Imagine moving to a brand new country, suitcase in hand, you are excited about the opportunities and experiences your new home will provide and are ready to dive into your new life. You’ve found a place to live, started your university studies or job, made the step to making new friends and really explored your new surroundings.
Then one morning you wake up feeling more tired than usual and you notice that it is burning every time you go to pass urine. The last thing you had on your mind was getting sick. You start drinking lots of water in case this is a bladder infection. But the day goes on and your symptoms only seem to worsen. You’ve had a urine infection before that needed antibiotics so you realise it’s time to contact a doctor.
You heard from a friend that you need to register to see a GP here. But you never got around to it as you’ve been so busy settling in and you’ve been completely well, until now. You do have health insurance at least,
So you start looking up GPs in your area and call or email them.
Why doesn’t any GP want to take you on as a new patient?
In various European countries there is a limit to the number of patients a GP practice or clinic is permitted to care for. This number is regulated by the government and national health authority to ensure a GP is best equipped to manage their patient group.
In some areas, it is a bit harder to register at a GP as a result of the coronavirus situation. GPs are suddenly under even more pressure and are doing their best to provide optimal care whilst simultaneously trying to keep their patients safe from infection. A few practices will still take new registrations from people living in their postcode or family members of current patients. So it is a good idea to call a practice and explain your situation.
It’s the afternoon, and you finally get accepted by a practice close by. You speak to an assistant and explain all your symptoms to them, they are able to book you in with a GP tomorrow at 09:00AM. A friend warned you that the GPs can only spend a short amount of time with you, so you start to prepare what you will say.
GPs in the Netherlands typically have 7-10 minutes to spend with each patient. At HellloDoc Health we spend at least 10 to 20 minutes with each patient.
Here are 5 tips on how to get the most out of your consultation
- Be as specific as possible when talking about your concern.
- Write down how you’re feeling before you go. This can be really helpful for both you and your GP.
- Keep to the allocated time for your consult.
- Book a double consultation if you feel you may need more time to talk or if you have more than 1 concern that needs to be addressed.
- Provide your own ideas on what you think it may be.
- Your opinion is important to your GP.
- Summarise briefly what your GP has told you.
- Initiate a follow up appointment if you need it.
It’s okay to bring someone with you and to take notes. This way you avoid confusion and misunderstanding down the line.
It is finally the next morning. You’ve had a pretty sleepless night due to constantly needing to get up to use the bathroom. You’re still tired, it still hurts to pass urine and you notice the urine is a bit smelly now.
You turn up to see your new GP and without too much delay you are called from the waiting room. You’re fully prepared with your handwritten description of your symptoms and within no time the GP has listened to you, asked some pertinent questions, performed a targeted examination, requested a urine sample and agreed with you that you need antibiotics to treat a suspected urine infection.
You have your prescription and you’ve taken notes of all the instructions and tips your GP has given you.
You head to the pharmacy en route to home and collect your antibiotics. Within a few days, you’re feeling much more like yourself again and ready to get back to exploring this new city of yours!
Bladder Infection Assessment
HelloDoc Health offers you a fast-track to diagnosis and treatment of bladder infections and UTIs: Bladder infection fast-track. Please fill out our free online questionnaire and get a treatment plan and advice by one of our doctors within 2 business hours (CET). Based on the outcome, you can directly book a 20-minute HelloDoc Health doctor video-based consult for diagnosis, treatment and e-prescription (€ 49.99 for all European countries).
More information or book an appointment?
Would you like to discuss your health issue(s) with a doctor or women’s health specialist? Book a consultation at HelloDoc Health!
We are here to help you!