Romania: Maria Anghel

Health experience related to: diabetes mellitus

Timely attention and empathetic manner by health care staff improve people's experience of care and lead to better compliance with prescribed treatments and medications.

10 years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes. I found out about it when I went to the hospital for a consultation regarding a problem with my heart. I had told my family doctor my symptoms and she referred me there. I had some tests done then and was hospitalized for a few weeks.

The nurses at the hospital were really comforting and polite, and I appreciated how they talked to me and treated me – and not only me; they behaved the same with all the patients. Indeed, the nurses were great. The doctor who was in charge of my case gave me a detailed discharge letter to take to my family doctor, so that she would make sure I stay on the prescribed treatment. Since that moment I have been taking all my medications.

I have no trouble following the treatment, although it is a little expensive, especially one of the drugs. But what can we do – for our health we spend even the last penny. I'm happy. I'm feeling good! From time to time I grab a bite of sweets or some cake. But it really makes me feel ill, so I do my best to follow the diet that has been recommended to me.

I go once a year to the hospital for check-ups and once every 2 months to my doctor, who is very accommodating and supportive. I make appointments for routine check-ups with her, but if necessary she sees me even outside office hours, because she understands the problems of people who are ill. Until recently I could make appointments 1 or 2 weeks in advance, or even just a few days in advance in case of an emergency. So the waiting time was quite short.

Lately it has been a bit more difficult to make an appointment to see my doctor, as I and other patients have been told we have to request a time 1 or 2 months in advance. I understand this is not the choice of the doctor but rather a result of the number of people who ask to be seen and her capacity to see them. I told the medical staff at the practice that I would pay if necessary to make an appointment sooner, and they replied that they could do nothing about it, because they are understaffed.

The most valuable part of the treatment for me was the services I received at the hospital. I still go there for check-ups and it's quite difficult, because the hospital is far from where I live. I have to take the bus or share a car with somebody from my village, in which case I pay for the gas. But all the effort and expense are worth it, because the doctors and nurses are good and treat everybody with the same care and respect. The hospital was renovated recently and is clean and luminous. They have good diagnostic equipment and a laboratory.

I have had the same family doctor for more than 25 years. She vaccinated and treated my children when they were small. She also treated my husband for pneumonia, rheumatism and liver problems. Now my children are grown up and my son has a boy of his own. He takes his family to my doctor when they need care.