Information or lack of

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?

[Isabelle2]

Hi Jumbot

I live in France and literally owe the French health system my life. I needed a transplant very suddenly, had done all the tests thinking I’d need it in a few months but suddenly got very ill. My hubby was told to say goodbye to me. Fortunately a donor was found about 9 hrs later and I’m here to tell the story. That’s one advantage of the French system - you have to opt out of organ donation.

I have lived over here for 28 years and think I understand the French reasonably well. When I got here I was amazed you needed Id for everything. It was as if you didn’t exist if you couldn’t prove it. I know that in the U.K. with the terrorism threat, fear of ileagal immigrants etc it’s a bit more like that now but the thing of showing a card and being on file somewhere is normal for the French. After the war they kept their identity cards and have always carried them everywhere since.

This ‘being on file’ is normal and so when the carte vitale came along and slowly all health records became computerised it seemed obvious it would make things easier. I was here and can’t remember any dissent.

In the U.K. you cannot expect a nation still unsure about Id cards to let their health records be seen by anyone with a carte vitale reader!

Helen

Ps I love the name Pompadours, the firemen are Pompiers😆

[GrandmaDylan]

I couldn't agree more about the health system in the UK. This year I have seen a haematologist, been under the care of a general surgeon for anaemia ( I never saw a doctor only the staff who did the liver scan and gastroscopy and colonoscopy) who then discharged me despite not finding the cause of the blood loss, a dermatologist, a gastroenterologist who I paid for a private consultation and who then arranged a CT scan and a capsule endoscopy on the nhs and next week someone who will investigate my cirrhosis. None of these people have cross referenced me so therefore they don't have any way of putting 2 and 2 together. Deb

[JazzAv]

I totally agree Jumbot!! I work in the nhs but my youngest son has ALD. We have seen consultants, registrars and juniors from a variety of different departments. Getting them to explain and tell us stuff is like drawing blood from a stone!! We usually get more info from searching the internet, not English sites I may add. At his last liver appt I asked the young doctor why we never had a letter after his appts. He said you never asked for one! I said the nh s rules clearly state send unless declined not the other way!! No wonder they can afford equipment. The disparity between doctors, departments and hospitals is shattering, we really need to sort it out.

[Dulux]

Maybe I’m lucky but my experience is good in terms of information, I also took an interest and read up so had enough knowledge to understand. I have always been given the time and explanations I have wanted. It does seem very variable depending on unit which is a shame.

[AmericanDemocrat]

What an interesting post about the differences between the French and British healthcare systems. Very informative. For myself, in the United States, I have found that the amount of patient education provided depends entirely on how much you ask for. If you do not ask questions, your appointment will be short and you will not get much direction. However, if you educate yourself and go in with a list of questions, they are generally answered in a very forthright manner. The only exception I have found to this is with my hepatologist. I was shocked to receive my liver diagnosis via a two-sentence email, with no explanation or treatment plan whatsoever. I spent the weekend in a panic, googling everything in the world and learning more about the liver than I ever thought possible. (I hope to change doctors soon because I prefer lots of information, even if it is difficult to hear.) In general, most of us on this site are probably very lucky compared to the vast majority of those on earth. Thank you again for the cultural sharing about France and the UK! All the best to you…