the doctors

[happy daze john in oz]

There is a global shortage of GP's not enough are going into the profession. It takes 5 years at uni then a number of years as an intern at hospital to become qualified. The society of today do not have the patience to stay the course and the pay and conditions do nothing to encourage new into it.

Medical science has over the last 30 years has advanced faster than ever before finding new ways of keeping the population alive.

A good GP will, if he is not fully confident on the answer, send the patient to see a specialist. But they are also under the pump now so the cycle continues.
Here in Oz the system is not too bad and most times you can get to see your GP within no more than four days.

[thomas michael]

hi king kong
well after hearing that you also suffered from fractured ribs you can understand why I was crying in my sleep ( so the wife said ) but as you must know the pain is at times unbearable,
and as for our wonderful health service ( if these polititions stopped lying and instead of blaming the problem on us the elderly and told the truth that the immigration problem in this country is about five million might even be more with illegals and that the health service together with every other form of our society is on the border of collapse because of a labour party dirty tricks to rub the nose of the conservative right wing in the **** by allowing unfettered immigration enabling the labour party in their opinion to garner a left wing establishment for all time, and after the financial crash in 2008 put paid to labour and the subsequent arrival of the conservatives whom have closed their eyes to the immigrant onslaught for the sake of cheap labour we the elderly in this country are being pilloried and put in the queue behind immigrants and donations to the rest of the world by our wonderful politicians to the tune of one billion a month.

[Keith Tindell]

We, on this site are all from a certain age, and were in at the start of the NHS in 1948, so we are the ones who are FULLY paid up members, and now they are bleating that the fully paid up members are causing the problem. Whats needed is a radical rethink all round, and some sort of charge for those who should not be getting the treatment, also 23 million last year on interpreters, that would easily be stopped, and take someone with them to the hospital if they dont understand. Its what happens in the rest of Europe, kt

[Captain Kong]

No immigrant should have any treatment here unless they have worked and paid TAXES for at least Five Years, If sick , go back to their old country or pay up.
We have paid NHI and Taxes for 50 years of working life, also still paying Taxes on my miserable MN Pension, £100 a month Tax.
£1,200 a year plus Council Tax of £1,500 a year, so I pay out of my Pension £2,700 a year to keep these Bums who have paid Nothing.
Brian.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, A question? do you have trouble getting your drugs /tablets from your chemist. I did so I took my business else where, after 10 faultless years from the Co op my chemist , were taken over by WELL a private company ? who give me copy pills, and Not the full amount? I told them and they did Not like the fact, I was right , every time I when to get some more from them some lame excuse ? we have not got them? call back tomorrow or you have the wrong day? I had a card for the day and date , signed by them, the girls were rude to all the customers ,and the pharmacist in charge? was a joke she just made fun of everyone in the middle of the shop? is this normal way for a private company to treat they customers? or Am i just an old bloke who should shut up and take the B/S?

[gray_marian]

#25, Doesn't sound normal procedure at all Louis. If possible move to a different chemist tout suite. If you can't, try complaining to your doctor/surgery nurse [if you have one] and get their take on the situation.

[Captain Kong]

My prescriptions are sent electronically to Sainsburys and I get the medication every Friday when we do the weekly shop.
I order one week in advance on a Friday pick it up the following Friday. simple and well organised , I can get it earlier if I want to , but every Friday is the easiest way for us.
Lloyds Pharmacy has taken over Sainsburys Pharmacy, but same Staff and in the same place. Very GOOD System
Before I had to go to my Doctors Surgery, order a prescription and then go back two days later to pick it up. Now ,NO Problem.
Brian

[John F Collier]

I've got two repeat prescriptions, mine are sent electronically to Boots Pharmacy who in turn send a text message to my
son's mobile, he collects for me and brings them round when he visits, a far cry from the old days. cheers JC

[gray_marian]

#28, John, my mum's village chemist delivers to the elderly, infirm or those with sight problems as in her case due to a stroke.Worth asking your local chemist if they offer similar.

[John F Collier]

#29, Thanks for that Marian, my son did the prescription arrangements with Boots for me so I think this is the way he is
happy with doing it as it isn't out of his way for collecting, cheers. JC