Brings back memories, I used to transport lots of boxers for their dedicated rescue association, not sure about the Bermudas though.
Music was fine, I was not a fan of punk but for some reason Drury and the excellent Blockheads struck a chord with me. 
Boxers, the dogs, are so lovely. Sad that they have short lifespan.
(We can turn any thread to dogs 
)
Went to the docās yesterday and he removed the excellent plasters that Mario and Marie-Paule put on last Monday. Inspected the small wound smeared more antiseptic on and replaced the covering with a much bigger plaster, I could even see the edge of it with that eye. 
I asked him if I could have a shower even with it on and he said I could but I had my doubts and this morning ā¦it fell off, all by itself. 
I had my longed for shower and rang M-P who sent Mario round, together with Thierry and his small dog. All 3 said no problem and no need for a replacement. Who needs doctors with neighbours like that? 
Still trying to get to grips with the French health system. At least I managed our first home visit. I tried mĆ©decin de garde first, finally got the right number and then entered the first two digits of the department 16 and was eventually told there is no medicin de garde in the Charente. So first thing Monday I went to the reception at my local medical centre gave our details and by lunchtime a doctor arrived, a very good doctor too very fast but thorough. However at the end of the visit he asked for payment. I did say she was an Ald patient but he said that only covered cancer related issues not pneumonia related issues and yet she has not been asked for payment before for any of her various treatments. Because of the Ald we didnāt get a mutuelle for her but maybe we should?
Yes, you should or if not, put money aside, or get a hospital only level of mutuelle. Sometimes the pharmacy and other specialists turn a blind eye. I have two ALDs - one for cancer, one for heart, but anything not related to those should be paid for. For example, if I break my leg anything associated with that - X-ray, bone resetting, pain killers, time in hospital - would not be covered by my ALDs.
I see straight away where the NHS is better.
Because itās āfreeā?
But if that āfreenessā means that you canāt get a scan for months because there arenāt sufficient scanners in the country then how is that ābetterā?
I am happy to pay, because it gives me a sense of what this service costs and how lucky I am. āfreeā things tend not to be valued.
That is the biggest point I think Sue, too many abuse the system because itās free. The postcode lottery side of scanning is hopefully changing but in the past has been poor for some. At least the backlog from COVID days is easing as the decision to use private facilities has helped the NHS.
My sister has various medical conditions and has recently acquired a few more. Talking to her, it does seem to her that things are improving a lot, at least for her. She was diagnosed with cataracts mid December and is having the first one done in a few weeks time with the other one 3 months later. Sheās also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after a blood test which has also shown kidney damage. She had a hospital appointment within a week and was put straight away on a 9 month course with other people to help her manage the condition and monitor her health, meeting every 2 weeks. That doesnāt sound much like the NHS that people complain about. Of course, she may be lucky.
Obviously sorry to hear but sounds like she is being looked after. Interestingly all those complaints are linked, from just about every source itās insulin resistance over many years.
Yes, she was told that they could be all linked.
I have an ALD and we have a hospital only policy. So yes I pay for things not related to my ALD but the cost per year is minimal. Where the costs mount is for hospital treatments and with my hospital policy last year I think I paid ā¬19 for the 4 weeks I enjoyed hospital care. I would not be without this type of policy but see no need to anything more comprehensive for me. It is a personal choice.
I see straight away where the NHS is better.
It is only free at the point of service. You pay for it nonetheless. I think I found a study that said that average costs people pay UK France were approx the same, .
Thatās interesting Jane, I suppose on average but for those with chronic issues would the same apply?
Certainly rather than Garages idea, I would prefer the French to run ours if push cam to shove but our UK are already starting to bleed the less well off. How about dental care in France?
Depends on the issue, if one of the 30 registered ALDs or the slight longer list of ALD 50 medical problems then it would,
Dental care in France again depends what. Basic care is very reasonable if you can find a dentist (some rural areas are lacking) and there is a 100% santƩ option for crown and so on. But if eg you want posh ceramic croems or implants you will pay similar to private treatment in the UK.
Understood, years back I had to visit our local dentist (he had previously had a practice in Bond Street London) he did the job gave me the claim form but for ā¬20 I didnāt bother. Friend in the UK having a replacement crown, nothing fancy but Ā£400. I am very fortunate to be having my work being done at Kings dentistry college including some fancy bridge false teeth arrangement and a molar rebuild all by supervised students. Private was over Ā£800.
Thanks Sue. Having worked in the NHS and nursing homes all her life she always swore sheād never stay in a hospital as a patient but maybe thereās a slight change of heart!
I have sympathy, but our experience of hospital stays here in France has been good. Not least, (our experience has been) a much higher ratio of staff to patients than generally in the UK. If one can afford it, it is always possible to choose a private room (part of the cost is covered by the state, the rest maybe covered depending on your level of mutuelle).
Post-operation, the first day or so the food tends to be the dreaded plate of mashed potatoes, but thereafter steadily improves.