Alla inlägg den 22 september 2008

Av Pelle - 22 september 2008 20:12

The Swedish social security system and free health care for everyone is a myth or a joke. Sponsored by the tax-payers and supposed to give people treatment guarantee within 3 months.

42% of the tax money is going to these kind of services and bear in mind what kind of tax level we are on here. Definately amongst the highest in the world. So we are talking about lots of money for this. Still, when you suddenly need help, you most certainly get disappointed. I'm a seldom user of these services luckily enough, but still disappointed. Some weeks ago, I got an appointment with a Doctor at the local health central (according to the recommended procedure) to check my since long painful heel. He then sent a remittance to both an orthopedic specialist and to a physioterapist. It would give me multiple views/opinions on my injury and hopefully also double options of treatments. Worst case could mean some surgery. Last week I got an answer from the orthopedic dept, that told me that they have no chance to help me within the 3 months time limit, so I got 2 options, either to accept a longer queing time or be prepared to queue up at some other health care region in the country incl. long travels, time waisting, etc. If it would be fatal, it would be an easy decision, but this is just making me disillusioned. Today I got a reply from the physioterapist, saying the same more or less, but also asking me to go somewhere private for treatment. Fantastic, at least they have time and resources to administrate their incapability. Why do we pay all these tax money for this shit.

Last time I had any dealings with the hospital world for my own treatment was when I had a dislocating shoulder (football injury 1981). There were lots of emergency visits to the hospital to get it back in place and also approx 200 dislocations when I managed to get it back myself. It was always easy to fix when I was drunk by the way. No fear or pain. The physioterapist didn't make any improvement with me, so I was put on a waiting list for surgery. Guess how long I had to wait? 18 years!!! And it actually happened thanks to a IT systems analysis study that I performed for the hospital, where I amongst other things checked how the waiting list systems were working. I used my own case as an example and 2 weeks later, I was called for surgery by the best ortopedic specialist around. What a coincidence ;-) Excellent surgery and it's been perfect ever since, but it's a bit of a shame that it has to be initiated in such a way. I feel sorry for all old people with pain & problems that are sitting somewhere waiting to get their surgery done. The reality is that the social authorities are hoping for them to die. 

Something is not working OK for sure. Of course we should have affordable health care for everyone, but we need to change the model and the customer view mentality amongst the staff (there are some exceptions). We don't want it to be like in the US. Michael Moore's film "Sicko" was really putting the light on the situation there. It was funny in the end when he brought a bunch of sick & disappointed people on a boat to Cuba, where they got top service for peanuts. OK, it was a not fully documentary, but anyhow.

Sorry for being critical, but why just accept poor service, that you've paid for in advance?

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