Our outrageous adventure with the health system

[wiseheart]

So, I was supposed to take Mum for control (x-ray, mainly) to the hospital. We arranged for the private ambulance; they were supposed to arrive at 9.30am. I was standing in the bathroom, naked like the day I was born at 8.15am, ready to climb under the shower when the intercom went off: the ambulance has arrived. I was quite shocked and never got dressed half that quickly in my life! Fortunately, Mum was already washed and dressed and ready to go...

They claimed that they had an empty slot and fetched us earlier because later on they had too many transports scheduled. But then it turned out that one of the guys had his daughter in the ambulance car as well; she'd had a blood test previously. So clearly, they organized things so that they could take his daughter to her blood test and then drop off at home on our way to the hospital. While we were paying for Mum's transport - and not just a little at that!

We'd been told that the ambulance wouldn't wait for us because they had too much to do today (yesterday being a national holiday and all that), but I should call the dispatcher again once we are done and they'll come and fetch us. Well... they came after 35 minutes! It wasn't the same team, they seem to have many of those as we had a different one each time we used them. Anyway, we got home in one piece, but Mum was so pissed off at them that she didn't give them a tip (which she usually does, fairly generously at that).

Then I opened my inbox and found a message from our family doctor that Mum's scheduled to get her first jab tomorrow. Since we can't get there on our own, I had to call the private ambulance again. They promised to be here at 9am, as Mum's jab is scheduled for 9.30 and the vaccination point is fairly near our home. I'm not sure what time we should be ready for them after this morning...


These adventures left me completely drained. Then I tried to print out the declaration that we'll accept the vaccination, complete with the questionare about possible chronic illnesses, allergies and all that. My printer decided not to cooperate, which left me in a fairly desperate mindset. After several tries I shut off the printer, even pulled the plug, restarted the PC and tried again. The printer found it great - it printed out 11 such documents instead of the two we'd need. So I'll take the other 9 with me tomorrow. Perhaps someone can use them. *facepalm*

This way we arrived at the hospital way too early, of course, but the head nurse was apparently a practical-minded person and sent off Mum to her x-ray at once, so we wouldn't waste much time. The surgeon we were supposed to see didn't even show up - apparently he had something other to do - but the young doctor we saw in the end was very nice and satisfied with the results of the x-ray, so it's good. We'll have to return in two weeks' time, to see if something happens when Mum puts her full weight on the leg.

Comments

[bk_forever]

That's really bad, they should have at least contacted you in advance to ask if you minded being picked up early. What if you or your mum had still been in bed?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly!

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

Very upsetting, it really is maddening to not be notified the transport is coming earlier than the appointed time.
And to be paying for the entire transport fee while the driver's daughter rides on your payment — that is really outrageous.

I'm sorry it's been such an upsetting day. Better luck with tomorrow's appointment.

Best of all is the news that Mum's leg is healing well! Wishing her continued healing and a return to mobility!

*hugs you* Take care.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I'm just glad today's ordeals are over. Now if we only could get through the vaccination equally smoothly!

[meathiel]

An hour early? That's definitely not good customer service.
Yikes.

Glad to hear all is well with your mum, though.
And good luck for her vaccination tomorrow.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Let's hope it will go smoothly, with no significant side effects. *fingers crossed*

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

{{{hugs}}}

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

For a private service that really is not good.

I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow and you aren't inconvenienced like that again.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Amen to that.

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

What a day! It's always a problem to know whether to send a letter of complaint in these situations, because there are so many nasty ways they can get back at you.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Especially as we had to use their services again to get Mum to her vaccination.

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

Seems that mums are always ready for the day. I have to be the inglorious exception...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, I've done my best to make her ready, so...

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

Wow, what madness! I don't blame you or your Mum for being upset. Re: the printer — been there before — sigh. My printer is also quirky.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

That IS outrageous! I don't blame you and your Mom for being pissed off.

Good for the head nurse, boo for the surgeon, yay for the nice young doctor. And *hugs* for you and your mom!