3 ms·

This bugs me a lot, as I don't seek medical attention unless I damn well need it. The GPs will just tell you to take it easy, eat some paracetamol and come back

This bugs me a lot, as I don't seek medical attention unless I damn well need it. The GPs will just tell you to take it easy, eat some paracetamol and come back in 2-3 weeks if it's still an issue. I understand the desire to not spend resources on hypochondriacs, but the last time I heard that from my doctor I ended up being admitted to the intensive care unit at the hospital the next day with meningitis. According to the doctors there, I could have died if I'd waited a bit longer. Needless to say, I don't feel as confident in our healtcare system after that.

lifty 11y ago
Yes, I've heard similar stories from various people. I guess you have to be very insistent and convincing to your GP when you feel ill, or else you risk delaying a proper diagnostic. On the bright side, the Dutch hospitals have a great track record at low multi-resistant bacteria, which are more common in other countries. One of the reasons for this might be their stricter rules of admitting people in the hospitals.