First Week of Work and Marvellous Weekend Day

04.10. - 09.10.
My first week at the practice at Te Korowai Hauora O Hauraki (“The Cloak of Wellness for Hauraki”) was quite demanding (Hauraki is the region where we live). The Health System of NZ differs a lot from that of Germany. There is usually only one week of paid sick-leave per year, then you have to apply for a sickness benefit paid by the government. There are no specialists with own practice covered by the governmental health system. Patients have to be transferred to specialists who come to the hospitals once a week or so. Generally few people have additional insurance to see specialists without having to wait. Joint replacements are only obtainable on private insurance unless you are not overweight and are prepared to wait for many months or even years. Other specialities seem to be exceptionally well organised: help in the psychosocial area is well organised and easy to access. Then, I have to do things I formerly did very seldom or never: Gynaecology, little surgery, paediatrics.
The patients of my practice are mostly older patients, patients of low socio-economic level and patients with mental and psychosocial problems. This has historic reasons. Te Korowai is a Maori organisation which takes care of all levels of wellbeing of the Maori iwis (tribes) in this region. However, there is an increasing percentage of Pakeha (white) and wealthier patients that come to us. We are just much cheaper than the competing “Thames Health Centre”, which has to do with a funding from the government.
I have to struggle with a range of problems yet: the different language, the different system, and areas of medicine I am not familiar with. The people are willing and prone to help, but sometimes I am just exhausted and all I want is to retreat. Yesterday I thought: if I had known how difficult the start would be I wouldn't have undertaken this big step.
Yesterday we (the whole family) drove to a place which is really made for relaxing: Miranda Hot Pools. These are thermal springs which are collected in a basin (respectively three pools) which are open to the public (fees apply, though). The temperature of the water is between around 38 and 40°C and you just flow in the water. We had sun from above, a slight wind, outside temperature around 16°C, so that you preferred to stay in the water. I will add a few pictures of this marvellous place, together with a video of the trip there. The other picture shows the practice from outside.