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Have to agree that the perception of health care is all down to personal experience. I have been fortunate enough to get to 63 years old without ever suffering anything remotely major. I used to call myself Stalin (man of steel). However, something has now finally gone wrong with the works and my own experience of the care received has been exemplary. The only caveat I would apply would refer to the travelling required. My doctor in Dover, Dr Flower, has been superb, and I have had examinations at Royal Victoria Hospital Folkestone, a bone scan at QEQM, a CT scan at Kent and Canterbury, and subsequently an operation at K&C. They have all been brilliant and I am back at sea again after only missing one two week duty on my ferry.
It is most regrettable that Buckland has been run down to the extent that it has and I agree entirely with Brian's remarks above concerning the lack of a doctor. Our Polish fitter on the ship was feeling unwell for several days and was sent off for a round trip to go to Buckland. On arriving there, he discovered that there was no doctor and that the nurse was unable to issue a prescription. He wound up going to a chemist and asking them what they recommended, duly bought some pills and came back to the ship. Not well, not happy, not cured, and not impressed.