France in Focus

Having contracted pneumonia at the start of the year, given it to the wife and seemingly got over it, I was surprised to feel a bit ill about a week after, having had a RDV with our normal doc on the Friday, who gave us the all clear. So he is on holiday , no problem see another of his associates in the same surgery. Bugger me when I entered the surgery there was the normal lady doctor and some 12 year old girl, who subsequently motioned to me to loosen my shirt and proceeded to examine me, at the end of which it was pronounced I had a cold and was given appropriate nasal spray. Some cold that was, felt like crap for days, at which time our normal doc returned and on consultation he announced that me and wifey still had the pneumonia and appropriate antibiotics have now been prescribed. I realise that everyone has to learn, and I mentioned to him the fact that I was far from pleased that I had been examined by a female Dougie Howser, and not a qualified doctor and charged 26 euro for the misdiagnosis. Whilst I do not wish to make waves at the practice I feel this is fundamentally wrong, at least the qualified doctor should have listened to my chest and not taken the opinion of some kid into account.

Sounds pretty bad but be glad you don't have to go to A&E like some do over on Plague Island.

Hughnique - Hope you and OH feel better soon. Not a pleasant process, but I hope now you have proper treatment, you'll both feel better soon.

Hotrodder wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:13 pm Sounds pretty bad but be glad you don't have to go to A&E like some do over on Plague Island.

My families experience of a/e in Plague Island has been excellent recently so stop knocking it. No long waits, good follow up, superb. BUT they avoid weekends where possible, the time when the drunks and the loopies really seem to take over.

Lori wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:40 pm Hughnique - Hope you and OH feel better soon. Not a pleasant process, but I hope now you have proper treatment, you'll both feel better soon.

Me too, hope you both feel better soon. Plenty of rest, fluids (no, not that sort !) and following what your doc says. Once the weather gets warmer, it should help morale ....

tagh wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:45 pm

Hotrodder wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:13 pm Sounds pretty bad but be glad you don't have to go to A&E like some do over on Plague Island.

My families experience of a/e in Plague Island has been excellent recently so stop knocking it. No long waits, good follow up, superb. BUT they avoid weekends where possible, the time when the drunks and the loopies really seem to take over.

How do you avoid weekends with your accidents and emergencies?

Both events were emergencies, but avoiding the drunken scum may have been luck.

Sorry to hear how poorly you’ve been, and can only echo taking it easy, taking your antibiotics, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of sleep. Lots of TLC is needed for you both.

I had pneumonia that started in October last year and it lasted until January; felt dreadfully ill. Awful memories of all those broken nights spent coughing and, oh, those sore ribs!

I had excellent medical care during that awful time. Since then my husband has had superb care, having had two suspected strokes in January and February, with care at our local hospital and at the John Radcliffe at Oxford.

Yes, excellent medical care here in the UK, which would apparently seem very surprising to some on here. We’ve also both had good medical care in France and also experienced dreadful medical care and misdiagnosis in France.

I worked in A&E here briefly towards the end of Covid as a sort of general factotum, checking constants (BP, pulse etc) as they came in and taking them to the appropriate section. It's a nightmare, never enough side wards, having to park the trolleys anywhere I could in the passages. When a patient is eventually seen by the doc, sometimes it takes time and I imagine A&Es everywhere are short of staff - I doubt it's any different in the UK. The nurses were run off their feet. It's unsurprising that non-emergency patients are shoved to one side as yet another urgence comes in. It was quite an eye-opener.

Trauma (broken bones) has always been a nightmare in Saint-Malo. We know several people that have had huge problems after being treated there. Fortunately they have opened a trauma only (non-emergency) unit at the local private clinic (but is also used by non-private patients) and they are brilliant (been there ....) The wait isn't nearly as long and of course takes a small bit of pressure off the main hospital. But for malaises, the hospital seems very good.

Polly wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2024 11:40 pm Sorry to hear how poorly you’ve been, and can only echo taking it easy, taking your antibiotics, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of sleep. Lots of TLC is needed for you both.

I had pneumonia that started in October last year and it lasted until January; felt dreadfully ill. Awful memories of all those broken nights spent coughing and, oh, those sore ribs!

I had excellent medical care during that awful time. Since then my husband has had superb care, having had two suspected strokes in January and February, with care at our local hospital and at the John Radcliffe at Oxford.

Yes, excellent medical care here in the UK, which would apparently seem very surprising to some on here. We’ve also both had good medical care in France and also experienced dreadful medical care and misdiagnosis in France.

Glad you got good treatment and good to hear the UK is not a total NHS write-off. The trouble is that if 9 people get good treatment in good time, it is the tenth who doesn't that gets the attention. All heightened of course now everyone can have a good moan on social media.

@hughnique best wishes for a speedy recovery but do take things easy until you are really back on your feet.