Pull my finger......

Ah, yet again the incompetantness of Australian doctors....No, that probably isn't fair to Aussie doctors...it's just that I haven't met one yet who isn't either brain dead, bored, or just plain stupid. I am sure there must be a good doctor in this big old sunburnt country, but I reckon they are hiding on a yacht in the Whitsunday Islands.
  I digress! I am leaving to go to good old USA on 26th August. Poor old left knee has been playing up alot this year. First time in 9 years! My GP, lovely guy that he is, is a  little timid and does everything by the book. Xray, wait two weeks, ultrasound, wait two weeks....Mind you to make an appointment to DO these things takes months! So the Xray was back in March, the ultrasound back in May, and finally my knee says...HEY! I am outta here...and promptly fell sideways, taking me with it, and a bag of groceries, and the dog, and the little old lady next to me.......
   So, he says, Oh ok I will make a referral to an orthopeadic surgeon.. HOO-bloody-ray! I rang them... "Sorry he is away till late July" Grrrrrrr...but there is another guy you can see...Ok book me in...Oh we don't do that, here's a number to call.....bleeeping heck! Ok, got an appointment in less than 2 weeks...woohoo...but it is an hour and half drive away....grrrrrr...
Saw this ortho on Tuesday. Got there at 8.30am...8.40am being the appointment. 8.50am no sign of doctor....ask receptionist, Oh no we haven't seen him either...sit....wait....get water to drink.....tap good foot.....look at fish in tank....9.05am...Any word from the doc? Oh no, we haven't heard either....He better be dead or I will kill him!  9.15am...Excuse me where the bleep is this doctor? Oh you are supposed to be in Waiting room 2...Oh Like I am super psychic today and knew this? Well, he will see you there....That's if he didn't see me there and now cancelled me, I mutter under my breath, picking up newspapers, cups and my handbag.
   Another 10 minutes goes by with no movement...I grab nearest woman who wears a uniform of some hospital type...Can you tell me where Dr. Blankbrains is?  She wanders off....comes back....He said he's been here the whole time, take a seat and he will call you....Ok says me in gritted smile......10 more minutes go by... FINALLY Dr "I own a Mercedes and you don't" comes out and NO apology!
   After a whole 2 minutes he announces... "Just take Panadol every four hours...when you get to US they have something called Tylenol, take that."
"Yes, I am familiar with American products, I don't live under a rock you know" I am thinking...my own GP could've told me to take Panadol...what the bleeep is with this guy?
In his infinite wisdom my knee is nothing to worry about...It's been operated on twice...I say....He looks at the referral..."Oh, you never said that" Me, restraining myself....Obviously this young upstart has not bothered to READ anything yet. His Blackberry thingy goes off.. he turns and plays with some game on it for a moment...Then says,
"Well, just don't do any walking" By now I have lost my cool demeanour.....
"You know, thanks for that.. I have now mastered the art of levitation and will leave you now" His look was of a person backing away from a rabid dog.
  $132.65 later...He requests an xray and "Oh come back when you get back from USA" I was going BEFORE to see this twit to find out how to deal with it if it comes out again and who would he tell me to see over there? But no he didn't hear a word I said.....Just take Panadol....like that's going to stop it slipping out of place!
Bah humbug!!!!!!!!!! I hope his Rolex turns out to be a fake!