Saturday, March 10, 2007

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

9 comments:

JahTeh said...

It's not just cost cutting MC but, and here I go on my favourite hobbyhorse, university training instead of giving them six months on the wards first. This sorts the nurses from the would-bes. Sis gets them in and half are terrified to touch a living, breathing human.

She had a patient in today who smelled as though he hadn't had a wash in twelve months. The OT said not to worry, could she see him wash his hands and his face when he refused to shower. Sis quietly says to him, if you want out, you'll shower and off he went like a lamb. People skills can't be taught in a classroom.

Anonymous said...

It shouldn't matter if the hospital is in a tin shack or in a state of the art building, it is the staff that make a difference. THat is just PURE NEGLECT and it is plain awful love :(
I am so glad your lovely Don is home safe in loving arms. Take care you two. In my thoughts, Cazzie :)

R.H. said...

And so the rugged old Celts struggle on, getting hell thrown at them...

I hope your daughters aren't badly affected by all this, especially the little one with the beautiful smile. But she might know that there's always been sorrow in the middle of loveliness, which is why there are great art works.

mirk said...

Good to hear Don is back. My god I'm glad health care is free over here.

Jacqui said...

Glad to hear that Don is back and if not quite his old self, somewhat near it.

Did they do a biopsy of the suspect nodule or are just hoping it will go away somehow? Seem very much do your self health care over there.

I sure Don will make it to the wedding, he wouldn't want to wait in heaven for you to rant at him, for missing his own daughter's wedding. :) Now that would be hell in heaven :o

Middle Child said...

jahteh...this is also my hobby horse...my eldest sister is a Renal Dialysis nurse and said the Uni trained nurses in general are not happy with having to do hands on nursing... sort of a bit beneath them...

Cazzie...again agree totally, it felt like neglest and attitude to us too.

RH our daughters have lived with this since they were 7 and 4...they are our best mates and allies. OUr youngest has had ha lot of illness to contend with and although she is like an angel at times she is a strong little person and has a healthy attitude towards injustiice and cruelty. Her smile comes from inside...as with the eldest one. Nothing will dim that.

Mirk..health care is sort of free here but public health care (free) means you wait and wait overcrowded hospitals, not enough nurses, etc etc Don is a high dependency person when he is in hospital and too many seem to resent the time it takes to care for him.

Jacqui - theyare testing the fluid and whatever they took away... hope alls well... if not I don't think Don would survive any major surgery, so just keeping lungs clear would be the best thing...

He will be at that wedding and the next one if and whenever...with his Mackay Kilt and a bagpiper!

Otilia said...

Jesus Christ on a crutch, MC...you all amaze me. You get the worst, and still, survive.

iODyne said...

yes, wot edy said too from me just swinging through to see how Don's going.
I am so sorry about Archimedes I am crying too.

You have all those WONDERFUL precious photos which just scream out Family Love and Joy, and you might think everybody has that, but it is rare and special and you are lucky.

and I reckon that sister with the frocks and locks was telling them to crop your hair short cos she was jealous of it's blondeness.

iODyne said...

yes, wot edy said too from me just swinging through to see how Don's going.
I am so sorry about Archimedes I am crying too.

You have all those WONDERFUL precious photos which just scream out Family Love and Joy, and you might think everybody has that, but it is rare and special and you are lucky.

and I reckon that sister with the frocks and locks was telling them to crop your hair short cos she was jealous of it's blondeness.