I don't like being nasty about the NHS, really. I get that it's a big deal, the concept of free or very close to free medical help. But if, like me, you've been thrust into the situation where you need to sort out contraception, you'll understand why I slate them every so often.
When I hear the stories about 12 year old pregnant girls, or how the UK has the worst rate of teen pregnancy in Europe, and all that jazz, I wonder why. And I can't help but think that the freaking nightmare it is to get hold of the pill here must have something to do with it (awful parenting in some instances aside).
I am a responsible girl. The method of contraception I choose is deliberately chosen - I don't want the coil, I don't want the jab, I don't want to have to deal with freaky hormone levels. I might be convincing myself into feeling a sense of control over my un-pregnant-ness by taking a little pill every day but that's my choice to make. I've done this before - all you need to do, blase nurse woman, is let me tell you why the current pill isn't working for me and find out a hormone balance that will. I would think, as someone working in a Women's Health Walk-In Clinic, you'd be ready for a question as simple as that.
Well, I have had to try 2 centres now before giving up and booking an appointment with my GP (requiring me to take a half-day off work). The GP was actually very good, if a bit weak on the eye contact side of things. He was attentive, explained everything to me thoroughly, and I was well tempted to ask him to take a look at my hand to see if the cut needed stitches after all, but I decided to let that go. Even so, he's only given me a 3 month prescription of the new pill, but at least he explained why. Were it not for him, I'd so have been giving BUPA a call this afternoon.
And, apart from the pill palava, he confirmed my suspicion that I have a urinary tract infection (it's pretty advanced, I actually have pain reaching all the way up the tubes to my kidneys!). My only solace is that I share this problem with Dooce, and hey, if a blogger infinitely more famous than me can say she has it, why not jump on the bandwagon.
Okay, so the NHS came out glowing in the end - but that was due to one good doctor. I have encountered 2 nurses at Women's Health clinics who stare at me blankly when I start talking about estrogen/progesterone mixes.
I'm pretty sure I wrote this exact blog post before, when first arriving here in the UK and looking to go on the pill here. Seems not much has changed.
This is a 
Tell me about it - when I first arrived in the UK I was subjected to a blood test and a 15 minute inquisition before I could get the pill I'd been on for 7 years already.
However, say the word 'Prozac' and they're handing you prescriptions and asking 'Is two years enough?' before you even finish your sentence.
I've managed to have more good than bad with the NHS, and when you consider it's free for 60million people it tends to do better than most places in the world.
That said their are things they could improve.
When I had severe chest pains along with pleuretic symptoms I went to A&E, said "I have chest pains...severe...can't breathe" and they pushed me passed the queues, quickly triaged me with an ECG, BP, bloodwork, etc. Also, the doctor was a cute 20-something blonde (which didn't help the BP -nyuk-nyuk-)
Also, when I went for my 2-yearly HIV safety check, I found an after hours one, walked in, got served 20 minutes later, got results 20 minutes after that, walked out having paid nothing and knowing I'd done my bit for the control of the disease. Staff were friendly and a little too eager to want to dispense info.
Teen pregnancy isn't an NHS failure. It's a parenting failure - live what you preach and children will follow suit (or hell, they don't teach it in the first place - this society has a habit of placing blame EVERYWHERE else but on one's own doorstep). Also, you're implying female pregnancies are all accidental? Besides, free condoms are available everywhere - female contraception isn't the all and end all.
Besides, just take Ian to get neutered and spayed :)
Sounds like you've been lucky with your NHS service, Chris.
I didn't imply that about 'female pregnancies' (as opposed to...) at all - was going to apologise if I had but have just reread it and that implication isn't there. I doubt any 12 year olds are planning their pregnancy.
Condoms are freely available, yes, but are not my preffered method.
Unfortunately it seems like the NHS is a bit hit and miss. A friend of mine went through the registration process at a sexual health clinic for an HIV test and then was told 'sorry, we don't actually provide that service...even though we told you we did'. After being referred to two other clinics and missing several days of work she finally got the test, but several months later still hasn't had the results, despite frequent phone calls.
I do think it's great that the UK has a free medical care initiative - unfortunately I have heard more bad stories than good, and my own experience of the NHS has been basically that you get what you pay for.
If the Irish health service was a quarter as good as the NHS, I'd spend every day laughing and smiling like a deranged nutter who laughs and smiles at mundane, everyday things.
I mean, it's fifty fucking euros to see a GP over here! OMGWTF?
I hear you Matt, because that's what I thought when I first came here. It's good to know that you don't have to fork over the long shillings for basic care.
But honestly, when you're sick, or in need of something like contraception, and you can't take time off work willy-nilly to sit around doctors' waiting rooms in the off chance you'll get an appointment, you eventually end up thinking, "I'd easily fork over fifty fucking euros to just get some freaking attention here!"
You just reach a point where you realise that when sick, you just cannot function.
A while back I had a horrid chest infection, and coughed so much I actually strained a chest muscle - which then SEARED with pain every time I coughed - and was close to despair at the doctor's office. The fact that the receptionist had "I-DONT-CARE" written across her forehead didn't help either!
hello! you have a shiny new blog!
Just catching up... hope you're feeling better. Bastard GPs.
Hi Annie!
Feeling miles better thanks - hand, kidneys and reproductive system :)