I feel like a person due to the Dutch Health System!!

Had my appointment with the surgeon yesterday in trauma.
The staff, and I mean from the receptionists to the medical, all them polite, friendly and professional.
Appointment on time, decision made, and the process completed in one journey as not to cause me more discomfort. I saw the anaesthetic team for assessment, the nurse will call me with pre op instructions, and I will be phoned with a date as I can't do Friday the 18th...yes that quick!!.So I should have a date on the 24th on my return from blighty.
How efficient is that?
I know in England I would be on the waiting list for at least 3-6 months and that is only after you have had a wait to see the specialist department, that can be 2-3 weeks after the initial complaint visit. My right knee took about 6 months.


So why do I feel like a person? In England I always felt a pest. Even as a visitor I was made to feel welcomed and accepted.I worked in the health service for 10yrs or more as a nurse and I know both sides of this system.

If I looked confused in the corridors (trying to read dutch) someone with in minutes would stop and help me. Nothing was an issue, greeted by the staff with handshake and goodbye with handshake, I felt safe and all my needs addressed with friendliness and care. Maybe it is the relaxed dutch way mixed with informality and professionalism that struck me. like friends were taking care of me.

I always dread the health check as my Hep c buddy has to be introduced and I have to explain the whole damn thing and that makes me feel well dirty. But they didn't even mention it, ask or query it. Not and issue, not big fucking stickers slapped on my file like the UK for everyone to see 'infected person' red light alert, stand back, big arrow.

At one point I saw the doctor with a sheet and I was convinced it was mine. And he was going to ask about my status and being and visitor. Old fears that I had experienced in the UK began to surface
and it was going to happen again, like when I went to an emergency dentist and he turned me away. But, as previously put it was unfounded.

Why can't our country get it right? why is the attitude in England so negative and draining? Competitive and judgmental? Sour and grumpy? I grew up in Canada and much like Netherlands the spirit of the people is eternally young, maybe that's it Old England, Grumpy Old England, grumpy old attitudes, grumpy old systems and grumpy old Island all on it's own in grumpy self made decline hobbling on a zimmer frame pissing itself.

~I thankyou~