Girne Hospital Nightmare if you dont speak the language

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 09:59

had to go to Girne Hospital today for some blood tests, so I went along at around 7.30am as told there were queues no problem, made my way as I thought to the laboratory, waited in line until they opened no one spoke English and my Turkish Friend couldn't make it to come with me, eventually got to the front but was told then to go back round the other side to get this form stamped, must have been 50 people pushing there way to the front, wasn't sure what window to line up at until a kindly old woman took my form and pushed it through an open window for me, how lovely of her. Then proceeded back to the Laboratory to line Again, then in little English was told come back at 12pm for results I presume,but with no paperwork no number where do I go, as I have to see a Doctor, It was a total nightmare for me would have been great if my friend had come along, I looked like little Orphan Annie and Lost

Next time anyone has to go take a Turkish Friend with you, they were all very nice.

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 10:29

Smithy



Could you not have had the blood tests done at one of the many laboratories in and around Girne ? Labs are very clean and staff speak excellent english.



I must admit that the state hospital would be an absolute last resort for me.



Regards



Paul

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 10:53

Would you expect to go to your local hospital in UK and find the staff speaking fluent Turkish?

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 10:58

I was taken to the Hospital as I was in a lot of pain and the Ambulance couldnt find my address and as I called a Turkish friend there wasnt a problem, otherwise I would have gone straight to a Private clinic but my head was all over the place.

Dusterbruce that was uncalled for as I wasnt complaining that they didnt Speak English, it was that my Turkish friend couldnt take me so I felt so lost

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 11:05

I went there on New Years day when I expected little or no outpatient service..

The guy on the desk didn't speak English but made himself understood that he needed 10TL.

Within 10 minutes I was seen by a staff nurse who returned immediately with an English speaking doctor and a technician. Within another 10-15 minutes my infected chemo picc line was removed and I was on my way with a prescription for antibiotics. All for 10TL!

Its another story finding the duty chemists!

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 11:45

Dusterbruce



Silly put down , Smithy wasnt saying anything against trnc or whinging . Cant compare with UK,English is a second language in NC.

I too would expect someone in a hospital to speak english but only because I would think the law of averages would make it so ,but like Smithy would not complain if it wasnt.



Smithy, thanks for the info,am now forewarned.

britvic



Joined: 05/09/2008
Posts: 3039

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 11:56

"Would you expect to go to your local hospital in UK and find the staff speaking fluent Turkish?"



Actually yes, Any language apart from English!

TopTen


Joined: 15/04/2009
Posts: 1246

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 11:57

And also the hospital I went to in the uk employed translators of differant languages for patients who could not speak English

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 12:47

When I had a problem in Tenerife (where they use a private hospital at one end of the Island for public services) the private hospital had on duty translators for some 20 languages.



They also assumed nil by mouth in case I was operated on the following day.



This small problem on a 4 day short business trip cost my insurance comapny in total over £2,000 which is why we always recomend travel and holiday insurance

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 12:57

girne29 you are so right I wasnt expecting to get someone fluent, but I do know in the UK every Doctor's Surgery/Clinic has boards up in several languages, I was just so lost as to where to go.

Well I have just come back with my blood tests results waited around for someone to tell me which Doctor etc to see, so in the end I knocked on one door to be told have them checked again in 3/4 weeks time, but my

White blood Cells are quite high and that was all she could tell me. Out the Door I went

End of Story

Codger


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 153

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 13:13

Dusterbruce



Go into any hospital in the UK and you will find leaflets and information in every language you could think of and if your language is not there they will get a translator for you free of charge.



Your comment was both wrong and uncalled for.



Codger

Vidal


Joined: 14/05/2009
Posts: 867

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 13:18

Most important thing...How are YOU smithy, feeling better??

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 13:30

A lolt better thanks Annie, but still dont know what the problem was and if it will happen again, all they told me was my White blood cells was high, end of story,

But thanks for your concern,m speak soon

Sheila

AlexF065


Joined: 07/09/2009
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 14:59

I am firstly sorry for your problems But would suggest that a Turkish cypriot going to an NHS hospital here in the UK would without the aid of am interpretor have very very similar problems

I can find my way through the maze of corridors at selly oak!! and I can speak and read english !!!

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 15:25

Interpreters can be a nightmare in some circumstances.

Years ago in Lanzarote my eldest daughter saw a doctor in a clinic. He had no English and spoke to us through a German translator. After some tests e were told that she had a huge herat problem including a hole in the heart. The enormous stress was releived when she saw a cardiac specialist within a few days of arriving home who declared her heart was perfect.

No idea who was useless, the doctor or the translator!

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 17:19

Still not sure whether to take these print outs to another Doctor as nothing was explained no one should just say your WBC is high and then come back in 3/4 weeks, if something is wrong then it has to be sorted. so left in limbo !!!!!!!!!!

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 17:28

Took my son to the hospital, system very straight forward people were very friendly and helpful, staff were excellent absolutely no need for an interperator.



A few basic Turkish words and a friendly attitude is all you need, its a pity so many expats feel incapable of making any effort at all. Shame on you.

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 17:38

karakum5c

How can you say the system is so straightforward when I walked in there was no one on reception, never been in there before and just followed queues of people waiting at little windows and as I couldn't read any of the signs I started wandering about looking for the laboratory, so it wasn't that the people were hostile as they were lovely it was no signs at all in English, how hard is it to put up a sign pointing to blood test/x rays etc in the UK it says follow the red line, here its follow the crowds.

girne 29


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 1488

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 20:09

Karakum



Smithy said it was a nightmare for her,not for you or everyone. She is not saying they should speak english she is saying they didnt and that caused her problems. She didnt say the people were unfriendly or unhelpful so why are you bringing that up.I dont know if if Smithy is an expat or not.How can you suggest she was "unfriendly" without being there.And anyway ,how would that have made any difference?



What ' basic' hospital words are you meaning?



If you want to start a thread about how expats not friendly and dont learn turkish, OK, but Smithys is about problems one can encounter if you dont know the language in a medical environment



I am one of those many, that have a condition that could require quick assesment and treatment ,I know to carry a card that indicates the problem regardless of language. I dont demand english be spoken ,but thanks to Smithy I now know what I didnt before and can take account and prepare.



Thanks again Smithy, Hope tests are OK

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 20:20

thanks girne 29 would be a lot better if I could understand what they had written but will find out soon.

Many thanks I did not mean anything nasty about the care at Girne Hospital it was and is my fault I dont understand the language, all will be sorted just remember to take someone with you who speaks the lingo, so no pops at me please

dalartokat


Joined: 14/04/2008
Posts: 734

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 21:21

smithy, on http://www.mymerhaba.com this week, strangely enough is an example of talking Turkish if you visit hospital(they are talking mainland Turkey) but some of the translation may help you in future. Regards Sylvie

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 21:51

I took ill in Turkey an ambulance was called, a nurse with a wheelchair was at the door waiting for me I was put in a room and within minutes there were 2 nurses 2 doctors and an interpreter there, I had an ECG, blood pressure taken, blood tests then taken for x ray and MRI scan, back to the room and the blood test results were there, I had high liver enzymes and gallstones, all this with 1 hr.

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 21:58

Next time i am unwell I'll make sure I am in Turkey )

Thanks dalartokat

dalartokat


Joined: 14/04/2008
Posts: 734

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 22:47

Smithy Lets hope there not a next time, keep well.

Kitty1


Joined: 15/03/2007
Posts: 683

Message Posted:
03/11/2009 01:00

Hope you'll soon be ok Shiela, sorry to hear you've been unwell. I totally understand where you are coming from with this, and I know that you certainly don't deserve the negative comments you have had over this xx

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
03/11/2009 07:16

Hi Kitty, great to hear from you, feeling a lot better and back to normal (well as I can be )

I never want to experience that sort of pain again, and still to this point dont know what it was

Must soldier on

Take care

sheila x

lovinit


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 745

Message Posted:
03/11/2009 09:11

Sorry to hear you aree unwell shelia get better soon.



I too am feeling a little under the weather at the mo must be the rain!!!!!!!!!!

take care, x

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
03/11/2009 10:41

Thanks Wendy, feel great now, puzzled but great

Hope you feel better soon

Geejay


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 475

Message Posted:
03/11/2009 21:01

smithy,

Sorry you had such a bad experience at the Girne State Hospital and pleased that you seem to have recovered. I don't think that your experience is typical as I've seen many good reports on this site about the care people have received. But there's no doubt it helps to have a friend along for assistance and companionship.

My wife has had attention there several times, including for a double fracture of an ankle and another very scary episode. The attention she received from doctors and staff was exemplary and others there were able to help with the language.

As regards translation, it costs the NHS and Councils in the UK millions of pounds of our taxes to provide translations in so many different languages. It's simply too expensive to do the same here.

cyprusjoker


Joined: 29/08/2009
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
03/11/2009 21:10

Question; What do you call a spanish man leaving a hospital.?



Answear; Manwell.

moxie


Joined: 23/05/2009
Posts: 969

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 22:42

????? whatever next!