I finally realized why I so hate the medical practitioners in Holland. The desk. In America and Australia you see a Dr at they see you. They take a look at your general condition, poke and prod, generally check you and your problem. Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick. Which is generally to rest and feel better.
I want a real doctor. NOW!
Full Version: The doctor and the desk...
Quote:
I finally realized why I so hate the medical practitioners in Holland. The desk. In America and Australia you see a Dr at they see you. They take a look at your general condition, poke and prod, generally check you and your problem. Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick. Which is generally to rest and feel better.
I want a real doctor. NOW!
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Yes the desk it gives the aire of Professionalism. And the computer what physician would be caught without thier artificial brain. They love thier technology. I went to get a refil once, gave the name of the medication in commercial and generic name. Told her what it was for and she still needed to refer to a guide because she had never heard of the medication glucovance before, when she could not find it in her computer I broke it down to its two ingrediants and after consulting the pharmacy she found it.
I finally realized why I so hate the medical practitioners in Holland. The desk. In America and Australia you see a Dr at they see you. They take a look at your general condition, poke and prod, generally check you and your problem. Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick. Which is generally to rest and feel better.
I want a real doctor. NOW!
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Yes the desk it gives the aire of Professionalism. And the computer what physician would be caught without thier artificial brain. They love thier technology. I went to get a refil once, gave the name of the medication in commercial and generic name. Told her what it was for and she still needed to refer to a guide because she had never heard of the medication glucovance before, when she could not find it in her computer I broke it down to its two ingrediants and after consulting the pharmacy she found it.
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I finally realized why I so hate the medical practitioners in Holland. The desk. In America and Australia you see a Dr at they see you. They take a look at your general condition, poke and prod, generally check you and your problem. Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick. Which is generally to rest and feel better.
I want a real doctor. NOW!
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yep, doctors here seem to have a strictly 'hands off' policy.
I finally realized why I so hate the medical practitioners in Holland. The desk. In America and Australia you see a Dr at they see you. They take a look at your general condition, poke and prod, generally check you and your problem. Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick. Which is generally to rest and feel better.
I want a real doctor. NOW!
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yep, doctors here seem to have a strictly 'hands off' policy.
This is because the roll of the G.P. is completely different here than in most other countries.
Here in Holland, the G.P. is the health-system equivelent of the night club bouncer.
First he or she filters out the time-wasters, loafers and hypochondriacs before allowing the actually sick people through the door in to the system, and then pinging them off to see the relevant specialists they need.
It's a kind of triage system, if you like.
Here in Holland, the G.P. is the health-system equivelent of the night club bouncer.
First he or she filters out the time-wasters, loafers and hypochondriacs before allowing the actually sick people through the door in to the system, and then pinging them off to see the relevant specialists they need.
It's a kind of triage system, if you like.
Quote:
This is because the roll of the G.P. is completely different here than in most other countries.
Here in Holland, the G.P. is the health-system equivelent of the night club bouncer.
First he or she filters out the time-wasters, loafers and hypochondriacs before allowing the actually sick people through the door in to the system, and then pinging them off to see the relevant specialists they need.
It's a kind of triage system, if you like.
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That's OK if you have enough medical experience to recognise a hyprochondriac. Some people present with symtoms that the doctor doesn't understand and then you just get the stock reply - wait and let's see. Sometimes this can have terrible results. Also the doctor doesn't seem to refer to your family history - though my doctor has never asked for one.
So I'm afraid to put your trust in such an inadequate system is very risky.
I've had a long term problem which the specialists here couldn't diagnose.
I went to my brother's doctor in the UK and it was solved in 10 minutes.
When I went back to my doctor here and explained it to him, there was no questions asked or even any sort of curiosity. I suppose to acknowledge it would mean somebody would be held responsible, and that's wouldn't be the Dutch way.
This is because the roll of the G.P. is completely different here than in most other countries.
Here in Holland, the G.P. is the health-system equivelent of the night club bouncer.
First he or she filters out the time-wasters, loafers and hypochondriacs before allowing the actually sick people through the door in to the system, and then pinging them off to see the relevant specialists they need.
It's a kind of triage system, if you like.
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That's OK if you have enough medical experience to recognise a hyprochondriac. Some people present with symtoms that the doctor doesn't understand and then you just get the stock reply - wait and let's see. Sometimes this can have terrible results. Also the doctor doesn't seem to refer to your family history - though my doctor has never asked for one.
So I'm afraid to put your trust in such an inadequate system is very risky.
I've had a long term problem which the specialists here couldn't diagnose.
I went to my brother's doctor in the UK and it was solved in 10 minutes.
When I went back to my doctor here and explained it to him, there was no questions asked or even any sort of curiosity. I suppose to acknowledge it would mean somebody would be held responsible, and that's wouldn't be the Dutch way.
Quote:
This is because the roll of the G.P. is completely different here than in most other countries.
Here in Holland, the G.P. is the health-system equivelent of the night club bouncer.
First he or she filters out the time-wasters, loafers and hypochondriacs before allowing the actually sick people through the door in to the system, and then pinging them off to see the relevant specialists they need.
It's a kind of triage system, if you like.
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You call it triage, the people in the Kerkhof call it a death sentence.
This is because the roll of the G.P. is completely different here than in most other countries.
Here in Holland, the G.P. is the health-system equivelent of the night club bouncer.
First he or she filters out the time-wasters, loafers and hypochondriacs before allowing the actually sick people through the door in to the system, and then pinging them off to see the relevant specialists they need.
It's a kind of triage system, if you like.
************************************
You call it triage, the people in the Kerkhof call it a death sentence.
Quote:
Quote:
This is because the roll of the G.P. is completely different here than in most other countries.
Here in Holland, the G.P. is the health-system equivelent of the night club bouncer.
First he or she filters out the time-wasters, loafers and hypochondriacs before allowing the actually sick people through the door in to the system, and then pinging them off to see the relevant specialists they need.
It's a kind of triage system, if you like.
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You call it triage, the people in the Kerkhof call it a death sentence.
Oh yeah the one I liked is, you need to lose 30 kilo's before I refer you for surgery so you can walk normally again. I can help you because I am trained in weight reduction methods. This being told to me as I viewed her 30 extra kilos she was carrying on her hips. Sitting behind the desk a bit too long I'd say.
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Quote:
This is because the roll of the G.P. is completely different here than in most other countries.
Here in Holland, the G.P. is the health-system equivelent of the night club bouncer.
First he or she filters out the time-wasters, loafers and hypochondriacs before allowing the actually sick people through the door in to the system, and then pinging them off to see the relevant specialists they need.
It's a kind of triage system, if you like.
************************************
You call it triage, the people in the Kerkhof call it a death sentence.
Oh yeah the one I liked is, you need to lose 30 kilo's before I refer you for surgery so you can walk normally again. I can help you because I am trained in weight reduction methods. This being told to me as I viewed her 30 extra kilos she was carrying on her hips. Sitting behind the desk a bit too long I'd say.
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Imagine how a Dutchie feels when they go to a doctor in the US and get the "in your face let's poke and prod you" treatment.
<img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif"> <img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif">
<img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif"> <img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif">
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Imagine how a Dutchie feels when they go to a doctor in the US and get the "in your face let's poke and prod you" treatment.
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What, you mean how does he feel when he gets pro-active and expert treatment? Probably very confused and defensive ......
Imagine how a Dutchie feels when they go to a doctor in the US and get the "in your face let's poke and prod you" treatment.
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What, you mean how does he feel when he gets pro-active and expert treatment? Probably very confused and defensive ......
Quote:firemaplelb
Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick.
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If you think that your huisarts is bad, try being examined by a Dutch gynaecologist...THAT'S a real treat - ice cold forceps handled by someone with no understanding of the female body and the bedside manner of an oaf. Horrible.
Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick.
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If you think that your huisarts is bad, try being examined by a Dutch gynaecologist...THAT'S a real treat - ice cold forceps handled by someone with no understanding of the female body and the bedside manner of an oaf. Horrible.
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Quote:firemaplelb
Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick.
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If you think that your huisarts is bad, try being examined by a Dutch gynaecologist...THAT'S a real treat - ice cold forceps handled by someone with no understanding of the female body and the bedside manner of an oaf. Horrible.
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Forceps? Don't ypu mean speculum?
Quote:firemaplelb
Never went to the Dr in America without my temperature and weight taken. Here, I sit behind a desk like I'm once again at my principal's office when I was a kid and receive my punishment for being sick.
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If you think that your huisarts is bad, try being examined by a Dutch gynaecologist...THAT'S a real treat - ice cold forceps handled by someone with no understanding of the female body and the bedside manner of an oaf. Horrible.
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Forceps? Don't ypu mean speculum?
Ice cold forceps, speculum, whatever - it's all bad...I could have easily kicked the last guy I saw in the face, without any remorse.
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If you think that your huisarts is bad, try being examined by a Dutch gynaecologist...THAT'S a real treat - ice cold forceps handled by someone with no understanding of the female body and the bedside manner of an oaf. Horrible.
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Ooh, not to mention the indignity of having to walk around the gynaecologists rooms with your lower half unclad and then be subjected to the physical and mental torture of stirrups (which went out of fashion in gynaecology elsewhere in the world years ago).
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If you think that your huisarts is bad, try being examined by a Dutch gynaecologist...THAT'S a real treat - ice cold forceps handled by someone with no understanding of the female body and the bedside manner of an oaf. Horrible.
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Ooh, not to mention the indignity of having to walk around the gynaecologists rooms with your lower half unclad and then be subjected to the physical and mental torture of stirrups (which went out of fashion in gynaecology elsewhere in the world years ago).
Quote: Ash
Ooh, not to mention the indignity of having to walk around the gynaecologists rooms with your lower half unclad and then be subjected to the physical and mental torture of stirrups (which went out of fashion in gynaecology elsewhere in the world years ago).
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Well, I was not so lucky to only be 1/2 unclad for my last gynie exam. He (The Doc) wanted me completely nude in the stupid stirrups, because I'd made the mistake of wearing a dress with a pencil skirt to my appointment...completely humiliating.
Ooh, not to mention the indignity of having to walk around the gynaecologists rooms with your lower half unclad and then be subjected to the physical and mental torture of stirrups (which went out of fashion in gynaecology elsewhere in the world years ago).
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Well, I was not so lucky to only be 1/2 unclad for my last gynie exam. He (The Doc) wanted me completely nude in the stupid stirrups, because I'd made the mistake of wearing a dress with a pencil skirt to my appointment...completely humiliating.
Quote: Pakora
Well, I was not so lucky to only be 1/2 unclad for my last gynie exam. He (The Doc) wanted me completely nude in the stupid stirrups, because I'd made the mistake of wearing a dress with a pencil skirt to my appointment...completely humiliating.
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Argh! I think I would have just got up and left at that point. I wonder why they don't realise that it would make everyone feel a lot better if they gave you a gown or at least a sheet to drape over yourself.
Oh but wait, then they might have to actually show a bit of compassion and human kindness (and pay for the gowns/sheets to be washed). I find the nurses in the gynae practice are actually worse than the drs themselves.
I went for a mammogram the other day and had an extremely kind (and very attractive!) Surinamese radiologist do the procedure for me. Not once did he say 'wat zegt u?!' (in that special tone the Dutch reserve for foreign accents) at me when I spoke to him. He was kind, thoughtful, asked if I needed the heating on in the room and chatted to me about weather and other silly things while positioning my boob for squishing.
Now, why can't they all be like that?
Quickly contrast to the native Dutch nurse who did my u/s scan 20 minutes later. She didn't understand my Dutch and had to switch to English, left me in the freezing cold, didn't warm the gel for the u/s which was then applied to my freezing boob, and worst of all, didn't give me any paper towel to wipe it off with afterwards, meaning I had to fish around in my handbag for tissues!
This was in the same department of the same hospital!
The mind truly boggles sometimes.
Well, I was not so lucky to only be 1/2 unclad for my last gynie exam. He (The Doc) wanted me completely nude in the stupid stirrups, because I'd made the mistake of wearing a dress with a pencil skirt to my appointment...completely humiliating.
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Argh! I think I would have just got up and left at that point. I wonder why they don't realise that it would make everyone feel a lot better if they gave you a gown or at least a sheet to drape over yourself.
Oh but wait, then they might have to actually show a bit of compassion and human kindness (and pay for the gowns/sheets to be washed). I find the nurses in the gynae practice are actually worse than the drs themselves.
I went for a mammogram the other day and had an extremely kind (and very attractive!) Surinamese radiologist do the procedure for me. Not once did he say 'wat zegt u?!' (in that special tone the Dutch reserve for foreign accents) at me when I spoke to him. He was kind, thoughtful, asked if I needed the heating on in the room and chatted to me about weather and other silly things while positioning my boob for squishing.
Now, why can't they all be like that?
Quickly contrast to the native Dutch nurse who did my u/s scan 20 minutes later. She didn't understand my Dutch and had to switch to English, left me in the freezing cold, didn't warm the gel for the u/s which was then applied to my freezing boob, and worst of all, didn't give me any paper towel to wipe it off with afterwards, meaning I had to fish around in my handbag for tissues!
This was in the same department of the same hospital!
The mind truly boggles sometimes.
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Ice cold forceps, speculum, whatever - it's all bad...I could have easily kicked the last guy I saw in the face, without any remorse.
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What about "Could you please hold that speculum for me, while I get some samples from you!".
Ice cold forceps, speculum, whatever - it's all bad...I could have easily kicked the last guy I saw in the face, without any remorse.
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What about "Could you please hold that speculum for me, while I get some samples from you!".
Ice cold forceps, speculum, whatever - it's all bad...I could have easily kicked the last guy I saw in the face, without any remorse.
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What about "Could you please hold that speculum for me, while I get some samples from you!".
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OMG! Are you serious? Ughhh. Why is it so hard to find a gynaecologist with decent people skills in this country? I absolutely dread getting a pap smear, but somehow, the experience always winds up being ten times worse than I could have ever foreseen, here in Cheeseland.
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What about "Could you please hold that speculum for me, while I get some samples from you!".
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OMG! Are you serious? Ughhh. Why is it so hard to find a gynaecologist with decent people skills in this country? I absolutely dread getting a pap smear, but somehow, the experience always winds up being ten times worse than I could have ever foreseen, here in Cheeseland.
Does anyone have a story that does not involve horror or discomfort? I am completely freaked out.
As a recent arrival (8 months ago), I went to HA with a pregnancy scare, (which they did not even test despite the fact that I was three months late) and just said "you are probably stressed" and therefore missed your period even though I have been MUCH more stressed in life and period has always come like clockwork.
I need to go for routine visit soon and am SERIOUSLY DREADING IT! If anyone has a positive experience to share, please do so and follow-up with the name of your doctor! I can't bear a repeat of the awful, indifferent treatment I recieved at the last doctor's visit. There must be another way?? (desperation in voice)....
As a recent arrival (8 months ago), I went to HA with a pregnancy scare, (which they did not even test despite the fact that I was three months late) and just said "you are probably stressed" and therefore missed your period even though I have been MUCH more stressed in life and period has always come like clockwork.
I need to go for routine visit soon and am SERIOUSLY DREADING IT! If anyone has a positive experience to share, please do so and follow-up with the name of your doctor! I can't bear a repeat of the awful, indifferent treatment I recieved at the last doctor's visit. There must be another way?? (desperation in voice)....
It's almost as if they've spent some time devising it to be as unpleasant as possible to keep people from going .... it's worked on me.....I rarely go to the doctor anymore because I know it will accomplish nothing, waste several hours and wind me up even more.....
Gloves? We don't need no stinkin' gloves....
By the way, huisarts here don't check your blood pressure regularly as they do in other countries - I recommend to everyone to request it be checked - my good friend got paralyzed by not being aware he had high blood pressure....
Gloves? We don't need no stinkin' gloves....
By the way, huisarts here don't check your blood pressure regularly as they do in other countries - I recommend to everyone to request it be checked - my good friend got paralyzed by not being aware he had high blood pressure....
By the way, huisarts here don't check your blood pressure regularly as they do in other countries - I recommend to everyone to request it be checked - my good friend got paralyzed by not being aware he had high blood pressure....
[/quote]
Good advise Ratkat,
So sorry to read about your friend but glad you are using it as a word of wisdom to others.
I first laughed at the topic "The doctor and the desk" because it is so right...My husband went to the huisarts because he thought he had high BP due to being dizzy when first rising. Also, I have a blood pressure cuff and had measured it and it was high. It was my first experience at the huisarts, I rarely went to the dr even in the US, and that dr sat behind his desk asking all kinds of questions, trying to convince my man that he didn't have high BP, even though he had a bout of it about 10 years ago, the "dr" wasn't even looking that far back on his computer, and totally ignored that I had taken it--I'm sure because I'm not a medical person that discredited it. There was the ancient BP measuring thingy right on the desk. I wanted to get up, go around the desk, kick the dr, and tell him to get up and just take his bloody blood pressure--what's the big deal? He finally did, only because my man was insistant, and sure enough it was high. Now we're going on 2 years of return trips to keep it under control...took about 6 months till it was.
You may have to do more than request having it checked, you may have to demand it.
[/quote]
Good advise Ratkat,
So sorry to read about your friend but glad you are using it as a word of wisdom to others.
I first laughed at the topic "The doctor and the desk" because it is so right...My husband went to the huisarts because he thought he had high BP due to being dizzy when first rising. Also, I have a blood pressure cuff and had measured it and it was high. It was my first experience at the huisarts, I rarely went to the dr even in the US, and that dr sat behind his desk asking all kinds of questions, trying to convince my man that he didn't have high BP, even though he had a bout of it about 10 years ago, the "dr" wasn't even looking that far back on his computer, and totally ignored that I had taken it--I'm sure because I'm not a medical person that discredited it. There was the ancient BP measuring thingy right on the desk. I wanted to get up, go around the desk, kick the dr, and tell him to get up and just take his bloody blood pressure--what's the big deal? He finally did, only because my man was insistant, and sure enough it was high. Now we're going on 2 years of return trips to keep it under control...took about 6 months till it was.
You may have to do more than request having it checked, you may have to demand it.
Hmm...
Challenges to prevention in Dutch general practice
In the Netherlands the general practitioner (GP) plays an important role in prevention. Every Dutch citizen has to be registered with one GP and GPs know their patients well. Face-to-face contact is a relatively effective means of influencing behavior; if preventive advice is related to a patient's state of health, compliance may be stimulated. However, Dutch GPs have shown reluctance toward preventive work. Curing rather than preventing disease is emphasized in medical school. Many GPs doubt that they are entitled to interfere with a patients' lifestyle unless asked. Some GPs are aware of their limited knowledge of nutrition. Preventive work requires some reorganization of medical practice and can lead to an increased workload, without financial compensation. Then there is the "prevention paradox": preventive actions that have a demonstrable effect on the whole population bring only small benefits for individuals
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/65/6/1943S
Challenges to prevention in Dutch general practice
In the Netherlands the general practitioner (GP) plays an important role in prevention. Every Dutch citizen has to be registered with one GP and GPs know their patients well. Face-to-face contact is a relatively effective means of influencing behavior; if preventive advice is related to a patient's state of health, compliance may be stimulated. However, Dutch GPs have shown reluctance toward preventive work. Curing rather than preventing disease is emphasized in medical school. Many GPs doubt that they are entitled to interfere with a patients' lifestyle unless asked. Some GPs are aware of their limited knowledge of nutrition. Preventive work requires some reorganization of medical practice and can lead to an increased workload, without financial compensation. Then there is the "prevention paradox": preventive actions that have a demonstrable effect on the whole population bring only small benefits for individuals
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/65/6/1943S
QUOTE (pakora @ Nov 28 2005, 04:13 AM) 
If you think that your huisarts is bad, try being examined by a Dutch gynaecologist...THAT'S a real treat - ice cold forceps handled by someone with no understanding of the female body and the bedside manner of an oaf. Horrible.
OBJECTIVE: To establish how general practitioners (GPs) in the Netherlands diagnose and treat vaginal candidiasis. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 1160 Dutch GPs. The GPs were asked to make an inventory of the annual number of consultations for vulvovaginal candidiasis. Furthermore, information was requested with regard to diagnostic examinations performed and preferred treatment when dealing with vulvovaginal candidiasis. RESULTS: 380 (32.87%) GPs returned the questionnaire, of which 189 GPs worked in single-person practices (n=189). The group of 380 GPs consisted of 269 (70.8%) males and 111 (29.2%) females. On average, GPs reported 105.6 consultations concerning vaginal candidiasis per practice per year. Only 61 (16.1%) Dutch GPs always or often performed microscopy when diagnosing candidiasis, while 143 (37.6%) GPs never used a microscope to confirm their diagnosis. Furthermore, only 30 (7.9%) GPs regularly took Candida cultures, whereas 154 GPs (40.5%) never took a vaginal swab to diagnose acute candidiasis. Treatment of choice was mostly miconazole (50%) or clotrimazole (24%). CONCLUSION: GPs often diagnose "vulvovaginal candidiasis" in their practices, but often do not perform the laboratory examinations required to confirm their putative diagnosis. This may lead to wrong diagnoses and maltreatment with antimycotics, without cure of the patients' vaginal complaints.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18464170
oh man.
this thread is terrifying me.
my health care options are so wonderful, humane, thorough, and helpful here in massachusetts. i'm nervous i won't be able to find a gynecologist who can match up to my standards.
is there such a thing as a women's clinic- people who specialize in really educated and individualized gynecological treatment? or is gyno work (and other "specialty" doctors) always done as some kind of arm of the GP? is it on a referral basis, or what? i have no idea how it works in NL...
this thread is terrifying me.
my health care options are so wonderful, humane, thorough, and helpful here in massachusetts. i'm nervous i won't be able to find a gynecologist who can match up to my standards.
is there such a thing as a women's clinic- people who specialize in really educated and individualized gynecological treatment? or is gyno work (and other "specialty" doctors) always done as some kind of arm of the GP? is it on a referral basis, or what? i have no idea how it works in NL...
keep dreaming lady! My huisarts (!?) said that I don't need a gyn exam as I have a stable partner and I am young 
(considering I moved here 2 years ago and I did not have any gyn-exam in the meantime). When I requested to get regular tests anywhay he said HE (the huisarts) will do the tests and show me everything is fine. And why do I need a gynecologists for that anyway? I politely refused and left! Now I am waiting to get some free time to go home or to Belgium/Germany for some proper testing...
QUOTE (monsterpants @ Jun 2 2009, 08:59 PM)
oh man.
this thread is terrifying me.
my health care options are so wonderful, humane, thorough, and helpful here in massachusetts. i'm nervous i won't be able to find a gynecologist who can match up to my standards.
is there such a thing as a women's clinic- people who specialize in really educated and individualized gynecological treatment? or is gyno work (and other "specialty" doctors) always done as some kind of arm of the GP? is it on a referral basis, or what? i have no idea how it works in NL...
this thread is terrifying me.
my health care options are so wonderful, humane, thorough, and helpful here in massachusetts. i'm nervous i won't be able to find a gynecologist who can match up to my standards.
is there such a thing as a women's clinic- people who specialize in really educated and individualized gynecological treatment? or is gyno work (and other "specialty" doctors) always done as some kind of arm of the GP? is it on a referral basis, or what? i have no idea how it works in NL...
With regard to the Candidas article, or Thrush as it's more commonly called in England...
Why would anyone with acute Thrush wait for a lab diagnosis - why put themselves through that?
Option 1) Go to GP, referred to Gynae, swabs, labs testing, diagnosis, blah blah
Option 2) Go to Pharmacy, buy clotrimazole tablets over the counter, burning gone in an hour.
Never had an issue with GPs in England or in Holland (and yes, the GP or practice nurse does your smear tests in England too) ... this is just more scare stories via newspaper articles. I had CIN3 removed 3 years ago, absolutely no issue or raised eyebrows getting regular checkups here. If you prefer a female doctor, do your utmost to register with a female doctor. Use Expatica to try to find one via word of mouth.
Everyone's experiences are all different, but only the BAD ONES are ever reported here: my female GP is Dutch and I couldn't ask for better.
Why would anyone with acute Thrush wait for a lab diagnosis - why put themselves through that?
Option 1) Go to GP, referred to Gynae, swabs, labs testing, diagnosis, blah blah
Option 2) Go to Pharmacy, buy clotrimazole tablets over the counter, burning gone in an hour.
Never had an issue with GPs in England or in Holland (and yes, the GP or practice nurse does your smear tests in England too) ... this is just more scare stories via newspaper articles. I had CIN3 removed 3 years ago, absolutely no issue or raised eyebrows getting regular checkups here. If you prefer a female doctor, do your utmost to register with a female doctor. Use Expatica to try to find one via word of mouth.
Everyone's experiences are all different, but only the BAD ONES are ever reported here: my female GP is Dutch and I couldn't ask for better.
You are partially right. 
But I am registered with a practice of 3 doctors and depending on when I can make the appointment they send me to one or another (they are not all there in the same time). It is true that lately I am asking specifically for appointments with the female doctor (not for gyneco-related problems only but for everything else also as she is the only one that seems to know what she is talking about). And every time I call for an appointment, the receptionist seems annoyed by me asking for a specific doctor and wants to know a reason 
. I always pretend on the phone that I have "girl problems" so that I don't hear her commenting that the other doctors are free (I wonder why). This started to get annoying though!
Anyway, it never happened to me before in any country I've lived into (and I've been in quite a number of them) that the GP takes care of the gyneco related problems. Actually, I don't think I ever approached the GP with such problems, I was going directly to the gynecologist.
PS: I don't see what the problem is. We all talk about our experiences and not other persons experiences. If we all had bad experiences then we talk about that. It is good that you had a positive experience and that you mentioned it, but I don't see why the bad experiences should not be mentioned as well.
But I am registered with a practice of 3 doctors and depending on when I can make the appointment they send me to one or another (they are not all there in the same time). It is true that lately I am asking specifically for appointments with the female doctor (not for gyneco-related problems only but for everything else also as she is the only one that seems to know what she is talking about). And every time I call for an appointment, the receptionist seems annoyed by me asking for a specific doctor and wants to know a reason . I always pretend on the phone that I have "girl problems" so that I don't hear her commenting that the other doctors are free (I wonder why). This started to get annoying though!Anyway, it never happened to me before in any country I've lived into (and I've been in quite a number of them
) that the GP takes care of the gyneco related problems. Actually, I don't think I ever approached the GP with such problems, I was going directly to the gynecologist.PS: I don't see what the problem is. We all talk about our experiences and not other persons experiences. If we all had bad experiences then we talk about that. It is good that you had a positive experience and that you mentioned it, but I don't see why the bad experiences should not be mentioned as well.
QUOTE (osita @ Jun 9 2009, 01:51 PM)
Never had an issue with GPs in England or in Holland (and yes, the GP or practice nurse does your smear tests in England too) ... this is just more scare stories via newspaper articles. I had CIN3 removed 3 years ago, absolutely no issue or raised eyebrows getting regular checkups here. If you prefer a female doctor, do your utmost to register with a female doctor. Use Expatica to try to find one via word of mouth.
Everyone's experiences are all different, but only the BAD ONES are ever reported here: my female GP is Dutch and I couldn't ask for better.
Everyone's experiences are all different, but only the BAD ONES are ever reported here: my female GP is Dutch and I couldn't ask for better.
QUOTE (BubuNel @ Jun 9 2009, 01:47 PM)
keep dreaming lady! My huisarts (!?) said that I don't need a gyn exam as I have a stable partner and I am young (considering I moved here 2 years ago and I did not have any gyn-exam in the meantime). When I requested to get regular tests anywhay he said HE (the huisarts) will do the tests and show me everything is fine. And why do I need a gynecologists for that anyway? I politely refused and left! Now I am waiting to get some free time to go home or to Belgium/Germany for some proper testing...
I am not a fan of the Dutch system at all but in the UK, it is also possible to have several kids and never routinely see a Gynaecologist...pap smears are done by GPs (or specially trained nurses)...very gently (no stirrups) I might add...in the UK yes during pregnancy you would see your consultant a couple of times at the hospital ultimately responsible for your care but you'd only be referred to a gynae pre-conception if there were problems....these specialists are based in hospital not on the high street...so you don't self-refer, your GP acts as gatekeeper...British-trained docs are much more willing to refer though and in my experience know what they doing and will give you an idea of what the options could be when you do see the specialist. They are also more 'hands on' than in Holland and will usually sit on same side of desk as you in a relationship of equality....
I dislike going to the GP in NL so much that I only go if absolutely necessary...not that I would rush there in UK either.
I agree with the Dutch system on this one, you don't need to be poked and prodded routinely 'downstairs' unless there is good reason..pap smears aside which is sufficient prodding for me every 3 years thanks. Your midwife/GP/hospital specialist would routinely prod you during pregnancy though of course in UK.
QUOTE (ashleyum @ Dec 2 2005, 06:44 PM)
Quote:
Ice cold forceps, speculum, whatever - it's all bad...I could have easily kicked the last guy I saw in the face, without any remorse.
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What about "Could you please hold that speculum for me, while I get some samples from you!".
Ice cold forceps, speculum, whatever - it's all bad...I could have easily kicked the last guy I saw in the face, without any remorse.
************************************
What about "Could you please hold that speculum for me, while I get some samples from you!".
Tell me about it, was there yesterday evening, the b*****d not only did the smear test, but took a biopsy (I reckon for fun!), I limped home and then got pulled over by the police to check my car papers and driving licence, arrived home in not the best mood.
Phoned a friend in the UK and she asked why the doctors are so cruel here
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