Health Care

I had a doctor's appointment this week to get a refile for my blood pressure meds.  I learned a lot about the health care system here!!

There is a doctor's office around the corner from our apartment.  I tried to get an appointment there.  When I went in to make an appointment, the woman told me that I needed to show proof of residence.  (The reason is because offices service certain areas or neighborhoods.)  That is easy... I went back with my Council Tax bill (property tax).  Well, apparently I needed more than that!  That only shows that I live in the area.  I also need to show my passport with my permanent visa.  I only have my 6 month visa...  my passport is at the Boarder Agency getting my permanent visa.  The woman told me that I could make an appointment but I would have to pay for the full visit.  I told the woman that I had BUPA insurance and she informed me that they did not accept insurance!

I told Marco what happened and he told me that I needed to call BUPA to set an appointment.  So I called BUPA.  They asked for my post code and they told me that I had 2 offices to choose from.  I picked the one near Marco's work...  I got an appointment for the next day!  When I got to the office I had to do the routine new patient paperwork...  The doctor, not a nurse but the doctor, came out and called me into his office.  He asked what I needed and then he asked if I was familiar with the health care system here.  He explained it very nicely.

We pay a monthly fee for BUPA insurance.  We have the silver level (vs. the gold level).  When we go to a GP we pay 64.89GBP for a 15 minute consultation.  If we were at the gold level, we could be reimbursed for this fee...  The GP works Monday thru Friday, 9-5:00 only!  If we need a specialist, the GP can make a referral and then we can see a specialist within a week or 2.  Then there is the NHS...  NHS stands for National Healthcare System.  A visit to a GP at a NHS office is free.  Prescriptions written by a NHS GP are cheaper and are a set rate.  NHS GP's work after 5:00 and on weekends.  NHS GP's have the same degree as non-NHS GP's.  The only drawback is if a NHS GP refers you to a specialist, it could take 3-6 weeks to get in.  I'm thinking we need to dump BUPA!

After the explanation the doctor asked what I needed.  I told him that I needed my blood pressure med refiled.  He asked what I took and wrote me a prescription.  I asked if he needed my medical records (that I paid $25.00 to get) and he told me to hold onto them....  He then asked if there was anything else I needed.  We were about to end our 15 minute consultation and then he asked if I wanted him to take my blood pressure.  You would think he would have done that before he wrote the prescription and you would think he would have looked at my records!  He didn't ask for any proof that I was actually taking blood pressure medicine... there is no telling what I could have told him I was taking!!

In the end it was all good...  I am going today to get my prescription filled.  I hope it is unadventurous!

I hope you have enjoyed!

PS - this blog post has absolutely no political agenda behind it!  It is strictly part of our life and adventures in London!