@Sweetsound re the health system: you talk a lot of sense. My recent experience with an unexpected health problem has confirmed exactly what you say about doctors.
I agonised for a week before deciding to seek out another doctor - in the same surgery. He was the one who got me organised to get a CT scan and then the same day the results were in, tried to contact me to get myself into hospital. In hospital too, there was a sense of 'organised mass movement' of people, all specialised in their tasks. You really have to 'stand out' - talk, ask questions etc. to get attention, but the system runs relatively smoothly (apart from the cold rooms and cold beds), and some of the staff were surprisingly interesting to talk with. I had 'fun' with the different people there, mostly because the first thing I got was pain relief, so was ready for a bit of fun - I am still recovering, but have managed to do a full day's work yesterday (finalised my tax return - today: tidying up). I had 'tummy troubles' didn't realise the intensity of of pain that can cause.
Re traditional doctors now vying for a large throughput of patients: - yes, that's been pretty obvious to me for a while - and the dishing out of responsibility to the various specialists - sending you here and there. Lucky my surgery has a 'lab' next door for minor procedures like checking your blood, urine etc.
I am also lucky one of my kids is a health professional albeit just a 'Doctor of Osteopathy', but I will also, now, check out traditional health practitioners Chinese, Indian etc. medicine in particular).
"Wild things" - not too much here - but will go back again to my 'Farmers' Markets' on Sundays for fruit.
And: check out the 'wild women' - life is brief, and it has a habit of taking us by surprise, some bad, some good!
I wish you 'good surprises'!!!
Taurisk
