Yesterday I went with my sister-in-law and my twin sister to visit eldest sister in hospital.
Luckily we negotiated the only clear part of the gridlocked A55 during another reported "wettest day of the year", leaving behind a semi flooded field, some miserable looking wet hens and 8 hysterically happy Indian runner ducks paddling in the downpour.
Even though I have been a nurse nearly thirty years, my experience with private health care has been minimal, so I was intrigued to see what a private hospital actually looked and felt like, albeit from the perspective of a visitor.
Apart from the slightly claustrophobic feel of the building, the spacious single rooms and the state of the art free coffee machine in the foyer, the unit was exactly what I expected.
Prim reception staff in their executive uniforms, cheerful non- harassed nurses and doilies on the tea trays gave the hospital the look of a mid range modern hotel and when we found our somewhat pale and shattered patient, who was now feeling the more uncomfortable side effects of a major orthopaedic operation, I was so glad that she had oped for the private route.
Now don't get me wrong, the nhs, (an organisation I have been a part of for most of my adult life) does provide a good standard of care in most areas of it's primary health care provision. and in the areas I have had direct experience of ( namely spinal Injuries in Sheffield and Intensive care in Wales) the quality of care has been second to non. BUT ( and there IS a but here) when I saw the usual "bon vivre" missing from my sister's face I was so glad that she wasn't crammed into a busy hospital bay of six beds over seen by one overworked staff nurse and a physiotherapist who had three hip replacement patients to assess before lunch.
Do you get where I am coming from?Course you do
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Father in law will be arriving in a few hours and "operation dog snot removal" has now been completed to my satisfaction.
A casserole is cooking , I am just off to buy some flowers for the table (and will pick up a couple of coop mates for the lonely Annie when I do so)
and I have just polished the cottage coal dust from the woodwork in the sitting room, leaving the sweet faint smell of wax around the house!
The place looks lovely
oh
apart from a sudden pile of mouse body parts which have been regurgitated in the centre of the lounge carpet..............
I give up
Do you get where I am coming from? - No, your earlship! Sheer treachery! The NHS has funded your lavish lifestyle for three decades. Now that you have crossed to the other side I guess you'll be seeking a part time post in a private hospital just so that you can wear a doily on your head and bow to patients like the butler in "Downton Abbey".
ReplyDeleteYP
DeleteI have given my dues to society YP 30 years in the nhs and by the time I retire it will be 35 years in the nhs.
I think that off sets quite nicely any private care a loved one has recieved recently
Gotta love regurgitated mouse parts... not! A few weeks ago, Luna threw up about 10 times in a row, each with a little bit of mouse in it — lovely!
ReplyDeleteGlad your sister is doing alright. As for the NHS. When I had strokes in my late forties the 'care' I received from the local NHS hospital would have either put me into a wheel chair for life at the very least, or at the worse, into my grave. I am not exaggerating, there was no 'care'. So I got myself out of the hospital by putting on some make-up and prettying myself up and convincing the consultant when he came round for his patient inspections that I was fine. I wasn't. The long walk out of the hospital took ages. But I got myself well again. I even went to the local gym, thinking that if I was going to pass over, that I may as well get as fit as I could so I could have a bigger harp to play as I sat on my fluffy cloud in angelic mode.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear your sister is coming along nicely, all is "almost" present for your FIL & good boy Albert!
ReplyDeleteHere in Oz we have a free public health system called Medicare which operates much like your National Health I assume, but a very large number of Aussies, though paying for the free system through their taxes, opt to pay very high Private Health fees so they don't have to wait for ages (often years) for non life saving surgery (like hip/knee replacements - even some cancer treatments), can have a doctor(specialist) they choose IMMEDIATELY and be treated in a hugely expensive private hospital where private rooms or at least a shared room with your own bathroom and toilet are the norm.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with a system that provides quality health care for all free of charge ( taxpayer funded) but am glad we can afford to pay fees for the private system particularly as we enter a time in our lives when things begin to go wrong. There are many things we are prepared to give up ( because of the cost )but Private Health Care is not one of them.
Hope your sister is soon feeling better and the new bit works perfectly for her!!!
Glad your sister is on the mend!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your continued effort on operation dog-snot-mouse-part removal--It's a war you can't win, but I hope you can at least win the latest battle!
One of dogs recently performed a 5 ft projectile vomit; luckily he was outside at the time.
ReplyDeleteWe paid private medical insurance when we lived in Spain & Jess was born in a hotel like hospital. Joe was born here in a NHS one -both experiences totally different but both marvelous.
ReplyDeleteHope yor sister is on the mend x
Being in hospital sucks, whatever system you use.
ReplyDeleteJane x
Enjoy your dog snot and regurgitated mouse parts.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Dorothy?
DeleteI can see where you're coming from about the extra attention and the relaxed surroundings and so on, which must be very beneficial. My only doubt is that private clinics don't usually have the specialist back-up that's needed if something goes horribly wrong, and the outcome can be disastrous. As I can tell you from the experience of a relative of mine.
ReplyDeletevery true nick, I have seen many examples of this.... elective surgery with the well...... private is fine..... anything complicated, specialist or requiring itu..... nhs always does it better!
DeleteHousework is never done John...particularly with an outdoor cat in the home.
ReplyDeleteGood wishes to the patient.
Have you the Monty Python 'Hospital Sketch' John? It's on You Tube and it features 'the machine that goes ping!"
ReplyDeleteI found the ship (ferry) I was talking about: The Duke Of Lancaster at Mostyn. There's a blog post idea for you.
That should say: Have you 'seen'
ReplyDeleteSorry.
I was on the brink.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading a flurry of blogs with cute and fluffy cat pictures I was almost convinced.
And then... regurgitated mouse parts.
Hope your sister feels more comfortable soon.
You cannot give up, John! It is a never ending battle when you have critters living in your house, but if you give up you are doomed.
ReplyDeleteI am a pediatric hospitalist in the US so hearing your perspective on the UK system is fascinating.
How come it's so tidy? where have you put Chris?
ReplyDeletehe's at work!
DeleteGlad she is getting good care...and I think the NHS is marvellous....like everything in life, there are bits we would like to alter or change, but essentially, we are very very lucky to have it.
ReplyDeleteYou had me wondering what an art free coffee machine was. Are the NHS ones covered in graffiti? You didn't elaborate on the state of the machine but I'm guessing it was clean and working.
ReplyDeleteHope your sister mends quickly. I say leave the dog snot and mouse innards, let him know what life for you really is all about.
ReplyDeleteOnly dull men/women have immaculate homes!
ReplyDeleteA propos the NHS, I have two very sick friends, one in Scotland and one in England, who are receiving second-to-none treatment,care and after-care for their respective illnesses. I am one of those who has the opinion that we are very,very,very lucky to have the luxury of free healthcare in this country.
Don't give up, John, i'm sure your house will look cosy and inviting to your FIL. If your MIL can get prezzies from Albert, why can't your FIL?
ReplyDeleteI've heard that recovery from knee replacement is painful, although one man who had it done said the pain of the recovery was better than the pain he had before the operation. Astonished his docs with that statement.
I'm glad your sister's choosing private care has made a positive difference for her and for her siblings.
glad to hear your sister is on the mend. I hope your father-in-law has a good visit.
ReplyDeleteGill
Glad to hear your sister is better, John. Good luck with the FIL!
ReplyDeleteI hope your sister is back to her happy self in no time.
ReplyDeleteI so get where you're coming from. The kid's dad would be dead without the nhs and I love it more than any other british institution but when my mum (who takes exception to anything) had an operation and was able to go private through her work insurance, it was a great relief. It was so calm and well ordered and almost overstaffed.
ReplyDeleteYeah I so love the way any recently cleaned floor in my house immediately needs to be decorated with a pile of cat puke.
ReplyDeleteGlad your sister's doing well. Not a big fan of private health care but sometimes knowing your loved ones are comfortable and reassured when they're scared or anxious is much more important - as well as hopefully speeding up the recovery process.
hope your father in law is impressed with your waxing (furniture) and desnotting and you all have a great time.