To walk out ? Not fair on the nhs ?

[Mulleryogurt]

Hi mumsnet,

I don’t post on here , just look for advice for my nephews but I thought I’d give this a go.

Im I’m hospital , I had a procedure this afternoon and because I live alone , had to stay in as there was no one to stay with me.

I want to walk out . I feel so bad , this bed could be given to someone else .
I feel absolutely fine and I’m just fed up. I haven’t eaten in over 48hrs because I had no food at home yesterday and I couldn’t eat for the procedure. I’m so hungry but no one knows if I’m allowed to eat or not now . I’d rather go home and be hungry . I’m also very emotional and I’m not sure why . I haven’t got anything to eat at home but at least I’ll be in my own space .

is it unfair to self discharge? Will they even let me since they’ve made me stay in ?

Thank you . Discharged now . I don’t get benefits , to be honest it’s not something I have ever looked into.

finally got clarity on what I can eat too but got out before the breakfast trolly ,
I will look at all the links and advice x thank you everyone

If there are any Sikh temples in your vicinity they will feed you, no questions asked.

There isn’t but I’m sure I’ll sort something out . At least I’ve got a roof over my head

Look up on Entitledto or some of the other websites. If you are on so little money then you must be entitled to something.

I know a few people who supplement their income waiting tables at big events/weddings/ football club restaurant Money is only minimum wage but it is long hours so can add up.

Fwiw Dd was in hospital 3 full days without food because no one knew if she was allowed food. I travelled 300 miles to get food to her but was told she couldn’t have any as they didn’t know if she was allowed food.

She became so ill through lack of food she discharged herself just to get better.

OP, I hope you are ok today.

Go home and eat your cheese and anything else you have.

You we’re probably so emotional because you were ‘hangry’.

You know full well that it takes more than a roof over your head to keep you well and healthy and that you simply cannot manage without food.

Hopefully in the security of your home you can now look seriously at taking care of yourself.

Any friends who would make you a sandwich?

Call the hospital, ask to talk to the discharge team, tell them you didn’t get breakfast, the nursing staff didn’t give you food because they didn’t know your status and have no food or money and have not now eaten for 60 hours.They may be able to get the social worker to issue an emergency payment.

Call Social Services / Adult services at your council. tell them the same thing and ask how you can eat for the next few days.

How do you usually manage for money? Is money coming into your account?

All this will take energy. Pursuing statutory agencies is exhausting, but if you have no way of getting fed… well, it will get worse.

Do you care about yourself? You are sounding as if you don’t, much. You are important! You deserve to get better and have enough food, as all of us do.

What general area are you in? Can one of us help track down any support that might be out there?

Also @Mulleryogurt, if you are the only adult living in your home do ensure, if you've not done so yet, that you are claiming your 25% council tax single occupier discount. That amount would make a contribution to your food bill. 🌹

Wow - that sounds so distressing. 🌹

Thank you .

that’s awful , I hope your daughter made a full recovery @Kennykenkencat .

I had no idea about the council tax discount , that’s another thing I’ll sort out .
i don’t have any friends and no one nearby. I do have money coming in , in two weeks but for 6 hours work. I care about myself in the sense I’ll always get up , get showered and dressed , just the daily things and go to work when I’m due in. In other ways , no . I’m not really fussed to be honest . If I had it my way , I wouldn’t be here .

@Mulleryogurt would you mind sharing what area you’re in? Maybe someone local could make you some lunch and bring it by?

If this happens again you can tell your nurse and she can arrange for you to have a food parcel to take home, we give bread, a sandwich,crisps, butter, jam, cheese, biscuits, milk, cereals and toilet roll which helps get people theough a day.

I’d honestly be too embarrassed to ask a nurse and wouldn’t be able to accept anything from someone local . With the cost of living going up , everyone is struggling . I will manage .

Get yourself the Olio app. Supermarkets give their food at the end of the day. It’s free and you collect from people local to you. If you have no other access to food it’s better than nothing. You’re likely to get bread/pastries fruit/veg and sandwiches. Please do speak to someone about your situation- people are willing and able to help. Feel better soon.

Dont worry, the nurses dont pay for it themselves, the food is in the ward kitchen and costs very little, we also give this to elderly people who are going home and have no food in and cannot get to the shops. We have been doing this for years now.

Thank you, I’ll download the app.

I’m just too embarrassed to admit I’m struggling.

OP, are you able to say roughly where you are so that people can give more appropriate advice on what help might be available locally?

The Olio app is a great idea. People don’t offer stuff there out of ‘charity’ they offer it because they can’t stand waste, on an ethical / environmental level.

Yes, many people are struggling, but not everyone. We live in a (mostly) civilised society with a welfare system that belongs to all of us for the greater benefit of the whole community.

You know your mental health issues, I don’t, but I am pretty sure that you would feel better physically and mentally with basic entitlements that enable you to eat.

I can tell you as a stranger in your screen that I want you to be here, and that as a taxpayer I really really want you to have the support you deserve.

Excellent that you can make a Council Tax discount claim. On 6 hours work you are also entitled to other benefits. That’s what they are there for.

Your grit and independence will serve you well, but maybe even better with a bit of support.

You have not one thing to be embarrassed about.

Yes I forgot to say it’s to reduce food waste and an environmental/ethical exercise. Please do claim for everything you can. There is absolutely no reason to feel embarrassed at all. We all pay into the system to support us when we cannot support ourselves. It’s what it’s there for. I also don’t know your background, but once you’re nourished and rested it’ll be a better place to start building yourself from. Take care

Thank you . I will look into what I can claim , I just feel so bad as I can work with reasonable adjustments , I just can’t find anywhere right now.

Citizens advice wasn’t really helpful the other day , said I need to claim certain benefits in order to get some types of help but never advised further on what I could claim.

I’ve had a social worker visit before but said they couldn’t help as I keep my place tidy , I was washed and dressed myself and I can go out when needed independently . Which is why I don’t really feel like I can reach out for help because I am independent.

ive had something to drink now so I feel a bit better . I just feel so alone, no one would notice if I wasn’t here .

I do some work for a local food bank and I can tell you that you are most unlikely to be turned away if you turn up without a voucher and explain your situation. I hope you are feeling better soon.

benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/survey/1/db8b2a7e-c8c0-427e-b2ee-c6a68e5aa700

Hoping the link works but if you enter your circumstances into the benefits calculator above it should give you some indication of what you are entitled to claim 🙂

Thank you . I will look into what I can claim , I just feel so bad as I can work with reasonable adjustments , I just can’t find anywhere right now.

@Mulleryogurt

But that's exactly why the welfare system is there - to help you whilst you get back on your feet.

If you do find more work in the future, then great, but right now you should be making use of the help that's waiting for you, so please do.

I second this. Please don't be embarrassed to accept the help which is out there, OP. It's there for those who need it and who are, for whatever reason, falling through the net.

I feel that, if you were in the position to do so, you'd help someone else. This time, that person is you. 🌹

I'm a taxpayer and not on any benefits. I pay tax because the benefits need to be there for people who need them - claim them!
Maybe one day I'll need them again too and maybe you'll be back on your feet by then and funding mine, that's how the whole thing is supposed to work :)