What should have been a fun away day with my parents turned into a pantomime....pretty apt for this time of year. I just haven't come up with a title for it yet, not one that I would dare print at least. We travelled for 4 hours in the car without stopping. BIG mistake. Not thinking about my father who needs to eat small amounts regularly, we set off earlier than the early bird and ended up catching the biggest worm. We travelled to Manchester, a good couple of hundred miles away, to visit the Trafford Centre and shop til we dropped....only my father dropped a bit sooner than expected. We had lunch as soon as we arrived and had just started looking in shop windows when he turned whiter than the ghost from Christmas past and needed assistance. With pains and breathlessness it was apparent that something more than indigestion was going on. The paramedics came quickly (one of who mistook humour for sheer sarcasm which I could have done without at that time!) and he was whisked off in the ambulance to Manchester General Hospital. Into Accident and Emergency we followed. My father had blood taken....rather a lot of blood for various tests.....and was given blood thinning medication. After a 4 hour wait, it was decided that he might have a blood clot on his lung. This would mean him staying in the hospital, getting him home was not an option. Transferring him to a hospital near home was even less of an option. We journeyed home without my father who had no toiletries, pyjamas...nothing. We arrived back in Scotland just after 11pm and the following day could only keep phoning for an update. What was wrong? What was going to happen next? Is he feeling okay? Had a doctor seen him at any point? The only question answered was "yes..he's feeling okay!" We later found out he was to have a CT scan to make sure he was being treated correctly. The next day we travelled back to Manchester and stayed in a hotel. Phoned dad again to find out about the CT scan. He hadn't had it yet. So when was he going to get it? The next day he thought. So what were they doing with him now? Nothing. Paracetamols and warm tea were the order of the day....and by the way, the ward he was taken to initially was having some refurbishment so my dad was moved to another part of the hospital for sugical patients although he wasn't going to be one of them. He was put into a side room with no windows other than one looking out into another ward. He could have waved to the patients lying in there! We arrived to see him and asked what he was being told. "Nothing really," was his reply. I set off to find someone who could speak to us. I came across a huddle of nurses, ALL of who totally ignored me until I piped up "could SOMEone answer me please?" Believe it or not, everyone still kept their heads down and didn't really want to know, except for one nurse who asked what the issues were. Well...we'd travelled 600 miles now in total, we were staying at a hotel for however long it takes but we would just like to know what exactly my father is being treated for and when he was going to have this scan that he was told he would have a couple of days ago. What was the reason for keeping him in hospital? The answer was that the scan would take place later that day with the results being known in the evening so a decision would be made whether he would have to stay or could leave. That evening, no results came. We left my father at 7pm. He never saw hide nor hair of a nurse until the following morning at 8am. I asked why he didn't use his buzzer and he said that he did...but nobody came. My father is 80 years old. When I arrived again the following morning I was very frustrated with the lack of communication and I knew that today would be the day where I would demand some attention and some answers. We called my father who was up out of bed and who had showered, using only a hand towel that my mother had provided in his overnight things to dry himself. He DID buzz and buzz to ask for a bath towel but again, nobody came. When we arrived in the morning there were buzzers going off all over the place and nobody seemed to be doing anything about them. We could see which patients were seeking attention and the noise was deafening but all the nurses must wear ear plugs because none of them raised an eyebrow. I did hear one ask "is it okay if I take my tea-break now?" to be told "yes of course!" I met with the charge nurse...her nightmare began! The doctor had already done his rounds but hadn't been to see my father. Why not?? I asked for the results of the scan in the next few minutes or I was taking my father home. She sent me off for 20 minutes until she could make the phone call. I gave her this time and went off and waited. I came back to find her doing time sheets and guess what.....she hadn't made the call. NOW I turned green and erupted into Hulk mode although I DID raise my voice somewhat, I kept my decorum and told her she had 5 MINUTES to get me answers or we were out of the hospital. She said "there is no need to be rude about it" ME?? RUDE??? I told her that the only person who was being rude was her as she sent us off to stand around doing nothing while she finished off her time sheets and didn't take care of a simple request which would help us to know how long we would have to stay in Manchester and what exactly was wrong with my father and what was their plan for his care?? As she spoke over me I shut her up with a few meaningful words and told her to "pick up that phone right now" as she was now wasting my time! Was I rude? It was now 4 days that my father was in there and couldn't tell you the name of a doctor or nurse who "cared" for him. I went off to make sure my father was dressed and ready to leave. The nurse promptly removed a cannula from his arm and my father jumped to his feet to get his coat on and LEAVE! The doctor unfortunately couldn't see my father as he was away on an emergency (good enough excuse) but the results were given and my father's lungs were clear. So what was really wrong with him? Probably exhaustion mixed with indigestion! You might say that he was in the best place at the right time to be cared for...but unfortunately I don't have the opinion that he actually was "cared" for. His bed was never made the whole time he was there. No towels were available for him showering and his buzzer was ignored on all the occasions he used it. Twice he asked for information and the nurse would say "I'll go and find out" and then never returned. I am glad to say that my father has his sense of humour intact and is now happily sitting at home munching chocolates! I am disgusted with Manchester General Hospital and doubt that they will forget me in a hurry. All's well that ends well. I won't be returning to Manchester any time soon!! And by the way....all the time we stood in the reception area I could have lifted any number of Patients Confidential Records as they lay strewn across the top ledge where you would lean if you were having a conversation with any of them at their desks! My father's records were on top of the pile...and there were PILES, believe me! Here's to a Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year to one and all!
21 years ago today...my beautiful daughter was born. What I would like to know is.....when did it go from nappy changing to coffee sharing?? Deary me! Today the snow is falling extremely heavily so there will be no venturing out for us. Who planned a December birthday anyway?? Oops! Never mind, today will be spent chilling out (no pun intended!) and enjoying the warmth of the hoose! Chinese food tonight accompanied by a good movie to watch so what more could you ask. (Chilli nuts and Pringles perhaps? Job done!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKY! LOVE YOU LOADS xxxxxx
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