At The Hospital

When I was considering moving to Powai everyone would look so pleased and instead of mentioning the 3 supermarkets, many cafes and bars and restaurants they would mention the wonderful Hiranandani Hospital.

In response I would laugh and say I had no intention of making use of the hospital but I recently had reason to visit and thought I'd share the experience with you.

Firstly the reason for going to the hospital was following a curious incident with a dog in the nighttime on a visit to Bandra with my sister. The dog momentarily grabbed my ankle in its mouth but didn't bite me and didn't do anything else. It was quite weird. No skin broken, no sign of anything. My sister was behind me and had seen it all and was convinced I had been bitten and started on the Rabies scaremongering. But she too could see that there really was nothing but I promised her I would go and have the pre-exposure Rabies jab as a precaution.

I realised then that I had no idea how to avail of medical services in Mumbai and that I hadn't even registered for a GP. So that was the query I brought to my colleagues that Monday morning and with the various responses I concluded that I could either

1. Make an appointment via an app with a national vaccine provider who comes to your home and jabs you with whatever you want

2. Make an appointment with a doctor recommended by a friend who may actually be a foot doctor but it doesn't matter because they will refer you to their Rabies jabbing colleague. Apparently that's common. People find maybe a good cardiologist and then go to them for every ailment, trusting their steer on who they should really go to.

3. Make an appointment with a general pactitioner, based again on recommendation.

So I made an appointment with a recommended doctor who just happened to have her surgery at the OutPatients Department at the Hiranandani Hospital. I was offerred appointments on the same day I was calling but made a more convenient one.

I turned up on the day of the appointment and it straightaway cost me ₹350 to register with the hospital, which involved me filling in a form and paying the money but no information on what registration was giving me in return.

The doctor saw me within 15 mins of my appointment time. Regarding the Rabies jab however, she looked at me and asked if I had been bitten, and when I said no, she simply said come back when you have! However, I took the opportunity to ask her whether I could have a CT Angiogram since, following my younger brothers passing from a cardiac arrest, I am worried that inside my heart may not be as healthy as my outward appearance might suggest. As was the case with my brother. I have wanted this scan done ever since my brothers death buy haven't been able to get it approved on the NHS nor by my medical insurance because my outward appearance and basic tests suggest I am not at risk. But I would like to be sure.

Anyway this doctor seemed to think I had good reason to want the test and gave me a referral to have the scan done in Radiology in the basement and to have a specific blood test in Pathology on the 1st floor and she would see me again when she had these results back. And that was that. She ushered me out and the Billing Clerk took ₹2500. Boom!

This was all a few weeks ago and I had a day off today so thought I might as well make use of a day off with no plans and complete the task. I went to Radiology to book in my scan which I have made for Friday morning. Fasting is required for 2 hours prior, which is easy for a morning appointment, and my pulse rate needs to be between 60 - 72 and then I should be done in an hour. If it's higher than that they'll give me a drug and then I'll have to wait until that kicks in before they will scan me. The man at reception said that I would also need a serum blood test done before the scan so asked me to book this in for before Friday.

So off I went to Pathology to book in the other original blood test and now this one as well. I queued at reception and when I got to the desk to schedule my appointment the receptionist there asked if I had already "completed billing?" So it turns out I have to pay for the blood tests before I can book them in so I wander over to the Billing Clerk, pay ₹2400 for two blood tests and go back to book my appointment. Well, I thought I was going back to book an appointment but it turns out that was my appointment, because when I got back with my receipt I was taken straight into a room and my blood was taken. The results will be with me on the patient portal by tomorrow. (So that's what get for my registration fee which is great except that I have had no instruction in the Patient portal and no idea how to access it).

Anyway, I am now just three days away from having a scan that has been so elusive in the UK. I can see why India has health tourism. I was able to see a GP on a same-day appointment, within 15 mins of my appointment time. I had my blood tests done as a walk-in, and I could have booked the CT scan sooner except that I am working and I also hadn't realised the blood tests could be done the same day.

OK, so every step has cost me, but at a fraction of the cost of private care in the UK. I could have sorted this whole investigation within a week and I'll come back to you with the total cost once I'm done.

But I suspect that the entire investigation will be less than the monthly insurance premium I will get quoted for my age. And I further suspect thay I could throw in a economy flight and a one week hotel stay.

Meanwhile if anyone tells me they are considering moving to Powai I will join the cacophony of voices extolling the virtues of the Hiranandani Hospital!!