Just thought I would give you an update on the fine medical service I received.
I went to the doctor on Thursday. Yesterday the doctor phoned me up to let me know that she nor the chemist knew what to prescribe me so she had a call into a specialist doctor and that she'd get back with me as soon as she heard from them. She recommended since I would be traveling to the states next week that I call my old doctor up and see if they could give me some medication to tide me over until they figured out what to give me here.
Isn't that great? Aren't we excited to sign our nation up for this kind of health care? So here's my question, if I couldn't call my doctor in the states, or if we go to government ran health care int he U.S., then who do I call?
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Thursday, 19 November 2009
My First Visit to the NHS
So I had my first visit to the NHS. The NHS is their health care system, that's government ran. I wasn't going to blog about this on here but then thought, this is part of Scotland, this is part of our life living here, so I felt it was appropriate to blog about it.
So before I get into the visit, let me explain that I feel the need to blog about this because this is the kind of system we are moving toward in the U.S. And I know that we all, as individuals have our thoughts on what should or shouldn't be. So I sincerely hope that anyone that reads this will not be upset and know that it's just my experience with NHS here and it's my opinion on government ran health care for the U.S. Don't get me wrong, I believe we need some sort of health care reform in the U.S. and I think that we can find a way to help those that don't have insurance, but I don't think government ran health care is the answer. Eventually we will run out of money and our debit will be so enormous that we won't be able to dig ourselves out. So what happens is the system will suffer and ultimately the patients suffer.
Okay.........so about the visit. Last week, a week prior to my visit, I went in and filled out paperwork so it would already be on file. I also gave them my medical records from the U.S. and allowed them time to copy them for my file there. So today was my visit. When I arrived I let them know I was there for my appointment. They sent me back to a little waiting area to wait to be called into a a doctors office. I can't really accurately describe the clinic, but the closest thing I can get too is a little less than a Plan Parenthood office I went into when I was in college to get a check up. It wasn't great, but it served the purpose, I suppose is the best way to describe it. It's not like the nice, high tech offices you see in the states. While I was waiting I was reading some of the information that was plastered on the walls and one of the sheets was explaining that you get only 10 minutes with a doctor and only one patient at a time. Another sheet explained that the NHS could no longer afford a medicine for cancer and that you should contact NHS or talk to a doctor about it if you were on the medicine. There were a lot of leaflets on things like depression, menopause, how to stay healthy in the winter, the usual stuff.
Eventually I got called back to the doctors office and as I walked in the doctor told me who she was and ask me to have a seat. The office had two chairs in it and there was a desk (like the ones in a college computer class) in the corner. In another corner was a little sink area and behind a partially drawn curtain was a little exam table/bed. Not like the ones we are use to seeing in the states, but just a simple little bed. Kind of reminded me of the nurses office in school, when we were little. That's the best comparison I can come up with.
So I sat down and she ask me what she could do for me. I told her I was there to get a prescription refill and to make my first visit to NHS. She hadn't even looked over my records at all. She ask me what I was taking and why. So after trying to give her my medical history in like 2 minutes, she explained to me that they didn't have that particular medication here but that she'd phone the chemist (pharmacy) to see what they would recommend. When she called and got a busy signal she told me she'd call me later today or tomorrow, in at least a week and let me know what medicine she had prescribed and send me to pick it up. Then she basically was done. She never took my blood pressure, she never weighed me, she never even touched me, much less examine me. And my medication bottles had my maiden name on them since I got them filled right when I got married. So there you have it.........in and out in 5 minutes. Not a care in the world about the fact that I was a new patient and no need to verify who I was. At no point did anyone ever ask me for any identification at all.
Personally, I had hoped that they'd care a bit more about me, enough to at least start a basic chart with them. But not even so much as that. I got less than my 10 minutes, and I can't even tell you what my blood pressure is or was. And I had to make sure that I explain to her why I had to have a low dose of medicine! Really..........is that the state we are in that a doctor doesn't even care enough about ya to ask basic questions? And I even took the time to ask her if there was anything else, if I needed to be examined, if I needed to do anything else and she simple said, "No, that's fine, thanks". And out the door I was sent.
As I said to a friend........quicker than a Jiffy Lube and they didn't try and sell me a bunch of extra stuff. They didn't try to sell me anything!
And if you think it's a fluke that I got treated this way, I assure you that I've spoke to several people here that has said that's the norm. And when calling the 24 hour NHS you can almost certainly be told to self medicate. If you ever visit a hospital you won't find many, if any private rooms there.
If America goes to government ran health care, we are in for a rude awakening! I can also say that the amount of taxes we pay, I feel like I was ripped off with my time at NHS. I guess I just expect that as much taxes we pay, and we do pay NHS and taxes here, we aren't exempt because we are American, that we'd get better care. That all of the UK would get better care.
So for those of you that are for health reform the way they are presenting it now, government ran, I think this is the sort of care that will eventually come. Maybe not in our lifetimes but certainly in our children's or our children's children's life time.
So before I get into the visit, let me explain that I feel the need to blog about this because this is the kind of system we are moving toward in the U.S. And I know that we all, as individuals have our thoughts on what should or shouldn't be. So I sincerely hope that anyone that reads this will not be upset and know that it's just my experience with NHS here and it's my opinion on government ran health care for the U.S. Don't get me wrong, I believe we need some sort of health care reform in the U.S. and I think that we can find a way to help those that don't have insurance, but I don't think government ran health care is the answer. Eventually we will run out of money and our debit will be so enormous that we won't be able to dig ourselves out. So what happens is the system will suffer and ultimately the patients suffer.
Okay.........so about the visit. Last week, a week prior to my visit, I went in and filled out paperwork so it would already be on file. I also gave them my medical records from the U.S. and allowed them time to copy them for my file there. So today was my visit. When I arrived I let them know I was there for my appointment. They sent me back to a little waiting area to wait to be called into a a doctors office. I can't really accurately describe the clinic, but the closest thing I can get too is a little less than a Plan Parenthood office I went into when I was in college to get a check up. It wasn't great, but it served the purpose, I suppose is the best way to describe it. It's not like the nice, high tech offices you see in the states. While I was waiting I was reading some of the information that was plastered on the walls and one of the sheets was explaining that you get only 10 minutes with a doctor and only one patient at a time. Another sheet explained that the NHS could no longer afford a medicine for cancer and that you should contact NHS or talk to a doctor about it if you were on the medicine. There were a lot of leaflets on things like depression, menopause, how to stay healthy in the winter, the usual stuff.
Eventually I got called back to the doctors office and as I walked in the doctor told me who she was and ask me to have a seat. The office had two chairs in it and there was a desk (like the ones in a college computer class) in the corner. In another corner was a little sink area and behind a partially drawn curtain was a little exam table/bed. Not like the ones we are use to seeing in the states, but just a simple little bed. Kind of reminded me of the nurses office in school, when we were little. That's the best comparison I can come up with.
So I sat down and she ask me what she could do for me. I told her I was there to get a prescription refill and to make my first visit to NHS. She hadn't even looked over my records at all. She ask me what I was taking and why. So after trying to give her my medical history in like 2 minutes, she explained to me that they didn't have that particular medication here but that she'd phone the chemist (pharmacy) to see what they would recommend. When she called and got a busy signal she told me she'd call me later today or tomorrow, in at least a week and let me know what medicine she had prescribed and send me to pick it up. Then she basically was done. She never took my blood pressure, she never weighed me, she never even touched me, much less examine me. And my medication bottles had my maiden name on them since I got them filled right when I got married. So there you have it.........in and out in 5 minutes. Not a care in the world about the fact that I was a new patient and no need to verify who I was. At no point did anyone ever ask me for any identification at all.
Personally, I had hoped that they'd care a bit more about me, enough to at least start a basic chart with them. But not even so much as that. I got less than my 10 minutes, and I can't even tell you what my blood pressure is or was. And I had to make sure that I explain to her why I had to have a low dose of medicine! Really..........is that the state we are in that a doctor doesn't even care enough about ya to ask basic questions? And I even took the time to ask her if there was anything else, if I needed to be examined, if I needed to do anything else and she simple said, "No, that's fine, thanks". And out the door I was sent.
As I said to a friend........quicker than a Jiffy Lube and they didn't try and sell me a bunch of extra stuff. They didn't try to sell me anything!
And if you think it's a fluke that I got treated this way, I assure you that I've spoke to several people here that has said that's the norm. And when calling the 24 hour NHS you can almost certainly be told to self medicate. If you ever visit a hospital you won't find many, if any private rooms there.
If America goes to government ran health care, we are in for a rude awakening! I can also say that the amount of taxes we pay, I feel like I was ripped off with my time at NHS. I guess I just expect that as much taxes we pay, and we do pay NHS and taxes here, we aren't exempt because we are American, that we'd get better care. That all of the UK would get better care.
So for those of you that are for health reform the way they are presenting it now, government ran, I think this is the sort of care that will eventually come. Maybe not in our lifetimes but certainly in our children's or our children's children's life time.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Glamis Castle
The view of Glamis Castle driving down the long road that is its "driveway".Yesterday we set out to tour Glamis Castle. We've been wanting to go for some time but kept putting it off for one reason or another. Then a couple of weeks ago I read that they decorate the castle for Christmas starting on November 14th. So we thought that would be a nice time to go, when it was decorated for Christmas. The weather yesterday was nice, a little over cast but no rain.
The castle is absolutely beautiful. It's the first castle we've been too that you can actually tour a great deal of the inside and the inside is still intact! Unfortunately they do not allow photography inside the castle, so I will just have to tell you about it. I did however take a few pictures outside.
This is actually only part of the castle. The part we toured was in this part.
A statue in the front gardenWe had a little time before our tour to kill, so we stopped in their restaurant and had a cappuccino and a treat. They sprinkled the top of the cappuccino with powder in shape of a Christmas tree!
Of course we had no idea that as soon as you start the tour that you are offered warm malted wine in the dining room of the castle. I didn't think I would like it, but surprisingly I did!
So the dining room was all set up for Christmas. Complete with a Christmas tree in the corner and a table set for Christmas dinner. There were small Christmas trees on the table and silver chargers at each seat. They had Christmas poppers on each charger and beautiful silver settings all along the table. It was really pretty.
The castle is still lived in today! The family that lives there are ancestors from the family that has owned it for many years. The family lives in the west wing and tours are only in a very small area of this huge castle.
We toured the dining room, the gathering room, a living area, another lounge area, a couple of bedrooms and even the chapel. The chapel is still used today! Every Sunday they have service there. The furniture in a lot of the rooms is really remarkable. It has beautiful inlaid furniture that is still very remarkable today. The castle is decorated in the Victorian age and so many things in there are just elegant. There is even a room that has the china on the wall of the original china pattern. The tour guide told us back in the day they would design their own china pattern, have the designed sailed to China and then wait about two years for it to be made and sailed back.
She told us stories of a ghost that is believed to live there, the green lady and though she says she has never seen the ghost in her seven years working there, that she's known many people that have.
She also told us of a part of the drawing room that use to be a small room off to the side and one night, long ago some of the gentlemen were playing cards and dice in that room past midnight on a Saturday. Back then it was not allowed to "play cards and dice" on Sunday and it was believed that they had brought the devil into the house. A lot of the people were scared in the house and so eventually they put them in the room, with the devil and walled up the room. She says they are still in there today and they know that there is in fact a room there because there is a window that can be seen from the outside of the castle.
So lots of tales and a bit of scare. But mostly just a really beautiful castle. We had a great time and it was nice to see the paintings, the antique furniture and to see the castle decorated for Christmas. I only wish I could have taken pictures inside to share. So I'll say if you ever find yourself in Scotland, it's worth the visit!
Jeff and I in front of Glamis Castlehttp://www.glamis-castle.co.uk/
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Unsalted, Roasted Monkey Nuts
It's true, I am easily entertained! Furthermore, I don't care what anyone says, they have some unusual and funny names for items here! Last weekend Jeff and I were at the grocery store grabbing a few items we needed. Headed down an aisle and as I turned the corner to make the next aisle I see on the lower shelf a bag of Unsalted, Roasted Monkey Nuts!
Okay, so it's peanuts in their shells........but come on.......that's funny! I don't think I have ever seen or heard them called monkey nuts!
In other news............I am still, after living here for six months, astonished at how differently our customer service is in Texas from here. I am also astonished at the store policies and how differently they are. Last weekend, also while at the store I bought some refills for a plug in (air freshener) and when I got home and tried to replace the old refill, I realized that I picked up the wrong ones. So when I went back to the store the following day I figured I would exchange them for the proper ones. I mean after all.......they were 8 quid! That's about $12! So why not return them if I can't use them.......right? However, I was surprised to find that I could not return them because I had opened the package and there was no way for them to resale them, so they could not give me an exchange or refund. And to make sure, she doubled checked with another employee. Now I feel bad.............all this time I was unappreciative of the ability we have in the states to return just about anything, of course knowing they can return it to the manufacturer for credit. See......the little things!
It's been icy and cold here the past couple of days. The sun comes out and melts the ice but it still remains pretty cold. We've been building coal fires, well let me rephrase that........Jeff has been building coal fires in our fireplace here and it is really nice. I had my reservations about a coal fire to begin with because I just kept thinking it would leave this odor and residue on things. But to my surprise, it doesn't. Of course its house burning coal, so apparently its different. But it's been nice and really heats the living room well!
I'm sure we'll get snow soon. Everyone keeps saying "the snow is coming". So when it does, I'll be sure to snap a few pictures and patiently wait for a good story to blog about.
Icy on the hill and grass in front of the house
So my birthday is coming up. I'm not one to make a big deal of my birthday other than to proclaim I am 25 (yet again) and usually I want to make myself a cake. I had thought I'd make myself a different kind of breakfast this year, instead. So I decided this past weekend to experiment with making stuffed french toast. I was pleasantly surprised and so I've decided for my birthday to make stuffed french toast and have mimosas as well. Who knows, maybe one day, if I ever open up a restaurant or a B&B I'll put it on the menu.
Stuffed with blueberry's and cream cheese
Looking forward to a visit home soon. It'll be short and I won't get to see near everyone I want too, but at least we get to spend a little time home!
So keep an eye out for a snow blog!
Thought I'd throw in a picture of a pheasant. They are quite annoying to me now! lol
Okay, so it's peanuts in their shells........but come on.......that's funny! I don't think I have ever seen or heard them called monkey nuts!
In other news............I am still, after living here for six months, astonished at how differently our customer service is in Texas from here. I am also astonished at the store policies and how differently they are. Last weekend, also while at the store I bought some refills for a plug in (air freshener) and when I got home and tried to replace the old refill, I realized that I picked up the wrong ones. So when I went back to the store the following day I figured I would exchange them for the proper ones. I mean after all.......they were 8 quid! That's about $12! So why not return them if I can't use them.......right? However, I was surprised to find that I could not return them because I had opened the package and there was no way for them to resale them, so they could not give me an exchange or refund. And to make sure, she doubled checked with another employee. Now I feel bad.............all this time I was unappreciative of the ability we have in the states to return just about anything, of course knowing they can return it to the manufacturer for credit. See......the little things!
It's been icy and cold here the past couple of days. The sun comes out and melts the ice but it still remains pretty cold. We've been building coal fires, well let me rephrase that........Jeff has been building coal fires in our fireplace here and it is really nice. I had my reservations about a coal fire to begin with because I just kept thinking it would leave this odor and residue on things. But to my surprise, it doesn't. Of course its house burning coal, so apparently its different. But it's been nice and really heats the living room well!
I'm sure we'll get snow soon. Everyone keeps saying "the snow is coming". So when it does, I'll be sure to snap a few pictures and patiently wait for a good story to blog about.
Icy on the hill and grass in front of the houseSo my birthday is coming up. I'm not one to make a big deal of my birthday other than to proclaim I am 25 (yet again) and usually I want to make myself a cake. I had thought I'd make myself a different kind of breakfast this year, instead. So I decided this past weekend to experiment with making stuffed french toast. I was pleasantly surprised and so I've decided for my birthday to make stuffed french toast and have mimosas as well. Who knows, maybe one day, if I ever open up a restaurant or a B&B I'll put it on the menu.
Stuffed with blueberry's and cream cheeseLooking forward to a visit home soon. It'll be short and I won't get to see near everyone I want too, but at least we get to spend a little time home!
So keep an eye out for a snow blog!
Thought I'd throw in a picture of a pheasant. They are quite annoying to me now! lolWednesday, 4 November 2009
The Holidays are almost here!
The holidays are almost here! Can you believe it? Seems like time really just slips away. So much to look forward too with the upcoming holidays. Traditionally this time of year is usually the busiest for us. Not just because of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, but because we have tons of family birthdays during this time too. So we get together often as a family and we do a lot of "celebrating".
This year will be a little more difficult since we won't be home for all the holidays and birthdays. But we are making a visit home, so we are trying to "cram" as much into that visit as we can. But we are really looking forward to the visit home.
Around here the days are getting shorter and the darkness is getting longer. And we've had a lot of rain lately. All the leaves are falling off the trees and things are starting to look rather "bare". We've been told that the "shortest" day will be December 21st.......so the longer hours of darkness will continually get longer and longer until then. I can see how it can get a little tiresome with the darkness and then all the rain we've been getting lately. But the thing to look forward too is the beginning part of next year when it starts going back to regular daylight hours, then spring/summer when we have long hours of daylight. lol
The baby pheasants we were seeing around the area a month or so ago are getting big now. In fact they are not the cute little baby pheasants that I thought they were a month or two ago. At this point they are annoying! lol They stand in the middle of the road and they won't move. You honk the horn and they just kind of walk ahead like there is no one behind them and they are in no hurry. And if you've ever heard a pheasant........you know what I mean when I say they sound like a a fan or something is broken. It's just this noise that will make you think something in the house is broken and making a bad noise. But it's not........just the pheasants.
I still continue to try and bake things from time to time, learning the oven here and how it will work with my old recipes. I think I just about have it mastered. Yesterday was my true test, making my Grandma Johnson's red velvet cake. It turned out fab! My Grandma Johnson made the best red velvet cake ever! And I was fortunate enough to get her recipe. I remember the first time I made it, you could bounce if off the floor! I had no idea what I had done wrong and she wasn't around for me to ask. Somehow, over the years I mastered it. Apparently dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda in a tablespoon of vinegar is far more crucial to her recipe than just adding the baking soda all by it's self. That and the fact you aren't suppose to "beat" it in, but rather "fold" it in. Go figure. But she was great at it and when I realized that her recipe wasn't' necessarily an optional guideline for me to follow to my liking, I was able to make it just like hers.
Jeff and I are going to try and make it to Glamis Castle soon. We are waiting until after November 14th, because that's when they are all decorated for Christmas. I think that would be nice to visit the castle when it's dressed up for the holidays. So when we visit.......I'll be sure to post pictures!
Hope everyone is looking forward to the holidays!
This year will be a little more difficult since we won't be home for all the holidays and birthdays. But we are making a visit home, so we are trying to "cram" as much into that visit as we can. But we are really looking forward to the visit home.
Around here the days are getting shorter and the darkness is getting longer. And we've had a lot of rain lately. All the leaves are falling off the trees and things are starting to look rather "bare". We've been told that the "shortest" day will be December 21st.......so the longer hours of darkness will continually get longer and longer until then. I can see how it can get a little tiresome with the darkness and then all the rain we've been getting lately. But the thing to look forward too is the beginning part of next year when it starts going back to regular daylight hours, then spring/summer when we have long hours of daylight. lol
The baby pheasants we were seeing around the area a month or so ago are getting big now. In fact they are not the cute little baby pheasants that I thought they were a month or two ago. At this point they are annoying! lol They stand in the middle of the road and they won't move. You honk the horn and they just kind of walk ahead like there is no one behind them and they are in no hurry. And if you've ever heard a pheasant........you know what I mean when I say they sound like a a fan or something is broken. It's just this noise that will make you think something in the house is broken and making a bad noise. But it's not........just the pheasants.
I still continue to try and bake things from time to time, learning the oven here and how it will work with my old recipes. I think I just about have it mastered. Yesterday was my true test, making my Grandma Johnson's red velvet cake. It turned out fab! My Grandma Johnson made the best red velvet cake ever! And I was fortunate enough to get her recipe. I remember the first time I made it, you could bounce if off the floor! I had no idea what I had done wrong and she wasn't around for me to ask. Somehow, over the years I mastered it. Apparently dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda in a tablespoon of vinegar is far more crucial to her recipe than just adding the baking soda all by it's self. That and the fact you aren't suppose to "beat" it in, but rather "fold" it in. Go figure. But she was great at it and when I realized that her recipe wasn't' necessarily an optional guideline for me to follow to my liking, I was able to make it just like hers.
Jeff and I are going to try and make it to Glamis Castle soon. We are waiting until after November 14th, because that's when they are all decorated for Christmas. I think that would be nice to visit the castle when it's dressed up for the holidays. So when we visit.......I'll be sure to post pictures!
Hope everyone is looking forward to the holidays!
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