Well I can put away my St George Cross cuff links for a while. I wore them throughout the Ashes series and had to offer some explanations to French colleagues. They didn't recognise the flag - because the believe the Union Jack is the flag of "Angleterre" - the United Kingdom and its constituent nations leave them largely nonplussed.
Explanations led to discussions about cricket. This is another mystery outside of the Commonwealth nations. Recounting the history of the Ashes is even more parochial than the sport itself. I make no excuses and I see test matches as something of a metaphor for the British anyway. French people in the main do not get cricket. I must ask a recently-returned french colleague who spent many recent years living in England...
Winning the Ashes in Australia for the first time since the early eighties is a tremendously symbolic event. I take nothing away from the best England team to play for some time and I hope this will be the start of an extended period of English dominance. We are rated third in the world now.
I was surprised to learn that our great victory was over the country rated fifth. The test series against India this summer is the one that will really count; India is first in the world ratings. I have every confidence that the series will go well.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Thursday, 6 January 2011
anomalies of health care in France
If you plan to take up a medical career in France, become a vet.
The French health system has been praised for its ability to deliver superb care. The truth I have learnt living here is that the system, whilst undoubtedly serving the French people well, does not deliver particularly better care than the NHS does in the UK and costs a fortune. Not only do most working people have to pay for a supplementary private insurance to recoup medical costs, the social security system is in major deficit.
At the same time doctors earn a fraction of the money their counterparts in Britain bring home.
When I have to see my GP here - a Secteur II doctor who charges more than the basic GP - she charges me €39 for a consultation and it is these fees which make up her income. The Social security refund me about €15 and the rest needs to come from my supplementary arrangements.
My dog has an eye problem and I took him to the vets this evening. The vet diagnosed canine conjunctivitis, administered an antibiotic, prescribed an eye bath and an ointment and relieved me of €132. His fee is €69. The rest was for the medicines - because a vet is also a pharmacist, so he gets a cut of that, too. Leaving aside the the fact that the social security do not cover dogs - I would not dream of suggesting the taxpayer should - the consultation is almost double the cost of the GP. There is no additional supplement to the GP's income. So if you are studying medicine in France, make sure you become a vet!
The French health system has been praised for its ability to deliver superb care. The truth I have learnt living here is that the system, whilst undoubtedly serving the French people well, does not deliver particularly better care than the NHS does in the UK and costs a fortune. Not only do most working people have to pay for a supplementary private insurance to recoup medical costs, the social security system is in major deficit.
At the same time doctors earn a fraction of the money their counterparts in Britain bring home.
When I have to see my GP here - a Secteur II doctor who charges more than the basic GP - she charges me €39 for a consultation and it is these fees which make up her income. The Social security refund me about €15 and the rest needs to come from my supplementary arrangements.
My dog has an eye problem and I took him to the vets this evening. The vet diagnosed canine conjunctivitis, administered an antibiotic, prescribed an eye bath and an ointment and relieved me of €132. His fee is €69. The rest was for the medicines - because a vet is also a pharmacist, so he gets a cut of that, too. Leaving aside the the fact that the social security do not cover dogs - I would not dream of suggesting the taxpayer should - the consultation is almost double the cost of the GP. There is no additional supplement to the GP's income. So if you are studying medicine in France, make sure you become a vet!
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