I have been here for a few weeks, posted a couple of times and generally read what concerned people, one thing sticks out like a very sore thumb is lack of information from the Doctors/Specialists, I personally feel there is no excuse for this, after all we have a problem and need to be told, ok there are some that would not wish to know, it is their coping mechanism, I have been fortunate to experience two totally separate health systems, the UK and France, the UK I found was a closed shop, even when you pushed for information you only got what was deemed enough to keep you quiet, again there will be some exceptions and some people in the medical section will open up be honest then you have enough information to plan.
In France firstly you have to register with a local practitioner, if deemed non alien!! they will put you onto the system, this then gets checked and you are issued with a VITAL card, same size and make up of a Credit Card, now this card you keep on you, it also has your photo on, (see what the French have achieved? Photo evidence of your identity and no one has argued, mainly due to without the Vital card you cannot get treatment) Even ambulance personnel have the facilities to read the card, and remember they are all Private, except for the Paramedics that are effectively the Pompadours (Firemen) Similar system to the Americans. If you survive the accident you get billed LOL. It also pays immensely to have private insurance, or things get expensive very quickly!! I had private insurance through the company my wife worked for, the cost to see a Doctor was E27 and a consultant E75 unless sent to a Hospital then costs spiraled.
Now as I was saying, patient information, any question I asked was answered, sometimes through my wife as I could not speak French, something I regret to this day. They would go out of their way to make sure you knew what was happening and the possible next steps.
Any medical person you saw would ask for the Vital card, they then had access to your full medical history, everything was on the Computer, (France is notorious for power cuts so sometimes records could not be retrieved). From the dentist to the Optician all information was available and no conflicting medication can be issued (You hoped)
So the question is, why cannot you have the same information here in the UK, is it our fault of not asking as too much info is confusing or you do not wish to know? Superstitions, have to be overcome, sometimes you feel you need to ask and don't for fear you will be brushed off or look stupid, I deal with it by writing down what I would like to know, I have a terrible memory, and I find this helps, as you can wave the paper under the Docs nose he or she may feel obliged to answer?