Why can't everything be the same everywhere?
The public healthcare system in Finland is very straightforward. You get assigned to a clinic based on where you live, and that's where you go. Or you can decide to visit a private clinic, and pay whatever it costs either by yourself of via insurance.
I would assume that the private sector works somewhat similarly in the UK, but the public sector, not so much. NHS, the National Health Service, is all about choice. It's even the title of their website.
The choice here means you can choose any practice you want, provided you live near enough for them to accept you. There's one surgery just around the corner but their reviews on the NHS website were so appalling that I can't imagine asking them to tend to a hangnail there.
My first choice didn't accept me because I live all of 600 metres away. I tried my second choice and they somewhat grudgingly allowed me to submit a registration form but informed me that I lived so far (another 600 metres) that a doctor would't be able to visit me. Not a problem. In Finland, unless you live a facility of some sort, you either call an ambulance or make your way to the doctor. You can be wearing your ribcage as a hat, it doesn't matter. There's no such thing as a doctor visiting you.
The second issue is somewhat more problematic: they don't prescribe contraceptives. I can't see this being any sort of medical or licence issue, so I can only assume they're taking a moral stand on my reproductive rights. Not a reassuring sign but I'm rather out of options here so I filled in a patient application today (another new concept; in Finland the public healthcare system cannot refuse anyone). I'll find out Monday whether they've accepted me.
Originally posted at Dreamwidth. You can also comment there using OpenID.
I would assume that the private sector works somewhat similarly in the UK, but the public sector, not so much. NHS, the National Health Service, is all about choice. It's even the title of their website.
The choice here means you can choose any practice you want, provided you live near enough for them to accept you. There's one surgery just around the corner but their reviews on the NHS website were so appalling that I can't imagine asking them to tend to a hangnail there.
My first choice didn't accept me because I live all of 600 metres away. I tried my second choice and they somewhat grudgingly allowed me to submit a registration form but informed me that I lived so far (another 600 metres) that a doctor would't be able to visit me. Not a problem. In Finland, unless you live a facility of some sort, you either call an ambulance or make your way to the doctor. You can be wearing your ribcage as a hat, it doesn't matter. There's no such thing as a doctor visiting you.
The second issue is somewhat more problematic: they don't prescribe contraceptives. I can't see this being any sort of medical or licence issue, so I can only assume they're taking a moral stand on my reproductive rights. Not a reassuring sign but I'm rather out of options here so I filled in a patient application today (another new concept; in Finland the public healthcare system cannot refuse anyone). I'll find out Monday whether they've accepted me.
Originally posted at Dreamwidth. You can also comment there using OpenID.