La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I went to the public health centre Thursday to give an update to my doctor there and to also have her confirm that Nephrology is planning to contact me for an appointment. My special meds will not be covered until a public health nephrologist prescribes them. I’ve been waiting 6 weeks or so for that call and am meanwhile paying €130 a month out of pocket. My doctor confirmed that Nephrology is set to call me. However, it’s almost August and summer vacations, so I may be paying for a while more. I’m not thrilled but we’re at least fortunate to have the money to cover it. I was thinking this would be a major hardship for someone with less, but I then realized someone with less wouldn’t have started off with private healthcare in the first place.
While we’re on the subject of the special meds, I take two pills each morning at least an hour before breakfast. I was out of one of the pills and had planned to go to the pharmacy Friday afternoon but forgot. So, at 11:30 last night, I walked over with my prescriptions. The form has two prescription sheets, one top and one bottom, both of which the doctor signs. I thought I was receiving two at a time. I split the forms in two and grabbed one of each. At the pharmacy I was told I brought the wrong part of the forms. The top is my copy and the bottom is for the pharmacy. In small print along the side, it says so. I came home, picked up the bottoms (of the prescriptions) and walked back to the pharmacy. It was 12:10 when I was home again. And that back and forth made me happy because, a week ago, that would have been too much to consider.
And now back to the health centre. When I arrived exactly on time for my appointment, I went directly upstairs as I always do. The system is a bit screwy. You sit outside in the hall. The doctor might come out and invite the patient in. She might call out a name. She might just wait for someone to step up. If she can see you, she might wave. I make a point of finding or eventually moving into a seat that has a direct line of vision to my doctor’s desk. The door opened and a male doctor was sitting there. I checked the appointment on my calendar and this same room was shown. I thought perhaps he was covering for her, but didn’t think they would make that change without letting me know. I asked and was told she was somewhere else.
I went back downstairs to the information desk. As I stepped up, a woman came from behind and said in Spanish, “I just have one question.” I smiled and, surprising myself, said, “So do I.” I asked my one question and was told my doctor was upstairs in another office at the opposite corner of the building. That was the one question the woman had, as well, and she followed me up the stairs. It turns out her appointment was after mine. So there! That “I just have one question” thing drives me crazy.
El jueves fui al centro de salud pública para informar a mi médico y también para que me confirmara que Nefrología tiene previsto ponerse en contacto conmigo para concertar una cita. Mis medicamentos especiales no estarán cubiertos hasta que me los recete un nefrólogo de salud pública. Llevo esperando unas seis semanas a que me llamen y, mientras tanto, estoy pagando 130 € al mes de mi bolsillo. Mi médico me confirmó que Nefrología tiene previsto llamarme. Sin embargo, ya casi es agosto y son vacaciones de verano, así que puede que tenga que pagar un poco más. No estoy muy contento, pero al menos tenemos la suerte de tener el dinero para cubrirlo. Pensé que esto sería una gran dificultad para alguien con menos dinero, pero luego me di cuenta de que alguien con menos dinero no habría empezado con la atención sanitaria privada en primer lugar.
Ya que estamos hablando de los medicamentos especiales, tomo dos pastillas cada mañana al menos una hora antes del desayuno. Me había quedado sin una de las pastillas y había planeado ir a la farmacia por la tarde, pero se me olvidó. Así que a las 11:30 de la noche, fui con mis recetas. El formulario tiene dos hojas de recetas, una superior y otra inferior, ambas firmadas por el médico. Pensé que me estaban dando dos a la vez. Dividí los formularios en dos y cogí uno de cada. En la farmacia me dijeron que había traído la parte equivocada de los formularios. La parte superior es mi copia y la inferior es para la farmacia. En letra pequeña a un lado, así lo dice. Volví a casa, cogí las partes inferiores (de las recetas) y volví andando a la farmacia. Eran las 12:10 cuando volví a casa. Y ese ir y venir me hizo feliz porque, hace una semana, eso habría sido demasiado para tener en cuenta.
Y ahora volvemos al centro de salud. Cuando llegué exactamente a la hora de mi cita, subí directamente las escaleras como siempre hago. El sistema es un poco raro. Te sientas fuera en el pasillo. El médico puede salir e invitar a la paciente a entrar. Puede que diga un nombre. Ella podría esperar a que alguien se acerque. Si puede verte, podría saludarte. Me aseguro de encontrar o eventualmente sentarme en un asiento que tenga una línea de visión directa hacia el escritorio de mi médico. La puerta se abrió y había un médico sentado allí. Revisé la cita en mi calendario y se mostró esta misma habitación. Pensé que tal vez la estaba reemplazando, pero no pensé que harían ese cambio sin avisarme. Pregunté y me dijeron que estaba en otro lugar.
Bajé las escaleras hacia el mostrador de información. Cuando me acerqué, una mujer se acercó por detrás y dijo en español: “Solo tengo una pregunta”. Sonreí y, sorprendiéndome, dije: “Yo también.” Hice mi única pregunta y me dijeron que mi médico estaba arriba en otra oficina en la esquina opuesta. Esa era también la única pregunta que tenía la mujer, y me siguió por las escaleras. Resulta que su cita era después de la mía. ¡Así que ahí está! Eso de “solo tengo una pregunta” me vuelve loca.
• El actual centro de salud pública, a la izquierda, y la nueva ampliación, a la derecha.
• Dudo. “Oh, ¿estás despierto? ¿Quieres ir a la cocina? ¡Creo que hay aperetivos!”
• ¿Qué están haciendo? ¡Consigue una habitación!
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
It is interesting to read about how the health care system is different in Spain from the USA. The pharmacy is open that late? And you saw the silver lining in that you could go back and get the right forms!
Michael:
Some cities’ pharmacies take turns being open 24 hours. We have one in our neighborhood that’s always open. Overnight, they have a secure window. It’s a great service.
And I also think it is amazing that you can walk there!
Michael:
We can walk to just about anything we need here. It’s why we chose it. Unfortunately, we can’t walk to the hospital. But I had no idea how often I’d be there!
Hopefully not any more!
Always have snacks, and keep walking more and more.
David:
I try.
I am amazed you went to the pharmacist at 11.30pm. I know Spain has a world-famous “night-time culture”, but… Jx
Jon:
There’s always (I think) at least one community pharmacy open 24 hours. It’s a great service.
Oh no! Horny construction equipment!
Debra:
It took me by surprise. And they appeared to be same sex.
I thought I’d read it wrong that you went to the pharmacy at midnight!
Love the orchids and The Boys’ expressions.
The cranes are frisky.
Bob:
Yes, frisky cranes. The boys are sleeping off their latest treats (#6). And yes we´ve got a neighborhood pharmacy, just a 6-minute walk, open 24 hours.
Boud here. Does the pharmacy close in the afternoon and reopen later? It might account for the late hours. Good thing you did have that one question!
Boud:
This pharmacy is open 24 hours a day. Most people going to information desks do have only one question. I’ve allowed people to jump in who tell me they only have one question only to stand and wait while they have a long chat.
I, too, just have one question- why in the world do they operate that way with patients waiting for doctors? I’m sure there’s a reason but I don’t see it.
I cannot imagine walking around at midnight to get a prescription.
You have the bluest skies I think I’ve ever seen.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
If I had an emergency like I did in May, I could go to public health’s emergency center, so there’s at least that. But if it’s not an emergency people do often have to wait for an appointment with a specialist. Then again, that’s the case with my private medical center, too. I’m glad at least I’m being treated. The majority here take vacation in August, so my timing isn’t great. And, yes, we do have the bluest skies. The 24-hour pharmacy is just a 6-minute walk. And, in summer, there are loads of people on the streets (for better and worse).
Health care can be confusing anywhere. There’s a lab where I had blood work done which has no receptionist. You check in on a confusing kiosk and wait, hoping that you did it correctly and that they know you are waiting. I thought I would have to draw my own blood too.
Frank:
Our private medical center has kiosks, but your number then gets called by a receptionist — who gives you another number (which is a number always used for you) for whatever’s next. And, yes, it can be SO confusing. If you haven’t done it before you wouldn’t even know there’s a kiosk, and they don’t have them well signed because I think they don’t want to damage the aesthetic.
There’s always at least one chemist (as we call it) open in the vicinity or near to, at all hours here in England as well, on a rota – but it’s sometimes a trial to find it. Yet of course we’re thankful there is always one.
D & M sure know how to pose for the camera – but then they can’t help but being photogenic.
(Darn it!) ME!
Darn it, Raybeard:
We have the one 24-hour pharmacy in our neighborhood and I know there are others around town. Fortunately, they don’t do the rota system. I think they did that in Seville.
I’m glad you spoke up 🙂
Very cool that your pharmacy is open that late (24 hours?), and glad you managed the walking! And, found your doctor!
Judy C:
Yes, one pharmacy in our neighborhood is open 24 hours (with a walk-up window). It’s great. How many times have you been jumped in line because someone only had one question only to have their question take longer than yours?
Moose and Dudo always make my day.
Kelly:
I’m glad. They make mine, too.
You went to the pharmacy at 11:30 p.m.? Did I read that right?! And it’s open past midnight?
Good for you for not letting that woman usurp your “one question”!
Steve:
Yes, our neighborhood pharmacy is open 24 hours. It’s standard practice to either rotate or have one designated.
Whenever arguments are made for nationalized medicine here in the U.S., the counterargument is always that there’s a long wait, with all kinds of forms to fill out. But you yourself said you have private insurance (and in a country that does have a public option yet), and it sounds like the same thing to me!
Kirk:
Honestly, it depends on what you’re waiting for. An emergency is still treated as an emergency. And I’ve had some ridiculously long waits for appointments with specialists at our private medical center. I’ve also known people who have waited ridiculous amounts of time for minor surgeries at public health. Except for this, I’ve been very happy with the quality of attention from public health.
Judging by the look on Moose’s face, his one question was “You just woke me up to take a f*****g picture?!
Your lovely orchids are worth waking up for though!
Tundra Bunny:
You’re absolutely right about Moose.
I have expensive meds too; always a worry they won’t be covered
People have to wait 2-3 months to see me and their insurance dictates what their treatment options are – the American system.
Urspo:
When I needed the kind of help you provide, I couldn’t have waited 2-3 months. Ridiculous.