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Original poster

things going downhill fast, awaiting emergency doctor.

360 replies

onlyjoking9329 · 21/10/2007 12:47

Steve has got much worse since yesterday morning. he was sick six times and he is the same today, he has a lot of swelling around his head and eye
i phoned the docs and got thou to NHS direct.
they asked if steve would go into hospital, had to say no as he wants to stay at home.
just need to get the swelling, pain & sickness sorted out.
the doctor will be here within an hour

OP posts:
wrinklytum · 21/10/2007 21:46

I completely agree.It is so frustrating.I am currently on both sides of the fence,as it were,as dp is poorly with a newly diagnosed chronic condition,and on a ward where the qualified staffing ratio is currently 2:31!!!In my job planning complex discharges,i.e ones where people need a large care package is a nightmare and there are huge gaps.It is really maddening as we are talking about peoples lives here,and yet,as you say the Government spends millions on defence.Then in Kent scores of people are dying of a bug that could be controlled if effective hygiene and staffing was put in place.The NHS is falling to bits.And poor OJs hubby has spent a day throwing up.Poor man.For want of some ondansetron,which,in the great scheme of things is not THAT expensive.Grrrrr.Rant over.

minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 21:51

Money should not come into it. Drugs for seriously ill people should be readily available regardless of the cost. It makes me so angry because we are allowing people to come and live in this country of ours, live off us, claim every benefit under the sun etc etc and yet there are people like OJ's partner who are extremely ill and is not receiving the drugs he so desperately needs because of the cost. For gods sake what is the country coming to?

Original poster
onlyjoking9329 · 21/10/2007 21:53

steve has spent two days being sick, there seems to be some gaps in services, the radiotherapy clinic steve goes to mon-fri have a direct phone number but that is only mon-fri 8-6
the macmillan office is only open mon- fri
we were told any problems out of hours phone our gp, i did this but they put the call throu to NHS direct which means wait age to be dealt with

OP posts:
minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 21:56

NHS direct....mmmm....I've rung them on the odd occasion (normally when I had problems with my youngest dd who was a sick baby) and by the time they rung me back she was either in a&e or asleep!

Again madness re opening times for Macmillan etc....how helpful is that? Not. It makes it sound as though you can only be ill and need their help providing its between Monday and Friday!

Original poster
onlyjoking9329 · 21/10/2007 21:58

steve has alwayds been rubbish at organizing so stands to reason he would be poorly out of hours

OP posts:
tibni · 21/10/2007 22:00

So wrong that you are having to fight for Steves care.

Hope he (and you) get a good nights sleep

CaptainCaveman · 21/10/2007 22:02

OJ are you in Notts? Because the mac nurses DO have 24 hour cover, even if only by telephone but at least you're getting the best advice.
Duty doc seems to know what he's on about though.
Praying for you and your family OJ, as I know are the rest of the biblebashers thread! (and many many others besides).
How's steve doing now?

minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 22:02

Oh bless...you've still got your sense of humour though! xxxx

I don't mean to get on my soap box but time is precious with you and Steve and funding should not be an issue here. xx

wrinklytum · 21/10/2007 22:03

Hmm,a difficult one!!Without "Immigration" then there would be NO NHS!!!I work with some fab Filipino nurses,without whom our hospital would not run,at all.It is not that simplistic.I do agree,though that people with cancer should not have their drugs budget rationed,and fight for getting Herceptin,for instance.I can only reiterate that most doctors DO have their patients interests at heart,well those I work with do.It is like the boy putting his finger in the hole in the dam though.Working in the NHS is constant "crisis management".You cannot do your job properly at all.It is so sad and demoralising,as most at the front line want to do it within the cumbersome,target orientated beauracracy.Hope you are OK,OJ.

Original poster
onlyjoking9329 · 21/10/2007 22:03

the battles are very tiring but steve is worth the battle.
i have my own battledress i never leave home without it

OP posts:
CaptainCaveman · 21/10/2007 22:04

Plus if you are in NOtts, duty docs have a system of being notified of poorly patients, particularly if they don't want to go to hospital. The GP or DN complete the notification.

minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 22:05

wrinklytum...so if we didn't have the Fillipino nurses = no NHS?

moljam · 21/10/2007 22:06

only joking,glad hes stopped being sick,you really do sound amazing.

minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 22:06

I realise the Fillipino's do a great job but surely the NHS isn't that reliant on them? .... this gets worse.

Original poster
onlyjoking9329 · 21/10/2007 22:09

yes we are in notts, the NHS direct nurse was lovely and did put us at top of the list to be seem but was still almost three hours before we saw the doctor.
i know the Mac nurses work weekends as our first vist was on a sunday but we only have an office number which has an answerphone.

OP posts:
wrinklytum · 21/10/2007 22:09

In our hospital probably not!!!!There was a huge recruitment drive 5 years ago as the jobs could not be filled!

wrinklytum · 21/10/2007 22:10

PS it doesn't get worse,as my filipino colleague has recently been promoted and is the best caring person I know

pointydog · 21/10/2007 22:11

wishing you a peaceful evening

minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 22:14

The lady I cared for had a carer who was Polish - she was lovely and so caring - she came to work here to learn the lingo and said the money was good (?). Only problem was the language barrier - neither could understand each other and where my lady was so ill the frustation was immense.

minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 22:14

sorry....frustration.....!

wrinklytum · 21/10/2007 22:17

My colleague speaks perfect English and is a very caring person.Anyway.I wish you and OJ a peaceful night xxx

Original poster
onlyjoking9329 · 21/10/2007 22:17

what job did you do MALO?
steve has MS too he doesn't do things by halves does he

OP posts:
minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 22:21

I work for a local organisation that is run by Social Services whereby we go out and help those who are ill/infirm/elderly - we do anything that enables them to remain independent and stay in their own homes. I look after a blind lady who is 96, a lady with MS in her 80s, another lady with breathing difficulty in her 80s, a lady who has diabetes and is blind in her late 80s and a lady who is simply old!

I cook, clean, wash, shop, do gardening, lifts to and from hospital and Dr appt, get prescriptions etc etc....anything that means they can remain at home, in their own environment and not have to go into residential care.

Original poster
onlyjoking9329 · 21/10/2007 22:29

a bit like a home help then?
i was a social worker for many years until i did my back in, i did some work with the elderly but mostly worked with children and familys

OP posts:
minesalargeone · 21/10/2007 22:37

Yes you could say I'm a home help although my official title is 'Handy Helper' !!!!! Wey hey!!!!

We do just about anything and everything if it means someone can stay at home. Can't say I blame them when you have so many super-bugs in care homes and hospitals.