Yesterday I had a 1430hrs chemotherapy appointment. When we got there I was told that they were running an hour and a half late. We decided we would go down to the hospital cafe and waste an hour there.
Two coffees and two cakes and eleven pound sterling lighter we got back up to the outer ward waiting area with about half an hour before the promised delayed time. At 1600hrs I wandered into the inner waiting area and the girl in reception told me to take a seat in a small waiting area just opposite reception.
And there I waited until 1820hrs. A couple of times I reminded them that I was still there and hadn't been seen but it was a long time to wait. When you are already very fatigued and pretty ill three and three quarter hours is a long time to wait to receive treatment that is going to make you feel even more fatigued and even more ill......
All the staff on the ward are working flat out but they are currently operating with at least six members of staff short. Apparently more staff have been recruited but it takes over six months for them to be fully trained..... It looks like there won't be an improvement for sometime to come...
The campsite was busy during the first few weeks of October but it has now gone into winter mode with just the odd one or two visitors every now and again. They are usually campervan campers they stay for a couple of nights and then they are off again......
90+ years old Mike is preparing to head off down to Spain for three months but unlike previous years when he towed his small Hobby caravan down through France this year he is planning on taking the Ferry down to Northern Spain and save time and hassle. ....
We are expecting Debbie and Mark to arrive back on site from Italy anytime soon. They always overwinter here because where their property is in Italy the winters are worse than here plus they have family in the area here.
I now have a two week break from the Chemotherapy before it all starts over again.......
4 comments:
Thats a long wait Trevor. I had to be readmitted because of cellulitis and as it was via A & E the cancer clinic phoning ahead but it took 6 hours for a doctor to see me. They were then very apologetic as something had obviously gone wrong. Everyone in the NHS is under pressure and procedures dont always get followed.
I take my hat off to your friend Mike, 90+ what an inspiration.
@Dave
Every time I have had to go to A&E it has taken hours to get through the system. I'm sorry to hear that you had to be readmitted hope they've got on top of the cellulitis now. I have been told that because I am a chemo patient currently under active treatment there is no need for me to go through A&E as I can be admitted direct to the ward so that is reassuring to know.
Yes Mike is a bit of a legend....he was even knocked of his e-bike a few months ago and ended up in hospital for about three weeks. He is determined to live his life to the max.....
Hi Trevor your neighbor Mike sounds like a legend.
Sorry to hear you have to wait do long every time you visit hospital. Just keep strong mate it's an awful long road ahead of you just keep slugging away mate God Bless JD
@ND
The NHS staff are all working under huge pressure but it isn't their fault that there are long delays.
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