London medical experiences

[Bill and Hayley 0]

Just wanted to know how it was for you guys, Been scared of the doctors since i was a kid, and im dreading having my medical, havent even plucked up the courage to book it yet, so how scary is it..lol

[Girona40 0]

Just wanted to know how it was for you guys, Been scared of the doctors since i was a kid, and im dreading having my medical, havent even plucked up the courage to book it yet, so how scary is it..lol

Hayley, trust me, it is nothing to worry about. I don't know why they even call it a medical - it is just another excuse for them to take money off you, that's all.

When I went with my daughter, there were a load of people in the waiting room - a woman at the entrance to the room, totting up the HUGE amount of money she was collecting - and everyone seemed nervous. Turns out it wasn't necessary to be nervous at all.

I went, with my daughter to another waiting area. Then shown into this room where they took a chest x-ray - something nobody ever looked at, and it was not needed ever again. I still have it in the original brown envelope here at the house. The guy at the POE in Washington DC didn't want it - said I could keep it!

Then my daughter and I went into the examination room. I was asked by a young nurse to put on a blue robe thingy, as did my daughter. When the doctor came in - she was about 25 and very nervous herself. She listened to my chest and back, you could see her hands trembling. She examined my boobs, but I swear it was no more than someone accidently skimming their hand across you. She did exactly the same with my daughter and that was it!

Money for old rope! Don't be scared, really. It's just a racket!

[rebeccajo 14]

They strapped my husband to a guerney and wheeled him naked three times around the block......................

[TracyTN 237]

(Did anyone get pictures??)

[Muuuuah 0]

There is really nothing to worry about...it is straightforward and simple...when it`s done you will wonder what you paid all that money for

[Lansbury 19]

Just wanted to know how it was for you guys, Been scared of the doctors since i was a kid, and im dreading having my medical, havent even plucked up the courage to book it yet, so how scary is it..lol

They are very good. The doctor I saw has been the only one to get a blood sample out of me at the 1st attempt. Nothing for you to worry about at all.

[mmb 0]

I had my medical in London on Dec 4th, I hate doctors too and always try to avoid them.

The most painful part of the whole procedure was the bill.

Do take care to check they have the right reference number for you, they took mine over the phone and got it wrong.

I had a couple of vaccinations first, then the doctor took my medical history and a very quick, superficial check up. She got my blood with no problem, something very few doctors have managed and actually worked out what was most likely to have caused my asthma, no other doctor ever did that.

Because of my medical history the radiologist who did my X-ray went over it with me. The only unusual thing it showed was a stomach full of air, not surprising some 7 hours after breakfast and just before lunch, I was starved.

Try to relax about it, I worried myself sick over what turned out to be a breeze.

[KaiserD 12]

Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time so you don't need to rush anywhere

[Lou Lou 1]

The most painful part of the whole procedure was the bill.

That's to get you used to the US healthcare system.

[TracyTN 237]

Yep, and if they make you wait a long time, that's to remind you of the healthcare system in the UK.

Although here's hoping they don't make you wait for 3 days.

[Lou Lou 1]

Yep, and if they make you wait a long time, that's to remind you of the healthcare system in the UK.

Although here's hoping they don't make you wait for 3 days.

I dunno. I've waited just as long to see a doctor here as I did in the UK. In fact, it has always been quicker to see a doc in the UK for me including specialists. I guess it depends on where you live in the US...just like the UK.

Sure, I've had my bad times with the NHS. I've waited 10 hours in A&E to get treated, but in the end it didn't bother me. I saw all sorts of people come in for emergency care that day. Sick babies, elderly people, heart attacks etc...and by god they deserved to jump the queue in front of me. I've also waited 10 hours in A&E while they treated my father with a heart attack and saved his life. I guess those people sitting in the waiting room were pretty pissed they didn't get their sprained ankle seen to as fast as they liked because he came in that night.

*shrug* I just prefer a system where everyone is treated the same. Free healthcare and education should be a human right. No system is perfect, but it's so screwed up here and expensive to boot. To top it off it's not even high quality care...according to the World Heath Organisation ranking anyway.

-------

Apologies to Hayley. Like everyone has said, the medical is much easier than you imgaine, so don't be worried. Good luck.

[TracyTN 237]

You'll never convince me that the system in the UK is worth a ####### - its just not going to happen. Many have tried, many have failed. And its NOT FREE.

That said, the US system is far from perfect, too.

Sorry Hayley. You'll do fine at that medical!

Edited December 15, 2006 by TracyTN

[TracyTN 237]

Too late to edit what I really meant to edit on that last post, which was to change 'worth a #######' to 'wonderful'. It is worth a ####### - a lot of people DO get the care that they need.

But after watching my fiance sit in a hospital for 3 days solid wondering IF or WHEN he was going to have his nearly cut off fingers reattached, you'll never convince me that it doesn't have some major problems. Cheap and 'equitable' means little to me when you have to lay in the hospital in pain for 3 days.

[Mags 112]

They strapped my husband to a guerney and wheeled him naked three times around the block......................

Him too huh? Thought that was just me.....

P.S. The medical was a piece of cake. Actually, if they gave you cake they'd probably charge you 10 quid a slice....

[Bill and Hayley 0]

Hey... thanks loads for the replies, Im sure im worrying over nothing.