Sick in England – the benefits of social healthcare

by ezs | May 23, 2005 | evilzenscientist, travel, Uncategorized

I was in Europe most of last week – visiting customers and having meetings in Bracknell, Duesseldorf, Zuerich and Stuttgart.

On Wednesday morning I woke up with a fever and felt really achy – I put this down to jetlag. I noticed that breathing was difficult and my side hurt like hell.

On Friday I flew back to the UK after meetings with a partner in Stuttgart; I was in pain before the flight; during the flight I slept, in pain and in a daze; when I got off the plane I felt like I was drowning and about to die. I got my rental car and drove to Nottingham where I went to the NHS walk-in clinic.

I was immediately seen and referred as an emergency to Queens Medical Center; I went to casualty (ER) and was admitted.

Turns out I had fluid and blood on my lungs; a partial collapsed lung; bacteria in my blood and atypical pneumonia. I was on intravenous antibiotics and was kept in for treatment.

I’m out now – but on a vast amount of antibiotics and painkillers.

The best part – it didn’t cost a penny. When the National Health Service works – it works very well.

London – early morning

by ezs | May 14, 2005 | evilzenscientist, travel, Uncategorized

I went out late with Alan and got the night bus back.

It’s amazing how alive London feels at 4am – the sun is starting to rise; the sky is lightening; people are still on the streets – either returning home or heading to work.

The one thing that struck me that was different from home in Utah was the ‘dawn chorus’ – just so many birds singing and contending for their own piece of space. There are certainly many birds at home; but they just don’t seem to sing their hearts out when the sun comes up.

That’s enough from early-morning London..

Ottawa

by ezs | May 6, 2005 | evilzenscientist, travel, Uncategorized

I was in Ottawa the last couple of days.

Another interesting city – all the benefits of a capital (museums, parks, generally good looking and well kept) but in a handy size 😉