Doctors!

After Katie's little accident on Friday, she had to go to the Health Centre in Gran Alacant, to have the dressing on her wound changed.  I went along with her, as we had to go to The GA Centre afterwards.  I have only been to the centre once, to pick up my SIP card, so had no idea what to expect.

My only other experience of a Doctors Surgery. is the many wonderful hours I spent sitting in them, in Southampton. To be honest, in The UK, I have spent what seems like a lifetime, waiting to see a Doctor;  I expected the same here.  Well nothing could have been further from the truth. We were in and out with in ten minutes.  The nurse was polite and engaging, the service exceptional.

It really made me quite angry, to see The Spanish system working perfectly, when in Britain, it is falling apart.  From my experience, with the number of immigrants entering the UK, the situation was at times dreadful and inexcusable.  Waiting to see a GP for two weeks; sitting in a surgery for hours on end and most importantly seeing the NHS collapsing, because of the lack of resources and the open door policy.

In Spain you can't even see a Doctor, until you pay into the system.  Katie had a bill of 140€, reduced to 30€, because she does not have her SIP card yet.  Isn't that how it should be?  If you are not a resident, or are not paying into the system, then you should have to pay, sorry to say that Katie!

Today I was expecting a painful experience, but actually had a painless, stress free, no waiting one.  Just how it should be.  Come on Britain, follow Spain's example!