Cancel all plans, again.
Why cancel all plans, why no time to write a word ? Over a month ago, an ominous call. Landline, so either a scam or very serious indeed. Friends know there’s no signal, so does work, email’s best. None of the usual suspects, – you know who they are – mostly blocked by now. This was real. Faces really do turn ashen, the news horribly bad. In shock, even voices sound grey. Emergency admission, urgent surgery.
Why K*, of all people ? Born disabled, uses a wheelchair, hadn’t she been through enough ? Own flat, phone, computer, but ‘ sheltered’, and for the past two years plus, access has been limited, to keep her and all other residents ‘ safe’ Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen so little of her. For the first year, or was it eighteen months, only one named visitor allowed. One named family member ? K has five able bodied siblings, all have partners. On arrival, a mandatory LF test, After a long-haul drive, would the test be ‘positive;’ ? Ironically, restrictions became tighter still in spring 21, after vaccination began. Reports indicate that people can test positive for 80 days or longer, but testing positive doesn’t necessarily mean they’re infectious. How to tell the difference ? K’s highly vulnerable – and other residents even more so. A risk not worth taking ?
The news wasn’t the very worst. After emergency surgery, K was in recovery. No details, but the Scope website offers key information. 2 Just how soon could we be there ? Speed limits are there for a reason. Hurtling down our single track road could be disastrous, Safer on the motorway and the very straight Roman road, but a speeding fine won’t help K or us. .
The almost good news ? K was conscious now, we’d be able to see her. Masks, of course, hands pickled in alcohol, . How to get to her ward ? Three floors up… There’s a lift, but I don’t do lifts, ever. Then locating her ‘ bay’ – a six bed intensely claustrophobic enclave. Reports of patients being able to hold hands are correct. K’s bed was separated from her neighbours only by disposable curtain strips. On one side, a chair, on the other, barely standing room. When a visitor arrived for one of K’s neighbours no privacy for them either. At their sickest and weakest, all health care is delivered just inches away from the next verysick and weak person. Not just giving medication or taking temperatures. . I mean the most intimate care of all, wound inspection and toileting. No soundproofing, just plastic strip curtains.
Upstairs, in the wards, beds crammed closely together.. Downstairs, front of house is so very different – an impressive light filled space, the inevitable Costa coffee, with many tables, a shop, stalls for local charities too raising money for the sick. How much does the NHS make from its hospital based Costa shops ? The first National Audit Office report on income generation in the NHS was published almost 30 years ago,. Back then, volunteers staffed refreshment stalls and hospital car parks were free. 3
K was drowsy, and still in pain. After emergency surgery, maybe this was normal. ? We’d brought magazines, brainteasers, but she explained that she couldn’t read. Waiting for an emergency ambulance, her specs hadn’t been packed. I prefer lenses , keep specs on standby. Near enough K’s prescription, so could I fetch them from the car ? Visitors using the distant car park need to be fit, preferably fell race fit. Our visiting slot was almost over. Only just in time, I was allowed back, and yes, my specs still work for K.
Two days later, another sibling and partner could visit. K was in pain still. They insisted on immediate action. Briefly –(this is another person’s medical history) , the scan revealed the reason for her pain. A second emergency operation was needed. How long would she be on morphine ? What had gone wrong ? Dare to complain about the sainted NHS ? Rarely, patients receive an apology. Appeal to the health service ombudsman ? Only a tiny percentage of complaints are ever investigated. 4
I was sick, and you exploited me….
Next ? Back at the hospital again, after another long drive, we signed up and paid for bedside TV Grotesque and ruthless exploitation of the sick, and in this case, of somebody disabled from birth., but a nice little earner for the NHS. Five years ago, the health service profit was £21 million .5 . How much now ? Still searching for those figures, and intend to find them. .Handing over the payment, I raged. Silently, of course, Sick, in pain, and lifelong disabled, K needed to be able to watch TV, had ordered a TV paper, so she could find her favourite programmes. Two days later still, another sibling made the journey, from a different part of the UK, found that K was struggling to operate the wretched system.6
I contacted the Patients Liasion Service, left a message, sent an email too, pointing out that K has a specific disability. Scope advised too. A result, at last. Minutes later, a PALS officer phoned, emailed too, promised to attend to this immediately, adding that he found the system tricky to operate – and doesn’t have K’s lifelong disability.
Over the past few weeks, how many hundreds of miles have we driven between us, as the price of petrol soars, and K slowly recovers ? K has moved at last to a cottage hospital. Still NHS, might be on another planet. She has her own spacious room, ensuite, with a view of the gardens, Bedside TV is free – and so it should be. As usual, flowers aren’t allowed, but friends have sent a large and handsome pachyderm, christened Nellie, of course, with a magnificent trunk, and now dressed in stylish green scrubs – produced by ward staff. As we arrived, a pony and trap clip -clopped along the road.
Confession. l have no love for the NHS. and will never forget the wording of that grim message
‘ Stay At Home, Protect the NHS – with ‘ Save Lives’ as an afterthought.
Many UK cases of covid 19 were contracted in hospital. 7
In my worst nightmares, I’m helpless in hospital. An accident, of course, can’t blame the NHS for that. No gentle, teddy-comforted pre-med, just urgent action, and one terrifying memory, the mask coming down on my face,then waking up on the ward. Weeks and weeks, slowly recovering. Worst of all ?
( apart from my broken little body) Nothing to read ! This was horrible ! Didn’t they understand ? Not knowing any different, my gran /foster mother thought three was the usual sort of age for reading. Pre-schooler, I could read well, loved real books. Once I could sit up in bed, nurses brought baby toys, sand and water play, bricks. No books. When I dared to ask for books, I suppose they tried. Luckily, my grandad worked at the hospital, eventually, the message got through – and real books too.
Flowers forbidden ? Bring books. Crime, thrillers, romance, maybe not dystopia, just bring them.
Enduring memory of weeks in hospital with nothing to read ? Sheer misery. In hospital,and mostly helpless, books are vital. Especially in tightly packed wards, audio books and music can be a problem, even the best headphones can leak. Solution ? Books. Bring books, bring magazines. Fill a bag with books, and the whole jam-packed ward will love you. .
Family crisis slowly resolving, I’ve spent the past week on a final (?) edit of my current WIP, starring a 102 year old WWII codebreaker (retd)
1 https://www.advisory.com › daily-briefing › 2022 › 06 › 01 › covid-isolation
4 https://uk.trustpilot.com › review › www.ombudsman.org.uk
5 https:..//www.mirror.co.uk › news › uk-news › poorly-nhs-patients-charged-10-10818027 Poorly NHS patients charged £10 per day just to watch TV from their bed. .
6 https://uk.trustpilot.com › review › www.hospedia.com
7 https://www.cdc.gov › winnablebattles › report › hais.html.
East of the Sun, West of the Moon, sat nav won't like that 
What a torrid time! Glad to hear that K is getting better!
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Missing your wonderful posts. – and not, currently, trying to visit any part of France. Later, we hope.
Yes, slowly recovering, but in theory, people who have a major disability have extra support in hospital/
Just as well K has ten of us on her side….
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