"Discharge"

My partner has been admitted with an infection and high temperature. He has a chronic progressive lung disease. The care from GP, paramedics and admission has been excellent. Although the medical assessment unit didn’t understand pulmonary fibrosis and were treating it as COPD they were lovely. They were stressed and busy and doing their best but making some mistakes. Once on ward 7 the staff understood the disease and the treatment was excellent. All the staff on ward 7 have been lovely, helpful and caring.

My partner was treated with IV antibiotics and high steroids and had lots of tests. He is coming home tomorrow which is great. However no one has asked me as his partner whether I can manage what will now be 24/7 care. I know it will be hard to get him up the stairs, he will need help with a shower, and doesn’t have energy for anything etc. It would have been nice if the input required from me was acknowledged.

The food in the hospital is very poor. We try to ensure a healthy diet for both of us, with lots of vegetables and fruit. I understand the food is shipped in frozen from Wales and reheated. It looks awful and tastes awful.

Although there are a couple of criticisms above I do think the NHS is amazing and we are lucky to have it. I hope the criticism is taken constructively as my partner didn’t starve and I will manage when he gets home. Thank you for keeping my partner alive.