Over the last week or two, I have had a bit of a blocked ear, with every now and again some pain when there is a sudden pressure change like when in a train and the train goes trough a tunnel. Yesterday and last night it climaxed in all out agony. I was bearing through it, till it got to midnight, I realised there was no hope; I was not going to get any sleep, it was effecting my balance and I was clenching my fists in pain. Something obviously not quite right. So, in not so pleasant terms I told myself to go get help. So after a quick ring around, I realise there is no 24 hour / after hours surgery in the UK and my only option was A&E at the local hospital.
Carmen in her generosity and kindness accompanied me to the hospital. Of course we have no transport, so had to walk. It is about 20-minute walk to the nearest hospital. We sign in, I get seen by a nurse who basically assesses if you are going to die while waiting for a doctor. Then you wait. Wait a bit longer. And wait. 150 minutes later, I get called into the doctor, who looks in my ear. Says "woo that’s nasty infection". Walks away gets antibiotics, and painkillers. Problem solved. It annoys me a bit, when was the last time you had an ear infection, umm when I was like 5? Must be this English winter, I mean summer.
Waiting time to time with doctor ratio: ~75:1. We walked home at about 4am. It did make getting up at 7am for work this morning difficult.
To be honest I would have been pretty upset about the whole experience, if it wasn't for the fact it was free. Free consultation, and free drugs. They have numerous nurses, who see you very quickly, but obviously are not allowed to do anything. And two doctors. There was about a constant 7-10 people in the A&E, almost all minor stuff, and the odd ambulance trucks on up and everyone gets pushed down the waiting list while the new emergency gets seen to. A dedicated doctor (like a normal GP) for walk-in A&E cases would solve all waiting problems, well it would have for last night but apparently it was a slow night.
Oh yeaa, I forgot about your old man ears. Regular cleaning I think is the way to go. I just invested 70p in those cotton buds on the ends of sticks
Get some real ears you weirdo's
(unlazered eyed man with perfect working ears)
Don't use those things. They just make it worse by compressing the wax into your ear and then they have to clean it out with a machine. Trust me, that is what they thought it was the first visit (then I went back cos I still couldn't hear!). Try putting a couple of drops of any old kitchen oil in your ears for 10min each night for a couple of nights. This softens up the wax and should make it fall out naturally!
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Hey don't worry so much Aaron. It is just the same in this country. When Matt dropped me on that chair and craked my head open it was going to be a 2 hr wait at Wellington central before anyone could see me (So we went to after hours and waited 1.5 hrs and paid $65). Also, I've just finished a course of ear drops to get my hearing back in line. It wasn't an infection but at least your not the only one with post-5-year-old ear problems. When I went to the GP for my ears it cost me $62 on the first visit and $83 for the second so stop ya moaning!!
Posted by: Tom at July 23, 2004 09:50 AM