This is a post about the #NHS - I’ll get there
So like my dad before me, I developed a double hernia last year - I’m 54. Common, inherited, annoying but not catastrophic. Referral to a consultant confirmed so 1 year waiting list. I do have private health care thru work - but I refuse to use it. Same docs in same theatre could do it next week. But it would be straight up queue jumping. Everyone else would get done later as a direct result. So no.
1/n
It’s got quite a lot worse recently and was having a big impact on the day to day. So… I am a fully paid up participant in the Swiss health care system. It’s a legal requirement for residents and I have had work-related residence for 7.5 years. Have never used it.
As this is truly universal though - the Stadt pays your premiums if you can’t - I tried it.
A week ago I saw a doc (I had to find one - then they do the admin with the insurance co). Today he operated at a clinic in Basel.
2/n
I had to fly and - thanks BA - spent an unplanned night at Heathrow with a missed connection. Instead of surgery at 9am they said get here as fast as I can and they’d slot me in. Arriving at midday they did just that.
It is completely shocking: the staff aren’t stressed. There are lots of them. Super friendly. Room shared with one other (I have the cheapest insurance plan you can get which just means…I share a room. Well it would be a ward with 20 others at home so…fine).
3/n
JimmyB (he/him)
JeniParsons