Wait & See

Dreadful night so took the plunge and went to my GP. I always go to the same one but the health system allows one to choose freely. I can even walk out of one unhappy with the result and go straight to the next and so on until I get the diagnosis I want! And all without an appointment.
 
My phone tracker says I arrived at 10:26 and left at 10:46. Between 10:00 and 10:30 seems to be a good time, the opening hours being 9:00 to 11:00. You miss the Monday morning early rush and get in just before those turn up who think it will be empty at the last minute.

Doc poked around my neck and said I needed to get out of the dreadfully cramped position I was in. Pain killers and come back if it persists. Also discussed last week’s blood test – all OK but she will get iron tested. Had been forgotten but apparently laboratory hangs on to the samples for a while so no need to give more. I am wary of a “pop a few pain killer” diagnosis. Once cost me very dearly. However I can understand that the pain is itself hindering healing and thus will swallow the pills and wait till Thursday.

Armed with prescription, drove the 500m to the chemist in the village and got the painkillers. Normally use one of the chemists in Ottobeuren - WhatsApp them a photo of the prescription while still in the car park and get a response as to whether on stock or if it has to be ordered and when available, usually by 15:00.  However today I didn’t fancy driving around with my still very stiff neck.

In no way do I want to suggest the German system is good or better than in any other country but I do find it relatively good and easy. Quality is of course the ultimate benchmark but when I hear reports of having to wait days for a GP appointment or a quality standard that says 4 hours wait in A&E is reasonable & a target to achieve, I do question if quality matters.

I think one crucial advantage of the German social security system (read socialist- communist in USA) is that the income generated from the various income deductions has to be used solely for purpose. The independent, member owned, Health Insurance companies get the income and have to agree contracts with GP’s, specialists, ambulance services, chemists, hospitals, pharmaceutical & medical suppliers to treat their insures. Same for pension, nursing care and unemployment. The Government cannot put its grubby hands in the till and buy the odd aircraft carrier. 



I will try to Blip some detail of some of the aspects of the German health insurance system and it’s cost to your average “Joe”. Think we must all be aware that a National Health Service is not a free of charge system but a solidarity based one.I suspect Fritz pays more than William or Joe but possibly less than Sven or Stig. Which system encourages health or treats illness better will probably not play a major factor though. Health is not quantifiable in money terms but should be our aim for all of mankind.


Blip is of the chemists in Erkheim – well their sign on the left “A” for Apotheke that you will see the length and breadth of the land. I think 99.9% of chemists are independent. I don’t know of a single chain although Internet chemists have sprung up, probably of more interest to patients on long term medication.

Of more interest to me are the two old typical farmhouses on the right, directly in the town. This was how farms were until not that many decades ago. A huge building, the front third for three generations to live in and the back two thirds to keep the dozen cows that could financially support them. Low ceilinged dark stables and the hay stored above. Not all traditional methods are worth retaining but the social cost of moving to mega farms and turbo cows is seldom considered.