"Fate can be cruel and kind"

I first offer my words of thanks as a poem:

Our National Health Treasure

Its just a service, its what our taxes pay for

Just taken for granted

Haunted not by concern

As I’m not sick, I’m too busy and well

But what do we know of it

They rarely tell

Its just a token, a political pawn

Choked of its funding

Running on good will

But the service is ailing, institutional pain

But what do we know of it

They rarely complain

It’s not just a job, barely money to live

The shifts are a struggle 

They muddle through change

Lives left snatching shared moments away

But what do we know of it

They’ll rarely say

Its just been my saviour, the Samaritan to me

At my need it's there

To care, to comfort me

An orchestra of healing, kindness, good will

So now I know of it

And think of it well 

My story starts as a fit 58 year old cycling to work one Monday morning. I had been feeling a bit ill but thought this an after effect of drinking cider on the sunny Sunday afternoon at the cider shack! After getting to work I quickly felt very ill, said farewell, got to my bike and was then sick. I managed to cycle home where I rapidly declined now shacking and in considerable pain - this was no delayed hangover! Fate had it that my lovely wife was home so she called 111 and, while waiting for their assessment, also called 999 as she could see I was deteriorating. Within minutes a fast response medic was here closely followed by the ambulance team. This must be one of the huge benefits of living in Taunton! I can’t recall much of what transpired after this, other than the professional buzz of activity, the ripping sounds of Velcro and the moments of cold as I transferred to an ambulance!

 

I arrive at Musgrove Park and I was immediately examined and later dispatched for a CAT scan. Soon after I am signing forms consenting to the risks and outcomes of surgery. By 4pm I was on an operating table oblivious to the surgical correction and removal of a section of knotted dead small intestine. I wake from a lovely dream sleep to the hustle and bustle of ICU where I remain under the care of several lovely nurses for a couple of nights. I enquire on their lives, observe their busy shifts and find the experience humbling when I think how they cope with difficult changing routines yet are still able to give so much care and patience to me. How different to my grumpy impatience that results from a few late nights! I eventually move on to the luxury Room 23 of the Montecute Ward where I spend time recovering for a further five nights.

 

The medical and support staff I met on this ward were all professional and caring. I formed a particular bond with Marilyn (from the Philippines). I appreciate the daily surgical team rounds and learn new things about my medical situation on each visit. I found Mr Eyre-Brook to be a very kind and encouraging consultant that greatly added to my feeling of safety and expectation for a successful recovery. The pain team prove effective and I am rarely in any discomfort. I was very grateful to one of the team who finally sorted the problem with the patient controlled Ivac syringe pump. This was the second unit I had had that would give an occlusion alarm with every attempt to self administer pain relief. This had caused some consternation with other medical staff who checked lines and tried different cannulas without success. The outcome of this repeated alarm sound was to limit my use of this pain control in ICU due to the inconvenience it would cause staff and other patients nearby. The solution was found to be achieved by an increase to the back pressure alarm setting but this required a setup access code so was not a simple obvious fix!

 

The flexible and extended visiting hours in my ‘4Star private ward’ gave plenty of chance for friends to fit in visits when convenient, but I must admit I felt a little guilty over the extortionate parking charges I now know they had to pay! While I count myself lucky to have visitors there was one time I longed for an uninterrupted snooze! However I guess it is hard to strike a balance between offering the flexibility of visiting, with the benefits this brings from experiencing the good will of friends, and yet provide the patient with the moment of certain peace whenever this is unpredictably needed. Certainly the provision of free internet WiFi gave me a chance to have some friends check on my availability for a visit via WhatsApp and possibly the hospital might consider offering some guidance on ways patients and visitors might liaise with each other. I’m sure the day will come when a virtual visiting assistant can provide a realtime indication of patient ‘visiting stamina’! Finally I found the food choices were good for me as a vegetarian and I only had one menu mixup. Sadly the availability of Marmite soldiers was discovered too late in my view but I was grateful that my last lunch was a tasty chickpea curry - I then knew I was truly well and on the road to full recovery!