Ready for another moan? read on!
Chez mr.le Marquis du Galipot.
Now then, as you all know, I'm not the one to moan about anything (despite Tinkerbelles' claims)
but this one has got me.
A "new" system is being installed in the French National Health System, and I would like someone out there in the enormous blogland, to explain it to me.
The National TV came up with the following "explanation".
In the future everybody has to name a "generaliste" (a GP) as their "reference Doctor" (I suppose a little like the family doctor in UK). Nobody can tell me whether you need to ask this Doctor's permission before naming him.
This "reference Doctor" will, from now on, be your "entry card" to the wide and wonderfully mad world of all doctors! Before you can go to see any other doctor at all (even in urgencies!) (specialists/hospital/psychiatrists/cardiologes etc) you MUST (if you are a patient hoping to be reimboursed by the National Health Service) pass by this poor man/woman! He/She will decide your fate, and either give you a reference letter/or not, to a specialist! An example?
In my own particular case, for example, although I know that I am busily having another heart attack, I am obliged to go to the GP, and NOT directly to the Cardiologe. What happens if I fall down in the street I don't know - they didn't say.
Now, this GP does not, of course, do this for free! His fees have to be paid for, firstly by the patient himself, and they amount to 20euros (plus 1 euro in a new thing called "solidarity-euro" a fee of 1 euro, added to every doctor's fee, and given directly to the National Health Services to throw out of the window, not refunded). From these 21 euros, the NHS (French style) refunds 16 euros, and any private insurance one may have(like the one I just stopped), refunds the rest-except the 1 euro solidarity charge!!!!!
If you are so lucky, the GP may then look at you for 30 seconds, and say that you don't need his help, but a heart specialist, and he'll give you a letter "allowing" you to progress to the next etape - finding a heart specialist who will accept you, (they don't like NHS patients very much)
and getting an appointment with him (towards the end of the decade). His fees are currently a minimum of 25 euros, plus the now famous 1 euro solidarity blackmail = 26 euros in all, of which the NHS will kindly refund the now well-known 16 euros!!!
In the past, you went directly to what doctor you wanted, the GP's were always crowded out anyway, and the specialists less so, so what is going to happen now? Even the GP's themselves are shouting and striking - they want the money, but don't want the patients who only want a letter from them. This, they say, reduces them to simple clerical workers for the NHS.
Nobody, of course, asks the bloody patient, who now, not only has a much longer road to go down, but a lot more expensive.
In the past one paid 45 euros (if one went to both doctors), and was refunded 32 euros.Cost - 13 euros.
If, as in most cases, one went directly to the specialist, one paid 25 euros, was refunded 16 euros. Cost - 9 euros.
NOW, one is obliged to go to both doctors, one is obliged to pay 47 euros, and one is obliged to accept the refunding of only 32 euros. Cost - 15 euros!!!! A lot of time wasted, probably a lot of insults to be sustained by unhappy medical staff etc.
Of course, the idea is that 50% of prospective patients will not bother, and the other 50% will be "dead on arrival". After all - what the hell do people want from a National Health System?
Civil servants/fonctionnaires/Doctors,nurses, and all and sundry have to be paid - you don't seriously expect treatment as well!
Of course - if you are a member of a private Health Insurance Society,(you still have to pay your NHS contributions- but you don't get a refund from them)you will be refunded AT LEAST 100% of actual costs, and this includes travel to and from whatever to wherever. You will also be welcomed with open arms (I get the feeling sometimes even with open legs) by all the Doctors/Nurses/Hospitals etc, as a "good paying customer" and not one of those slummy NHS "will-we-get-our-money" types!
But nevertheless - France is a Republic - "egalite/fraternite/etc!!
Now then, as you all know, I'm not the one to moan about anything (despite Tinkerbelles' claims)
but this one has got me.
A "new" system is being installed in the French National Health System, and I would like someone out there in the enormous blogland, to explain it to me.
The National TV came up with the following "explanation".
In the future everybody has to name a "generaliste" (a GP) as their "reference Doctor" (I suppose a little like the family doctor in UK). Nobody can tell me whether you need to ask this Doctor's permission before naming him.
This "reference Doctor" will, from now on, be your "entry card" to the wide and wonderfully mad world of all doctors! Before you can go to see any other doctor at all (even in urgencies!) (specialists/hospital/psychiatrists/cardiologes etc) you MUST (if you are a patient hoping to be reimboursed by the National Health Service) pass by this poor man/woman! He/She will decide your fate, and either give you a reference letter/or not, to a specialist! An example?
In my own particular case, for example, although I know that I am busily having another heart attack, I am obliged to go to the GP, and NOT directly to the Cardiologe. What happens if I fall down in the street I don't know - they didn't say.
Now, this GP does not, of course, do this for free! His fees have to be paid for, firstly by the patient himself, and they amount to 20euros (plus 1 euro in a new thing called "solidarity-euro" a fee of 1 euro, added to every doctor's fee, and given directly to the National Health Services to throw out of the window, not refunded). From these 21 euros, the NHS (French style) refunds 16 euros, and any private insurance one may have(like the one I just stopped), refunds the rest-except the 1 euro solidarity charge!!!!!
If you are so lucky, the GP may then look at you for 30 seconds, and say that you don't need his help, but a heart specialist, and he'll give you a letter "allowing" you to progress to the next etape - finding a heart specialist who will accept you, (they don't like NHS patients very much)
and getting an appointment with him (towards the end of the decade). His fees are currently a minimum of 25 euros, plus the now famous 1 euro solidarity blackmail = 26 euros in all, of which the NHS will kindly refund the now well-known 16 euros!!!
In the past, you went directly to what doctor you wanted, the GP's were always crowded out anyway, and the specialists less so, so what is going to happen now? Even the GP's themselves are shouting and striking - they want the money, but don't want the patients who only want a letter from them. This, they say, reduces them to simple clerical workers for the NHS.
Nobody, of course, asks the bloody patient, who now, not only has a much longer road to go down, but a lot more expensive.
In the past one paid 45 euros (if one went to both doctors), and was refunded 32 euros.Cost - 13 euros.
If, as in most cases, one went directly to the specialist, one paid 25 euros, was refunded 16 euros. Cost - 9 euros.
NOW, one is obliged to go to both doctors, one is obliged to pay 47 euros, and one is obliged to accept the refunding of only 32 euros. Cost - 15 euros!!!! A lot of time wasted, probably a lot of insults to be sustained by unhappy medical staff etc.
Of course, the idea is that 50% of prospective patients will not bother, and the other 50% will be "dead on arrival". After all - what the hell do people want from a National Health System?
Civil servants/fonctionnaires/Doctors,nurses, and all and sundry have to be paid - you don't seriously expect treatment as well!
Of course - if you are a member of a private Health Insurance Society,(you still have to pay your NHS contributions- but you don't get a refund from them)you will be refunded AT LEAST 100% of actual costs, and this includes travel to and from whatever to wherever. You will also be welcomed with open arms (I get the feeling sometimes even with open legs) by all the Doctors/Nurses/Hospitals etc, as a "good paying customer" and not one of those slummy NHS "will-we-get-our-money" types!
But nevertheless - France is a Republic - "egalite/fraternite/etc!!
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