Healthcare Espoo

[Liam1]

Is the healthcare an absolute disgrace or is there something that I am doing wrong?

I rang the "Gatekeeper" as is the policy and explained my symptons. The nurse told me that she would book me with a doctor, but to come early as she couldn't find my Personal number. Was assured that they would treat me once registration completed.

Arrived at Espoo Keskus and they claimed that they could not treat me because my Personal Number was not linked to my address even though they actually correctly told me my address. Told me I would need to go to Tapiola Magistraati to update. They (the administrators not medical staff) then had the cheek to ask what was wrong with me anyway because there were no appointments for non emergencies until 2014!!

Makes me wonder do people just exagerrate their symptons to get seen? The couple of times I have needed a doctor, I have been to Diacor, but object to paying ridiculous tax then paying for private appointments, especially when no diagnosis is needed, just someone to write a prescription.

Can you get repeat prescriptions without seeing doctors? Are there other ways to get an appointment without lying or paying? Is this just an Espoo thing? I wouldn't mind, but they INSIST that you go to the allocated medical centre to the postal district, which for me is nowhere near and in the dodgy Keskus.

PS went to the Magistraati - very easy experience - they couldn't really understand why not linked in one register, but got me to sign a form and did it in 2 minutes.

[betelgeuse]

I don't have experience in the public healthcare so can't really comment on how good it is first hand. However, I can say that you are allowed to choose any health station within Espoo to be your designated station. From the beginning of next year you can even select from anywhere in Finland (you can switch once a year).

http://www.sipoo.fi/fi/palvelut/sosiaal ... aus_112014

[Liam1]

However, I can say that you are allowed to choose any health station within Espoo to be your designated station

Thank you Betelgeuse. That is very helpful to know as I work in a different part of Espoo and actually live much closer to Grankulla. I had actually called the Tapiola health centre originally and they had told me I couldn't go there and had thus transferred me to Keskus. I had even asked if I could not go there as it was far more convenient as close to both home and work and had been politely refused!

[Liam1]

...and the doctor was absolutely shocking.

At first he said nothing really for him to do. When I challenged that my symptons weren't normal he went to the other extreme and offered me an operation. Finally suggested I used the private system as most big companies have a deal.

I only wish they were as laid back an incompetent when collecting taxes

[Flossy1978]

If you are working, doesn't your employer have private healthcare for you?

Sorry, I am not trying to be naïve, but all the people I know who work have private health insurance with their employer. It usually just pays for stuff related to your ability to work.

Like I need several medicines for pain, allergies etc. The pain causes me not to be able to work, so that is paid for by my employer. Actually everything but being pregnant seems to, at least if I see the general/work doctor at Mehiläinen. It's when you need specialist care, it could cause problems that your employer wouldn't pay.

[Upphew]

If you are working, doesn't your employer have private healthcare for you?

Sorry, I am not trying to be naïve, but all the people I know who work have private health insurance with their employer. It usually just pays for stuff related to your ability to work.

Like I need several medicines for pain, allergies etc. The pain causes me not to be able to work, so that is paid for by my employer. Actually everything but being pregnant seems to, at least if I see the general/work doctor at Mehiläinen. It's when you need specialist care, it could cause problems that your employer wouldn't pay.

But even then the work healthcare doctor could, should, refer you to specialist. Many employers get the health services from Mehiläinen et al. but they could buy the services from public side too, but I have a hunch that it is not done a lot in capital region.