Time to take action

In December, I started to get worried –waiting wasn’t getting me anywhere – My dr at Hospiten had told me he had more or less done what he could and had recommended specialists but unfortunately they weren’t as vocational as him. I don’t know whether it was just a private public thing but I felt like a number and not like a person.

After this realization, I decided that by hook or by crook – I would get to Materno Infantil – the best baby hospital in Andalucia and according to the Spanish in Europe. It is a state hospital based in Malaga,

We are now being seen by specialist there, but how did I get in? Well first we tried emergencies but they just did a urine sample and told us to see our own paediatrician in Manilva. Then I called to make an appointment and was told I had to be referred by a state paediatrician. Then I went to the state paediatrician in my municipality (who saw me immediately after I had a huge outburst in reception when they told me to wait a few more days – I had had enough, now I was going to fight for the attention we deserved). Then the paediatrician studied Talia’s case and agreed that she needed to get to the Materno. I was over the moon and expecting an appointment when they called me (the local centro de salud was very efficient) to say that they thought the bureaucracy and paper work may take months to process and suggested that I try to get in either by creating a fuss at emergency and presenting the paperwork or through some other loophole. I was upset – the Dr agreed that she needed urgent attention but had no clout to put me on the top of the list.

Finally after speaking to some mums I found out about the heads of the units at the hospital and made an appointment to see one of the heads specialising in babies and digestion in his private practice. On December 13^th I finally made it to Materno Infantil. The Dr had looked at Talia and instantly agreed that she needed to be treated at the hospital but as an outpatient as she was too small and could not afford to catch anything.