Forgive the "beta" appearance of this site ... I'm still learning how to use it. I wrote this on 12/12 but I'm trying to publish it on 1/24 ... not sure how to change the dates!
In just a few short weeks of living in the London area, we've discovered certain rumors to be quite untrue. It could be that the people who warned us (some from the States, some from London, some from well-meaning expatriate literature) had very different experiences, or that they were generalizing too much, or that we just live in a friendlier borough, or that they've never even lived in London ... whatever. I have collected several examples of myths we've heard vs. the reality we've experienced; here's the first one. More to come.
Myth: It's impossible to see a doctor in the U.K. There are kilometers of red tape involved, and if you are lucky enough to even register with a local "surgery" (doctor's office), you have to get in line behind 397 other people and wait WEEKS for treatment.
True Story: About three days after we landed in London, I developed a nagging cough that I at first attributed to the fumes from the new paint and carpet in our recently renovated house. After coughing my head off for nearly two weeks, and postponing calling the doctor for exactly the reason above, I realized I needed to register our family with the local surgery anyway.
So Natalia and I wandered down the street, walked in, said "Hi, we're new -- what do we do?" The receptionist gave us some forms to fill out, along with empty urine vials to fill and return later, and was about to send us on our way. Then I said, "I'm wondering how long it would take to get an appointment with the doctor to see about this cough that I've had for two weeks." She looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Well, if you're having a problem right now, you need to see him right now. Take a seat."
Five minutes later, I was sitting in the doctor's actual OFFICE (not just an exam room), and he was testing my little urine sample while seated in his big leather office chair. ("Could you just hold it and unscrew the top, and I'll test it? Then we'll throw it in the rubbish bin.") Then he was listening to my lungs, declaring I had a chest infection, criticizing the American medical system for prescribing 10-day courses of antibiotics when 7 days is long enough, writing me a 7-day prescription, and giving me directions to the nearest "chemist" (pharmacy). He explained that it would cost me 6 GBP (about 12 bucks) to fill the presription. I asked, "how do I pay for the office visit?" and got a blank stare. Duh. It's the NHS, girlfriend. Free, free, free!
More myths revealed later.
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