Thankyou Susie , my father worked proudly for the NHS from its start for 50 years and held it in high esteem. He was horrified when a nurse roughly removed a cannula after successful heart valve replacement. One of the first signs he’d seen of nurses pressured by time. He lost the use of his finger dexterity and independence from then. A year later, after a fall, he ended up on a geriatric ward- there were no physios on that floor but if your bed was upstairs you were lucky to get one. He spent hours just staring into space and would relay the whole experience when we visited.
For us, the same hospital that Dad had worked at saved our son who suffered a major head injury aged 14 when he bullseyed a car. Transported by blue light from Torbay Devon to Frenchay Bristol for the only paediatric intensive care neuro bed available . The care was amazing in the hospital - the aftercare at home was not there and I was left with decisions about when he could return to school and to navigate a Brian injured child’s return . Ending up at Torbay when Joe fell down stairs in those early days , led us to a support worker who was fantastic and became the voice for us that allowed readers and time for exams and allowed him to drop subjects that were impossible with a safe place for rest breaks. Our GP has always been fantastic.
When Beth had suspected Quinzy we were seen at our local minor injuries with prompt emergency referral . I ended up in Aand E similar to what you describe . I left her alone at 11pm with a cannula in still sitting in A and E - waiting for beds to be delivered ! She ended up in an office. She phoned me at 6am . No one had been to see her and she didn’t know where a toilet was. They had literally forgotten she was there . That was our worst experience and I wrote to our MP.
Two weeks ago I needed an X-ray on my foot. I tried Kingsbridge minor injuries - queue of three - in and out in an hour . No break . Then last Sunday a phone call - Consultant says there is a fracture . By now I’m just going to see how it goes but I may have a fracture clinic referral if I need it . They were amazing .
It is scary - when we really need it they have always been there but I wonder for how long. It’s not easy to even see a GP and our dentist has left to go private and has not been replaced. It all feels a bit alarming .
What a scary experience for you both. I share your fears about the future of the NHS and what would happen if we had the US system. I am also appalled about care homes and the low wages carers are paid while the owners have made vast profits during and since the pandemic.
Hi, I found your piece sad and very disturbing. I don’t feel I could rely on the NHS. It’s in a mess and it seems nothing is being done. It surely cannot go on like this. I hope your husband gets some answers soon. Take care. X
(I am an NHS worker but not in the front line a but a humble administrator) we all must all appreciate the invaluable work they do and that we must keep it going for our children’s future and theirs ❤️
Thankyou Susie , my father worked proudly for the NHS from its start for 50 years and held it in high esteem. He was horrified when a nurse roughly removed a cannula after successful heart valve replacement. One of the first signs he’d seen of nurses pressured by time. He lost the use of his finger dexterity and independence from then. A year later, after a fall, he ended up on a geriatric ward- there were no physios on that floor but if your bed was upstairs you were lucky to get one. He spent hours just staring into space and would relay the whole experience when we visited.
For us, the same hospital that Dad had worked at saved our son who suffered a major head injury aged 14 when he bullseyed a car. Transported by blue light from Torbay Devon to Frenchay Bristol for the only paediatric intensive care neuro bed available . The care was amazing in the hospital - the aftercare at home was not there and I was left with decisions about when he could return to school and to navigate a Brian injured child’s return . Ending up at Torbay when Joe fell down stairs in those early days , led us to a support worker who was fantastic and became the voice for us that allowed readers and time for exams and allowed him to drop subjects that were impossible with a safe place for rest breaks. Our GP has always been fantastic.
When Beth had suspected Quinzy we were seen at our local minor injuries with prompt emergency referral . I ended up in Aand E similar to what you describe . I left her alone at 11pm with a cannula in still sitting in A and E - waiting for beds to be delivered ! She ended up in an office. She phoned me at 6am . No one had been to see her and she didn’t know where a toilet was. They had literally forgotten she was there . That was our worst experience and I wrote to our MP.
Two weeks ago I needed an X-ray on my foot. I tried Kingsbridge minor injuries - queue of three - in and out in an hour . No break . Then last Sunday a phone call - Consultant says there is a fracture . By now I’m just going to see how it goes but I may have a fracture clinic referral if I need it . They were amazing .
It is scary - when we really need it they have always been there but I wonder for how long. It’s not easy to even see a GP and our dentist has left to go private and has not been replaced. It all feels a bit alarming .
What a scary experience for you both. I share your fears about the future of the NHS and what would happen if we had the US system. I am also appalled about care homes and the low wages carers are paid while the owners have made vast profits during and since the pandemic.
Hi, I found your piece sad and very disturbing. I don’t feel I could rely on the NHS. It’s in a mess and it seems nothing is being done. It surely cannot go on like this. I hope your husband gets some answers soon. Take care. X
A Poignant read - thank you
🙏 the NHS
(I am an NHS worker but not in the front line a but a humble administrator) we all must all appreciate the invaluable work they do and that we must keep it going for our children’s future and theirs ❤️