My first taste of socialised medicine

Today I had incredibly painful back spasms for the first time in my life. I could barely bend over, sit down, stand up or walk at points during the day. Maybe it is because I slept curled up on an airplane for several hours Sunday/Monday, or perhaps it was due to my extremely heavy backpack and suitcase I dragged up and down the train steps yesterday? Hmmm.

In any case, today I experimented with the UK healthcare system. I called NHS direct, which is a nurse intake sort of service. I guess I wasn't considered urgent, because it took the nurse about an hour to ring me back. He was very nice, and recommended that I go to a walk-in centre up the street from me. He said it they could make sure nothing more serious was wrong and give me some stronger meds. What the heck, I thought.

So, I took a painful bus ride up the street to Whittington Hospital. It was your typical hospital waiting room. It was strange that emergency was mixed in with a hospital clinic. I think the main difference was that the walk-in clinic was run primarily by nurses.

About 2 hours later (I completed one book and nearly finished the other I brought), I finally got a dose of drugs to help, then about 15 minutes later saw a nurse who gave me some more to take home. I thought it was interesting that they gave me a box of medicine - prescription strength - without sending me to a pharmacy or making me see a doctor. I guess nurses have more authority in an NHS system.

I also got chastized a bit for not having a GP doctor. The guy who checked me in said something about how I won't likely be able to come back - they usually let you go the first time but after that I have to go to a GP or get referred by one. Something about the fact I have only lived here a couple of months and haven't paid in enough. He talked to fast and I was squirming in pain, so I don't really remember.

but what i do remember was our short religions discussion:

Receptionist: What is your religion?
Me: I don't have one really.
Receptionist: Now you do. It's None.
Me: laughing
Receptionist: I am into necrophila, sado masochism and bestiality. Am I flogging a dead horse? Hell yes!

He claimed he was quoting a book or a movie or something. But in any case, not your typical hospital admitting person!