Don's back home now. They drained 850mls of fluid off his lung with another 600 to go...as the lung had collapsed in that area they were unable to take the last bit because they were afraid there might be a "shock" reaction.

The whole da there was a shock reaction, not more so than when they discharged him at 5.30 in the evening into driving rain...lucky we had a friend who met us at our house with a huge umbrella which she held over Don as I unloaded him from the van...

I was soaked to the skin and even though it is still warm here took me ages to feel warm again.

A lovely old man called George a few rooms up died while Don was in there because after he had all his teeth removed they would not stop bleeding. A wad of gauze was put in his mouth which he subsequently chocked on because no one came to check on him.

This was the case with my husband...no one ever stuck their heads in to see if you were alive or dead...and no obs were taken at all after Don had his lung tapped and a wardsman bought him back to the room... he saw no nurses until they came to get him out of bed and almost dropped him on the floor.

Its not a whinge but am horrified to see how much what was a good system, one of the best in the world, has deteriorated... its got to do with cost cutting...

Just don't get sick folks, especially if you have no private health insurance.

I will post something cheerful soon...just about had enough of this