Need some healthcare advice!

onia · Post by **onia** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:46 pm

Hi all,

I'm writing on behalf of my husband who has had some miserable experiences over the past two years with Finnish workplace doctors whose English is less than perfect. He has had various physical ailments as a result of a slipped disc and trapped nerves, and because of pain has not been able to work properly for the past year. However, his workplace doctors are not prepared to sign him off work as they cannot quite figure out a proper course of treatment, and will not send him to see specialists as the healthcare agreement only covers one specialist visit per year. Brilliant. As we both think there is a language problem (DH does not speak good enough Finnish to talk about health issues, docs English is rubbish) I have accompanied him to appointments a few times to translate and they really really hate me being there. I guess they see it as questioning their competence or something. Anyway, does anyone know of a decent doctor (GP) in Helsinki who speaks good English? Either public or private, at this stage we'd be more than happy to pay private fees as DH is at his wit's end, and frankly so am I. If someone knows of a good back specialist with good English then so much the better..

cheers all,
- onia

**Sponsor:**

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:33 pm

yeah, they give you brain relaxants and two weeks sick leave...

well I don't know of his English but Terveystalo has Jammu Öunap who was very professional. And he insists a MRI - usually you need to take private as the workplace & public send you to a gym as they don't pay, and don't pay... and don't pay... as for surgery the Diakonissalaitos and their orthopedic dept. is the top notch, so if you're looking their clinic as well...

TampereOwl · Post by **TampereOwl** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:46 pm

One specialist visit per year? What is this, the soviet union?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:11 pm

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:46 am

TampereOwl wrote:One specialist visit per year? What is this, the soviet union?

Where the @#$% do they have any unlimited visits..
Even the Biggest companies have their limits..around 3-5.
So Use your wits to use the visits..
For e.g. One visit = 1 visit of consultation + Tests..
( Tests could last forever...)
but the Doctors are generally hired by the companies or sub contracted who in turn subcontract others..( Commissiioonnnnnnn )
There are many ways to get the system for your own advantage..but this is a public forum..

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:50 am

I once went paid privete the doctor visit was 80, the lab tests were 400... and his clinic looked like USSR

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:58 am

The missus saw one guy at Helsingin lääkarikeskus, opposite stockmann. He seemed to be good, and spotted a broken tailbone without needing any x+rays etc. I'm not sure about his english, but I've found the doctors there, so far, to be good on that front (but not the receptionists...)

Kupcake · Post by **Kupcake** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:34 pm

I've found the healthcare at Dextra to be very good. Majority of the doctors i have spoken with have excellent English, and we've received efficient, quality service. It's expensive, but Kela pay part of the costs for most things. It sounds like your husband needs to speak to a surgeon. First step would be to get a referral to one. My husband had spinal surgery but that was in Australia - the surgery solved the problem immediately.

Are you in Helsinki?

onia · Post by **onia** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:27 pm

thanks for the replies - we are indeed in Helsinki but have to travel a fair bit for work, which is why DH has only managed to get appointments with the workplace doctor. I'll recommend he goes to terveystalo and/or dextra, whichever he can get to first! In principle I think the workplace health system here is alright but things like language and actually trying to see someone else for a second opinion are a definite issue.. thanks again though, fingers crossed!

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:36 am

I've seen lots of doctors and specialists at Terveystalo. All of them have spoken perfectly fine English.

I did go to see a surgeon as I have an 'isomppi välilevy'. They won't do surgery on my back because they don't like doing spinal surgery here in Finland and will only do it if there is nothing else that can be done. My back is pretty bad and my välilevy is caused by being pregnant and the labour that followed (something genetically wrong with my spine). I have pins and needles everyday, pain (not sciatic pain, but I get that too) down my entire left leg and numbness in my left foot everyday.

If your husband has a välilevy why not get him to see a physiotherapist who deals with this kind of thing? This person can help teach your husband to strengthen his stomach muscles because when you have a välilevy often the muscles in your back around that area are weak so they can't support your spine in any way, causing the välilevy to be worse than it should be. Working on making stronger muscles will help with the välilevy.

zam · Post by **zam** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:35 pm

Flossy1978 wrote:I did go to see a surgeon as I have an 'isomppi välilevy'.

??? bigger disc?

Flossy1978 wrote:If your husband has a välilevy

All of us have several välilevy (= disc). I suppose what you're having or meaning is a slipped disc i.e. disc herniation?

A good method for strengthening your abdominal and back muscles is e.g. pilates.

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:15 am

Yep, that's what it says in my medical notes that were sent to my doctor with my MRI pictures. I have a very large one. It's quite bad, especially for someone of my age (was 28 at the time that it happened). I spent 5 months off work because of it because the poblems associated with having one of these. For three of those months I could barely walk. I couldn't even stand for more than a few seconds to do the dishes at the sink with numbness and pain becoming too much. That's how bad it was and to this day I have problems everyday with it.

Anyway, to the poster with the husband who has this problem. If he has a very bad day with this problem, try to take him to the ER. The one in 'Töölö' (is that it?) has an orthopedic ER and while you may have to wait a few hours, you'll get seen by a surgeon who can decide right then and there if he'll/she'll do surgery on your back.

patgeorge · Post by **patgeorge** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 2:24 pm

I'm a pensioner. I've lived in Finland now for two and a half years. I have cancer, chronic ear problems, and I have had two hospital admissions with pneumonia. I've found the health service here to be generally comparable to that in England. There are similar problems and complaints - in particular a shortage of doctors which means long waits in A&E, and long waits for non urgent appointments at the Terveyskeskus. However all the doctors I've come across spoke English to a reasonable standard. I guess they have to, as so many medical books and journals are only available in American. Having to pay a proportion of the cost of outpatient and inpatient treatment and prescriptions hurts - especially on a UK pension and with no concessions of any kind for the over 65s. However, unlike the UK Kela will pay a proportion of private fees. I haven't used private services except for dentistry. All the doctors I've met have struck me as very competent. The local hospital at Seinjoki is very good, and the standard of nursing care is excellent. My wife had cataract operations on both eyes at a total cost of 77€ and is very happy with the results.

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