"Humanity and humility"

I had had a horrible experience this time last year, when, after my lovely consultant surgeon out an ilizarov external frame on my leg, I lost more than a third of my blood volume overnight. The registrar on call - who had fewer medical qualifications than me - refused to call a consultant and screamed at me when I tried to phone the on-call consultant. I had told them that the last time I lost so much blood I had had an anterior MI (heart attack) which left me with permanent heart failure - a life limiting and debilitating condition. I also told them I had chronic blood loss from my gut from being on blood thinners.  But they refused to give me any blood and poo-pooed the blood loss. My haemoglobin fell to low levels.

The next afternoon I finally received one unit of blood under a different team and despite asking the junior doctors for more, it was refused and I was sent home with haemoglobin levels still low. I was readmitted a week later as an emergency under the gastro team.

My own consultant was wonderful; he is conscientious, kind, gracious, patient, and clinically brilliant.  Nevertheless, when a year later I had to have the frame removed under GA, I was nervous because I feared i would have another massive haemorrhage. Either that or a clot, because of stopping my blood thinner.

However, everything has been a delight. The day surgery staff who admitted me were kind and thoughtful. My anaesthetist and the anaesthetic nurse were excellent and diligent. My surgeon and his specialist nurse were fantastic. I went to my own single room on the ward so there was peace and quiet with my door shut and ear plugs in. The nursing staff and nursing assistants were sweet, caring, absolutely wonderful. The shower was powerful and i felt safe on the shower chair. Everyone has been so compassionate and warm, and so good at their jobs. I’m incredibly grateful. 

I believe last year’s incident was down to a junior doctor out of their depth not wanting to lose face, who couldn’t bear to admit that their medically trained patient knew more than them about blood loss. That is such a bad attitude. I’m sure they know infinitely more than me in their own specialism. Everyone in the health care system has their own area of expertise.

This admission, things have been amazing because everyone looking after me had humanity and humility. Both are essential for working in health care. No one starts off knowing everything. We all have to ask for help at some time. That’s how we learn.

The team members this admission collaborated like a dream. Even the staff taking the meal orders and the tea ladies were friendly. It created a nurturing atmosphere that made for world class care. Thank you. 🙏