To Bluff Medicross

Appropriate, your name. Medicross. I find myself CROSS, beyond measure, today with the medical fraternity and system in general. I need to vent. Writing is cathartic, as is expressing.  That’s why women live longer than men in general, because we let things out. We bitch, as they say. But I am not a bitch. I am reasonably annoyed. Let me expound why…

I called you at my expense.

I called to make an appointment to be time-efficient for all our sakes.

I called to make an appointment with you to pay YOU patronage.
I have to settle for an appointment time and date that suits YOU first, not me.

I drove to your premises at my expense to pay YOU patronage.

I made sure I was well on time to honour our appointment and to not waste YOUR time, never mind mine.

I called for the earliest appointment possible in the morning to avoid consistent delays… from experience I have waited to such an extent that I’ve had to write off up to 3 hours in the past.

When I worked for a company, I had to do it during an hour’s lunch break… that was to include commuting to your premises, waiting, the consultation, the queue for payment, and then commuting back to work. If I went over an hour for all of this (which was ALWAYS the case) I had to sign off precious leave (15 days allocated per year at most).

I am now a consultant, so the only dynamic that has changed is that when I don’t work, I don’t earn. So, in all respects, TIME is MONEY.

I arrived today for my 08h00 appointment.  I announce my arrival and get bossed around by people who are clearly irritated by my presence.

By 08h20 I am ushered into one of the two consultation rooms allocated to my doctor to wait further… perhaps a strategy in placation… to make me believe that I am getting closer to seeing the doctor when, in fact, I am just continuing my wait in another space.

I enquire and learn that each patient is allocated 15 minutes.

Finally, at 08h45 I see the doctor who is frazzled and rushed and keen to get me done as quickly as possible because she is already well over her conveyor belt time.

During my allocated 15 minutes, she receives a call and has to take it.

I get speedily seen to, my desire to have a follow-up pap smear now 6 months later (following a cervical cancer scare last year) snubbed. My other things get seen to and my justifiable mood is treated with obvious disparagement. My eye, she’s not sure… a referral to an ophthalmologist, but not without a prescription for natural tears in the meantime, which cost R100. I decide not to purchase it.

I am told to go to reception and hand in my file before processing payment, with the instruction of getting the ophthalmologist’s details to book a consultation as it will be easier that way should I get the receptionist to book it for me (he consults at Bluff Medicross twice a week).

The reception has one person assisting a backlog of people. I get waved to the accounts section. I proceed to the accounts section, and get sent back to reception to hand in the file while she processes payment.

I go back to reception and finally get the information I need.

I return to the queue at accounts where my money is taken. I pay cash because I am only on a hospital plan which already digests over R1000 per month even when I am healthy. I never miss a payment. I always pay my dues immediately, even when it means I have to compromise my quality of life for a while.

My money. The patient. Who is giving you business out of all the other options? The patient. Who is paying YOUR salaries? All of you!

Lack of punctuality, when I have paid it homage, is a blatant show of disrespect.

For 10 minutes you got R310 and I left feeling like a burden to you, whilst I concomitantly lost income.

History shows us that the original GP was more of a lifestyle coach. He/she knew you inside out, top to bottom. Developed a relationship with you and spent time with you. Paid you attention. Advised you on the best way to stay healthy and helped you solve any problems that may have arisen along the way.

Now, I feel like a GP is nothing more than a businessman or woman - a middleman for drug prescriptions (sometimes inappropriately prescribed because they’ve forgotten you’re diabetic, for example) or specialist referrals. You, the patient, are nothing but a number on a conveyor belt, and you’ll get your flash of attention as long as you pay. They don’t really care about YOU. They just want your money.  Perhaps it is not the GP’s fault or inclination… there are good ones out there…those for whom it’s a real calling. But they have to work in and with the system - a cutthroat, doggy-dog, money-obsessed system. It makes me sick. Guess that’s what they want.  Sickness is good business. And the more often you have to come back, the better. And it’s not about you. It’s about the bottom line.

Well, I am over it. I live a relatively clean and healthy life. I don’t want to get sick - for more reasons than one. I can’t avoid the repercussions of ageing and incidental or accidental anomalies. But I am going to do my utmost to avoid EVER coming to you for medical assistance again, Bluff Medicross.

Because, you don’t show me any respect. You have forgotten the Hippocratic oath. Let me remind you:

Hippocratic Oath

I do solemnly vow, to that which I value and hold most dear:

That I will honor the Profession of Medicine, be just and generous to its members, and help sustain them in their service to humanity;

That just as I have learned from those who preceded me, so will I instruct those who follow me in the science and the art of medicine;

That I will recognize the limits of my knowledge and pursue lifelong learning to better care for the sick and to prevent illness;

That I will seek the counsel of others when they are more expert so as to fulfill my obligation to those who are entrusted to my care;

That I will not withdraw from my patients in their time of need;

That I will lead my life and practice my art with integrity and honor, using my power wisely;

That whatsoever I shall see or hear of the lives of my patients that is not fitting to be spoken, I will keep in confidence;

That into whatever house I shall enter, it shall be for the good of the sick;

That I will maintain this sacred trust, holding myself far aloof from wrong, from corrupting, from the tempting of others to vice;

That above all else I will serve the highest interests of my patients through the practice of my science and my art;

That I will be an advocate for patients in need and strive for justice in the care of the sick.

I now turn to my calling, promising to preserve its finest traditions, with the reward of a long experience in the joy of healing.

I make this vow freely and upon my honor.

Bluff Medicross, you suck.