a week ago I was in her surgery worried about heart palpitations which sent her on a mission to get my heart checked (a referral to a clinic in town), my blood test (taken by the nurse and processed by pathology) and an ECG (taken by the nurse).
Pretty routine - print off forms, tick the boxes, off I go to other professionals that actually test my health.
'I'll see you in a week' she said.
In a week, she's not only forgotton me, she hadn't bothered to look at her screen and see that I was her patient for the last three appointments.
'Um, I'm here for my results?' I say. I'm annoyed enough that I'm in here when a phonecall should have been enough.
She gets up the bloodtest and reads the numbers one by one. 'Thyroid - normal' she says, her finger tracing the screen.
I can see that. There's two columns - one's my number, the other is the normal range, so it's pretty easy to see all's good. Thing is, I'm not allowed to get the results of my own blood test until I've seen a doctor. My blood is not my property it seems. I figure it's because they don't want people reading the wrong thing into it. Far enough.
But why is she taking so long to say 'normal' for every item on the list?
'Your heart is normal too' she says. A relief. 'Would you like to see a psych or have me prescribe some anti-depressants?'. My blood boils. I've said 'no' to this question for the last three sessions with her and to every doctor I've seen about anxiety for years. Perhaps they should write that on my file? Besides, that's just a quick fix and I dont get along with psychs and I'm NEVER taking anti-depressants.
'No, but can you check to see if I've have a whooping cough injection in the last ten years?'. She obliges. I haven't, but she spends time detailing what I have had, which is wasting my time and is not what I asked.
I'll have to go up to the chemist, get the script as it's not funded - it'll cost me fifty bucks - and come back for the nurse to inject me. The doctor prints off the script. I'm done in 8 minutes, but I can tell she's trying to keep me there. She's asking me questions and wants to check my blood pressure. I deny her that - I've had my blood pressure checked every time I've come in.
'Can you check if my husband's had whooping cough?' I ask.
'Sure, get him to come in for a consult and I'll check his blood pressure'.
'Um - can't you just look it up now so we can get a telehealth consult and a script? He doesn't need to come in'.
'Oh, but I should give him a check up!' she says.
'No, he doesn't need one. Please look it up for me'. She obliges. He hasn't had one, but she can't write him a script, ie, press the print button. He has to do a telehealth consult.
'Do you charge for that too?'
'Yes, $78 dollars. But you get it back on Medicare'. Well, I get $35 back on Medicare, but let's not get into an argument about it.
Last time I rang the doctors I needed a script for codeine or something to kill the worst migraine I had in years. In that conversation, she advised to take aspirin - 1000 mg. I read that study online and everything she said to me on the phone was read to me off that study* - verbatim. Every word. Fine - it worked. But that consult over the phone cost me $78.
Let's repeat that.
For a five minute conversation where she read off a screen the advice to take aspirin, I was charged $78.
For non Australians, we pay the 'gap' left over from what the state Medicare pays - so up to 15 minutes is around 75 to 80 bucks, and a longer consult is about 125 bucks. Still, is it reasonable to pay $35 odd dollars for a phone consult of 5 minutes?
Hmm.
Is this why she was keeping me in the room? To charge me at the higher rate?
This surgery used to bulk bill you (where Medicare pays the lot) at least occasionally, more if you were struggling, and especially if if they knew you well. When I spoke to the receptionist, they said it was up to the doctor you saw.
'But he only needs a script,' I said.
By this time I was really mad. You used to pay a flat fee of $10 for an over the phone script. And why should I even need one for a whooping cough injection that I buy from the pharmacist and the nurse gives me? Shouldn't the nurse get a bigger cut as she does the heavy lifting?
Apparently bulk billing clinics are on the way out, the receptionist tells me, because 'doctors don't get paid when they bulk bill'.
Yet how much do doctors get paid? According to Talent.com,
The average gp salary in Australia is $154,469 per year or $79.22 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $87,563 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $263,250 per year.
whereas another salary guide says $200,000 and $350,000 per annum.
So spending a couple of minutes talking to you on the phone and giving you a script you know you want and it didn't take any skill to diagnose or treat is going to make a dent in that income is it? Even if they do this a few times a day, they're always either booked out or going on holiday, so don't tell me that it affects their wage.
There's also very little follow up unless you beg for it, long wait times to see anyone, poor bed side manners, little desire to see us as people and not numbers, over testing and undertesting, googling information in front of you you expect them to know anyway (hey I could have done that!) and a tendency to give quick fixes (anti depressants???) over more holistic paths to recovery. It's got to the point where someone will say: 'why don't you ask the doctor' and I'll say 'oh they're not going to tell me anything'.
What am I missing here?
In the scheme of things (where part of the story is how much other countries pay for healthcare, or even have access to it) it's not a biggie. But I'm wondering about what I'm paying for here, and how much of it is justified.
Do you have faith in the health care system? Am I being entitled and unjustified in wanting value for money and decent service for what I pay for? Is there a better system that would serve us better?
With Love,
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urgh. totally infuriating!!!!!
I do feel a bit white western privileged though .. by the time I write and post I'm over it 😂
I feel you there. I look at my mental health posts.... and I'm often like.... who am I to complain? But my view is that our human experiences are relative. Someone else's experience does not nullify yours because their circumstances are worse or better than yours. We're all in this Sh!t storm together, so we may as well hold onto each other and lend a listening ear. Empathy costs nothing.
Beautifully said, Claire. I think Hive makes me sensitive towards others who are doing worse than me, but on the same hand, us being open helps others too. Hive rmeinds me of this shared experience of us being on this planet loving and hurting together. If that's not an accolade for this place, what is?
I've been through intense mental health shit myself so I get it. No one is immune and who knows what the triggers are for some when ohers sail through, or the recovery process, or even the fact it's so little talked about when we all go through it? So good on you for sharing.
Thank you lovely lady. I feel very lucky to have come across you and your beautiful posts. Healing through sharing ❤️
!Luv
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Universal, sadly.
value for money ? shouldn´t even be involved when it comes to our health, wouldn´t you agree.
I stopped using any conventional health system years ago. zero chemicals, antibiotics (anti life), a trustworthy acupuncturist fixes me when needed, usually my body fixes itself.
Totally. Thing is there Is stuff I need a doc for like my asthma medication. I have tried everything to fix it naturally but goddess, if there's a zombie apocalypse and I can't get them, I WILL die! So charging me ridiculous money for something that keeps me ALIVE is crazy.
this is basically holding humanity hostage. pure evil greed.
I can relate with these, I really don't want to go there also.
What a mess. It can get frustrating. And they wonder why many people don't see the doctor at all? Don't come here (US) its no different. Look at the brightside, your cleared for grandma duty 🙂
Oh you know when I wrote this I thought of the US system and how indebted you guys can be if you end up with something serious and aren't covered by insurance. At least we have a good system here, but we did have 'bulk billing' where those on low incomes wouldn't be charged at all. But there's stopping that now so that's a bit of a worry.
Dreadful thing. As the son of a nurse, I know better than going to the medic at least there's some serious complications. I usually know what's going on with my body for all its anxiety and other problems.
There's no telehealth and hospitals and clinics have suffered a lot from the economic crisis. Many medics have migrated and the ones the government is "educating" are good for nothing. All come form the wretched cuban regime. I fell bad for Cubans as they feel bad for us for that reason.
Anti-depresants? That's why we have this community and other things we do. The nerve of that medic.
It's interesting the numbers you show. I think a medic here doesn't get close to 500$/year taking into consideration how salaries work. There's others that make a lot of money from surgeries. And healthcare insurances are another thing. Teachers lost theirs a year ago. It still exists but it covers sh*t.
It is a sad picture.
Unfortunately, I would not be able to boast about the health system here, it is quite destroyed, although of course health insurance is still mandatory. In recent years, most people opt for private, instead of state (although the same doctors work in both places, it does not mean that you will receive the same treatment).
If by any chance you decide to go to a state hospital, be prepared to wait in the corridor all day, and then buy everything out of your own pocket to treat you, and the staff are quite dissatisfied with the conditions, so they do not do their job consciously, while private individuals put a lot of effort into you, but that's why a simple examination costs about 30 euros, to begin with.
Sad but true.
Frustrating.
The 'maffia' is active in all kinds of places ;<)
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None whatsoever. They are WAY off the mark, and their care makes us sicker.
A better system would be to chuck anything labeled "theory" right out the window (most of modern med) and believe in the body's self healing abilities. Swelling? Leave it, it's there for a reason. Pain? Listen to it, it is telling you what not to do. Anxiety? I don't know about you, but I always get more stuff done if I'm feeling anxious, it's a catalyst for action. Use natural remedies for relief and let your body do the rest. Problem is, most of our bodies no longer work properly because we keep poisoning them, especially with vaccines. I'm sorry you feel you have to do that.
I think the important thing is for each of us to be allowed to do what we feel is best for US. For me, I cannot tolerate the BS you describe. I won't tolerate it. I no longer go to them, ever.
Now what is this about a grandchild? I must have missed this news. Congrats!
Me too! I had no idea. I'm glad I am not the only one. I really need to read more posts.
I agree with all you said. And it's even more charged for you given your experience with your son, which makes my heart contract for you.
And yes, just got text a few hours ago - labour has started. I'm beside myself with emotion.
omgomgomgomgomg...
It’s crazy the thing that healthcare has turned into of late. It’s not all about health but about extracting as much money as possible from the people who are going through it and it all comes down to Wall Street and the criminals that are financing it all. I listened to a great podcast the other day, rogan had a guy named Brigham something and he went through the way healthcare has changed to a way to maximize billing and funding the same way that Wall Street and stocks keep the markets up and always trying to make gains regardless of the outcomes. The stock market effect of healthcare is such a sham!
I feel for the situation that your son is in though, we also did that because of the sensitivity of the little ones for whooping cough. Granted we know more now and potentially wouldn’t do it a second time but as a first time parent it’s scary for sure!
It couldn't be further away from 'health CARE', could it? MOre like 'health profit'. Something needs to give.
I am glad to see I am not the only one who didn't know you had a grandchild. I really need to get out more often and read.
First off. What a freaking runaround! I have a daughter-in-law in medical school, who will be leaving at the end of the semester. Although in her last year, she cannot/will not be part of the medical field, which is sad. She has a brilliant mind and is a great researcher, but, had been poisoned by what the medical system is all about. She is idealistic and cannot understand the physician that gets in and out in ten minutes.
How many people do they lose by their own actions? My guess is many.
BTW, I was just talking about this yesterday. I got a pertussis vaccine and less than a year later (in 2019) I got pertussis. Seriously. I even know where I got it when I unknowingly met a woman at a Mother Earth News Fair and she was ill. I stopped to help her. It took me months to feel right, but, I was pretty sick the first few weeks. I cannot imagine how a little kid feels. I don't know how old, but, I have seen a little kids with it. :(
Over here, the drug stores (Pharmacies) offer whooping cough vaccinations whenever a pharmacist is on duty. I can skip the doctor's office altogether.
Nearly, not yet!! Any day. I feel toO young!
It's absolutely bloody ridiculous that we have to see a GP. What a waste of time and money.
I wish I knew who to complain to.
I believe it was the American Medical Association that made this happen, but I'll double check. Makes no sense to me.
And almost congratulations!!! You are way too young!!
I hate going to the doctors. Luckily, I'm an infrequent visitor. In the last fifteen years, I've had a couple of COVID shots and had to get a nurse to clear the ear wax out of my ears with the water spray thingo a few times.
That was a pain in the arse, I could barely hear - ears totally blocked. I knew the routine, do the chemical in your ear to soften wax so it comes out easier. I'd been doing that, I walked in: Please blast my ear, I've already done the softening.
Answer: go home, do the softening again for three more nights, then come back.
Then I got the, what else do you want to discuss?
Nothing. My ear hurts, the rest of me is fine.
It's been 24 months since that happened, I'll probably be due for a blockage soon.
Oh my Buddha. Australians living in other places with proper health care are shocked. Vaccines here are free. Whooping cough ones too. If you INSIST on seeing an English speaking doctor, you pay about $20 for the consult.
A GRANDCHILD.... I think I need a string coffee... LOL... how delightful!! xxx
PS glad your heart is OK. We can FEEL it's ok. x
Over the time, the doctors have become more clinical and have stopped feeling for their patient. There are still very few, but then majority are like doing their job for the sake of getting the job done.
Here in the US health care is pretty bad also. There's a shortage of doctors and huge waiting lists to get into see one. And don't get me started on how bad it is in Farmington NM where a family member is attempting to get treated for a very serious condition...
The practice I am in doesn't have a doctor, just PAs, who work under a doctor from another practice... Hasn't had one for years.