How long?
 

Had to get checked out at the hospital today following an incident with a c180(see thread ouch,)and I was wondering how long do you normally wait for treatment?Only had to wait 4 hours in a British national health service hospital.Of course we don't get charged directly for our medical care over here,so if you pay where you are do you get seen any quicker?Any thoughts?
Bear

I'm in the business, and sometimes wait 1+ hrs-kills me ,as I am the most impatient man alive:)

Most people I know wait quite a while here too...MDs are essentially the worst business people on our planet, and if not for their skills should be "relocated" to an uninhabited island with limited/no food...their ineptitude at running a business is a huge inconvenience to all of us:mad:

Bear, most people here have medical benifits provided through a package offered by their employer with some insurance carrier , so we (in the states) don't typically 'pay at the counter' for service either. Usually, you are seeing your personal Dr. who is 'covered' under this benefits package, otherwise chargers can be assesed directly to you (but billed at a later time). Usually policies cover all or most visits to the emrgency room (ie, not scheduled visits to your normal Dr.).

My waits in the Dr.'s office are usually less than 1 hour in all cases - moslty 20 minutes or so, when I've called ahead and scheduled. But I'm not sure if that's because I pay (or more correctly, my employer pays) or not. I think that a 4 hour wait in the States would be considered highly unacceptable - and could get you a lawsuit for 'damages' if the right sue-happy freak walked through the door. Did you visit the ER unexpected, or was this a follow-up visit? Your wait would of course, be lengthened if you had a non life-threatening injury with other, more seriously injured folks about...

Regards,
- Ryan

I cut my finger pretty bad one night, and had to wait 4+ hours with a huge 1" gash almost to the bone in my finger, that was bleeding a lot.

I wasn't given any kind of gauze or anything, I had to rely on some paper towel I got myself from the bathroom. BTW this was at UCLA Emergency at about 2 am.

On another occassion, I was having some dizzy spells and my eyes were crossing images while driving. I went to a different hospital, Cedars-Sinai, and was in there and getting examined fairly quick, about 45 minutes max waiting, and this was at about 6:00 pm. I was there undergoing testing for a few hours, but int he same time I spent at UCLA for a cut, I got fully checked out at Cedars.

I think it really depends on the time of day, staffing, amount of people coming in with emergencies, and various other situations that would definately take precedence over a smaller ailment.

Either way, I still got taken care of.

Alon

If it was a similar non-life threatening situation you were in, in Malaysia, on a day a private clinic was opened, you'd probably be seen immediately if there weren't any patients before you or at most in 30 minutes. We haven't got a NHS like you and payment is relatively cheap if you go to a General Practitioner who will give you the overall ok if all is in order for about RM 25/= (about STG 4.50, or USD 6.50, including pain killers from the looks of the accident).

If it is serious, you may opt to go to a government runned hospital where waiting time could be anywhere between 2-6 hours. A private hospital or medical centre would probably see you in an hour.

I've worked with the British NHS for awhile and they usually do a brief screening if it is an emergency case to ascertain the status of the emergency before you're moved along the line to the next available doctor in A&E. I am ashamed to say, but your system sure beats a Malaysian government-runned hospital any day.

Hope you're all ok :)

I never wait longer than I should. Never should anyone.

Last time we went to the ER we were admitted within 5 minutes (it was a real emergency).

When I go to see my Dr I always get in within about 5 minutes….because I’m always late, but call ahead to tell them I will be a little late. The old saying: what’s good for the goose….. comes to mind

Last time i was in was due to a tumble off my motorbike....i had the usual wait for treatment. Got to the Hospital at 7.30 pm.....it was light when i left....work the hours out yourself!

Standard practice for NHS these days unfortunatly