Health Check!

This week I had a check-up at my local surgery; this isn't something I often do these days because of the costs involved, but sometimes you have to do what is necessary in order to gain peace of mind. Making an appointment to see a GP here in Perth is actually a joy compared to the UK, but it does also have its downsides.

I remember back in Portsmouth, not that long ago, the difficulties I used to have arranging a consultation with a Doctor, and the mad rush, normally on a Monday morning, to phone my local practice, trying desperately to speak to a practitioner. Of course getting to see a GP was a rare occurrence; after being triaged via a telephone conversation with a receptionist, who generally thought they knew more than a Doctor, you were passed down a very long line of officialdom, and finally, if they thought necessary, an eventual chat with someone on the phone. Generally, the Doctor would phone you back in a few hours and fob you off with more medication, rather than investigating your symptoms properly.

For me, It was a fact of life, sitting on the phone for hours on end, sometimes, in excruciating pain, being told I had indigestion. As an individual, I knew my own body and I understood when something wasn't right. This went on for months, and if I hadn't screamed as loud as I did, I never would have got to the root of the symptoms I was experiencing.

I lost count of the number of times I was called a hypochondriac, not only by professionals, but also my own extended family. They had no idea of the pain I was going through, and should never have judged me in the way they did. In the end, after nearly a year and a half and demanding tests and answers, even during the pandemic, I finally got some answers. I had to have my gall bladder removed, and slowly my life got back to normal; I could live again and was just happy I had persevered, even during the most challenging of times.

Sitting here in Australia, I can see just how much of a mess, the NHS back in the UK is - I watch it on Sky News every day. Things have got progressively worse since I left, and most people wouldn't push as hard as me, to get the treatment they need. I think I heard, yesterday, that there were over seven million people on the waiting list for operations - that figure shocks me to the core and makes me think how lucky I am to be in Australia.

Here things are very different - on Monday morning I phoned my local GP surgery, and was given an extra long face to face consultation that very same day. Of course, there is a difference in Australia - I have to pay!  I can see the horror on peoples faces already, just thinking they would have to pay to see a Doctor, and to be honest, I used to be just the same. The appointment cost me $120.00; for that I was given unlimited time with my Doctor, who was able to interact with me on a level, that just doesn't exist in the UK.

For a few months, I have been experiencing weeping sores on my head; several of them underneath moles, that have changed in recent weeks. In Australia, skin cancer is a big deal, and if you notice something untoward going on, especially with moles changing colour, size and consistency, it's time to make an appointment, which I duly did. Having a bald head and venturing out on hot summers days without a hat, as I have in the past, is something I shouldn't have done, and I am fully aware of the consequences now, after my visit to the surgery.

My GP gave me a thorough examination and skin check, explaining the different types of moles, lumps, bumps and cysts on my head. He explained that as far as he could tell, there were no problems, but a reoccurring issue on my face could be a cause for concern going forward. With immediate treatment this could be kept in check without any issues in the short to medium term, but there could come a point where treatments don't work, and the outcome could be more serious.

Now I am fully aware of the consequences of my actions, I know what to do to protect my skin from the ravages of the Australian summer, so should be far more prepared this year. I can't help thinking, however, that my past lifestyle choices may well have been responsible for the issues I have today. I lived in Australia before and Spain, and didn't look after myself as much as I do today. Any future problems could well have started years ago, resurfacing later in life; that is of course the same for every one of us.

All of us should think twice before venturing out in the sun without protection, and it's something I need to take notice of, especially now. On top of my healthy lifestyle, exercising and looking after my metal health, I will now have to factor in the harsh reality of the climate down under. It's almost strange to think how unfit I used to be and just how lucky I am to still be alive, let alone living in Australia, and enjoying a life others can only dream of.

Things are very different in Australia; I'm not in the Doctor's surgery every week as I was in the UK, but I also don't have the health issues I had in Portsmouth. Unlike Britain, my concerns aren't dismissed or brushed aside, they are listened to, by a supportive health system and a network of family who only want to see the best for me. Now I am finally in a good and prosperous place, I want to live a long, fruitful and healthy life; I can do that here. As I continue to build a new life down under, I am happy to pay for things that I wouldn't have paid for back home. Getting the best standard of care comes at a price, but for me, it's a price worth paying and a price all of us will have to pay eventually, no matter where we live in the World.

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