16 November 2014

In a few weeks Him indoors will start a daily course of treatment for 7 weeks at the Claude-Bernard Clinic in Albi. In the wake of the latest NHS scandal at Colchester Hospital, where patients were found strapped to beds and given sedatives without permission, it'll give us chance, once again, to compare the French health system with the English.  And it is only the system. In my experience doctors in both countries are equally as good, but the English ones are hampered by an NHS system that has broken down due to sheer weight of numbers.  A recent survey showed that French patients are seen in A & E within 2 hours, half the 'target time' of the NHS.  Most are seen in less than one hour, those with traumatic conditions like poisoning being seen immediately. Yes, in France the patient is king: everything is patient-orientated. At a Limoges Hospital, staff listened and introduced different colour coding for staff uniforms. And what does Him indoors think? He says he'd better not swallow a 5-euro note at the clinic because then they'd have to keep him in for observation to see if there was any change...

17 November 2013

.......so, I'm back with much to report on things French. A few weeks ago our local doctor strongly recommended that I undertake a coloscopy (don't ask!) and gastroscopy. The following week(!) I was duly admitted to the Claude-Bernard Clinic in the nearby town of Albi.   I was welcomed and shown into a single room, complete with wardrobe, TV, phone and en-suite bathroom!  Nurses brandished a laptop with all my details. Patients are responsible for bringing the prescribed medicine, purchased at the local pharmacie (no clanking trolleys laden with drugs), costs borne by your carte vitale, plus antiseptic shower soap. Next the dreaded bit: drinking 2L of what tasted like the entire contents of Droitwich Brine Baths - with the inevitable after-effects....oh well. At least I wasn't presented with a torpedo tablet: I'm s'posed to put it where?? The general anaesthetic was much improved from my youth. I felt a warm rush from the catheter in my arm, then fell instantly asleep. And guess what?  No sickness, no after-effects.  After a while to recuperate, I was wheeled back up to my deluxe suite.  Best of all, within one hour I was presented with a glossy folder, complete with colour photos of my insides and a report covering reasons for operation, the procedures effected and the eventual conclusions + prescription for ongoing medication. TG: no cancer, but surprisingly I have 'beance cardiale' - the valve between the oesophagus/stomach doesn't work - probably congenital. It's only taken me 65 years to find out! The French health system? Merveilleuse.                         

12th August 2012

Him indoors isn't happy - no more alcohol!
It'd been building up for months and couldn't be denied.  The dreaded visit to the doctor's.  Tests at the Clinique Claude Bernard in Albi were prescribed.  In England it's normal to have to wait months, even years, for a visit to a medical specialist, but in France just 5 days, then 7 days for admittance to the clinic. What an amazing experience it all was.  No stupid starched caps, tight blue dresses or black fishnet stockings - and that was just the nurses.  Everyone at the Albi clinic - from the doctors, to the nurses, down to the cleaning staff - all wore loose cotton tunics, loose cotton trousers and soft shoes.  Everywhere was so clean, calm and friendly. The room where he stayed the night was like a hotel - complete with wardrobes and en-suite bathroom.  And, after his treatment the following morning, within 30 mins he was given a glossy brochure with a typed report, colour photos of his insides(!), plus a lengthy diagnosis.  And you know what?  Because we had top-up insurance, it hasn't cost us a penny.
Had to smile in recollection. When the nurse was struggling to fix a catheter in his arm and he kept wriggling, she said 'Do you want some Scotch (French for sellotape)?'