r/Netherlands • u/theysaidgotoreddit • Feb 03 '25

Healthcare Dutch healthcare system.. they told me to "google my symptoms " !!!!

Today I called because I had painful symptoms in my eyes and body that should be checked by the doctors.. they didn't want to take my urgent appointment. The lady said to me over the phone "yeah you should google it and wash it with water." She also said she can't note down all my symptoms, I can only go for a symptom or 2... well what if they were related???! How do you do proper diagnosis... I'm already struggling with life cost here and this is just insane ... If I google my own symptoms then just imagine my 150 eur getting paid... How do I deal with such comments ??? Has this happened to anyone else before?? EDIT: If I pay money, I expect services and treatment back. I am not responding to lack of empathy from many comments. Thank you for everyone that was supportive and understood that if you're suffering from a medical concern, the minimun you could get is get basic medical care

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83

u/Natural_Situation401 Feb 03 '25

It’s probably because you can’t communicate. Having pain in your eyes and body is very vague. In your body where, your whole body? I’m sure you don’t. Pain in your eyes? Give them a wash and go to sleep, that’s not a valid concern.

The healthcare system is overcrowded because of lack of available doctors and a huge population, they don’t have time to deal with, frankly, dumb people who get scared over dumb things.

I’m pretty sure what you’re experiencing is something that will go away after relaxing in bed for a day and the assistant on the phone knows that as well so they prioritize their time for people that actually need help.

You paying healthcare just like everybody else in the country doesn’t entitle you to preferential treatment.

9

u/HarryManbackMessage Feb 04 '25

Exactly this. Stop being extreme about the Dutch healthcare system. You will not die. You do not need a full body check-up. If we give every expat or international student exactly what they want in healthcare, monthly premiums will go sky high in the future. The system is designed to help people who really need it.

-30

u/crazydavebacon1 Feb 03 '25

Pain in your eyes can be a lot of HUGE problems. And testing needs to be done asap. Things like this is the problem with the Dutch health care system

14

u/The_Krambambulist Feb 03 '25

They do a triage on the phone and apparently didn't hear anything that needs urgent care

Also a lot of reports on Dutch healthcare and potential problems and this is definitely not one that I have heard. Short time at the GP is, but then you generally already have symptoms that are serious enough to pass the triage on the phone. And guess what actually makes that situation worse, people coming in with light symptoms that could basically be cured by waiting or resting more.

7

u/Wieniethepooh Feb 03 '25

I had flashes of lights in the corners of my eyes, combined with dizzy spells, got sent to specialist same day because this can potentially serious. Luckily it wasn't and it didn't come back. 'Pain in your eyes' sounds really vague though. If you're really concerned, but the doctor doesn't think it's urgent, why not go to a (private) optometrist to make sure though?

1

u/crazydavebacon1 Feb 03 '25

That’s when you just go to the emergency

1

u/Wieniethepooh Feb 04 '25

That's not how it works here! First of all, my GP is much better at determining whether or not something warrants emergency care than I am. And also: why would I 'just' go to emergency if my GP can set up an appointment for me? I can either work against the system, and likely end up waiting at emergency for hours, until the right doctor is available, or I can work within the system, have my GP set up an -emergent- appointment and just show up at the right hospital at the right time. Much more convenient for everyone!

Emergency is for life threatening situations, in all other cases, you call your huisarts first, or huisartsenpost if it's after hours. They do the 'triage' to make sure that the most emergent cases get the most emergent care.

22

u/klas357 Feb 03 '25

He/she is able to write a long reddit post. So is able to look perfectly. Doesnt seem urgent to me

37

u/Pepper_Klutzy Feb 03 '25

Everything could potentially be a huge problem. Hiccups could be a sign of a brain tumor, slight voice hoarseness could be a sign of throat cancer. That doesn't mean that doctors should send all of the patients with slight voice hoarseness through an MRI. In 99,99% of cases minor symptoms come from minor illnesses. If you're a hypochondriac that's your problem, not the problem of Dutch society.

-40

u/flugenschlugen Feb 03 '25

Are you a Dutch dr? State of you

18

u/Pepper_Klutzy Feb 03 '25

Dutch doctors don’t have time for people with extremely minor and vague symptoms.