Lamont D
Oracle
- Messages
- 17,903
- Type of diabetes
- Reactive hypoglycemia
- Treatment type
- I do not have diabetes
I have already posted the success of my treatment whilst in hospital last week.
I will now share the observations and experience on the ward.
I was pre-booked as an appointment into the 'diabetic ward' in my local hospital because of my condition. I arrived at 9.30 am. I was asked to wait in the room marked diabetic diagnosis. The seating was good and because I had to have regular bloods taken my stay was imperative. I was determined throughout my stay that I would see this through because my consultant was very enthusiastic that getting the right medication would improve my life and health.
The day dragged on with the promise of a bed. It was not until after visiting, despite the ward sisters efforts, that I was told my bed would be ready. Ten pm arrived and the nurse showed me into a bay with three other gentlemen. I began to relax, however the other patients were asleep. I got undressed and there was a smell of stagnant water. I climbed into bed and started reading reading my kindle (thank whoever invented this machine, I had already worn out my ipad). The smell persisted, so I waited for the nurse to return, I told her about the smell and after another two nurses started using there smell senses deemed that the smell was in the pillow and mattress. Replacements were ordered whilst in sat in the chair, the replacement mattress also had a noxious smell, so one of the nurses went to the next door ward and brought one back. It was after 11pm when I finally got in bed.
I found out the reason why the nurse was able to get a mattress. The hospital had closed the ward the week before the bank holiday. That's the reason why I couldn't get a bed.
The closed ward was a geriatric ward and most of them ended up on my ward. There was only six diabetic patients in a forty bed ward.
Over the first night I was in I hardly got any sleep, because of the constant disruption and the needs of my fellow inmates. One patient when awake was in constant demand of care because of Parkinson's, however, he was still able to escape twice, with the hospital security bringing him back, he was moved to a more secure room on my third day because the staff couldn't handle him and the other patients at the same time.There was a diabetic gentleman in my bay, I couldn't believe he was offered continually sugar in his tea, helpings of high GI foods for every meal and a bottle of orange juice sat on his table with sweets and chocolate on his cabinet. Because of his Alzheimer's he often said yes! When he was awake, he continually groaned about not feeling well. Surprise!
The pressure and demand of the front line nursing staff was ridiculous. It was a madhouse. The nurse patient ratio was totally unworkable, many times my fellow inmates were left with no care for periods whilst the staff were dealing with other patients on the ward. The sights and smells were indescribable.
Because I was low maintenance, my ability to move, walk and do other things relieved my boredom, but having to stay in this environment, certainly opened my eyes to the condition and the threat to our NHS. I cannot blame the ward staff, they work really hard in difficult circumstances, Where the NHS is going wrong is that the money spent is spent in the wrong places, you will hear in different conversations with staff where things are decided, but the overall wrong, that a manager has more staff than a ward of patients! How can that be right?
Back to my stay, finally the consultant was happy and my diagnosis deemed that I started taking new medication and that I start the next morning before my breakfast, you can see what's coming, woke up and time for brekkie, no tablets, I was advised to have a little and the staff would chase the pharmacist. Time for my mid morning snack, no tablets. By the way I should have been discharged by now! Again I was told to restrict my intake and that the pharmacist would here shortly. Another hour and I was getting frustrated, I had had enough, I wanted the comfort of my home and family. Another hour, my consultant arrived and asked me, (me?) why I was still there. He stormed out of my bay and tore a strip off the following entourage of juniors and pharmacist. The pharmacist tried to stand up for herself, claiming she was unaware of my departure, before my consultant was able to reply, I told her that regardless of wether I was going or not I required the tablets to eat, appropriately my lunch was served, (you can't write this stuff). However I was able to leave the hospital within the hour, I still had to wait for a porter (hospital policy), even though I am very capable to do most things including carrying bags and walking.
My Health has improved because of my stay in hospital. For example my blood pressure was the lowest I can ever remember. I am really grateful to my consultant and ward nurses. But I wouldn't recommend the hotel conditions of my stay. The stay reminded me of the early eighties, when patient care came last, just as it has in the Staffordshire hospitals allegedly recently. The Tories and previous governments have a lot to answer for in the demise of our healthcare.
If I have to go in again, I can't afford private care, I would ask for them to put me in a temporary coma, till I was discharged.
It's a good job I had family, friends and the staff and a couple of inmates Alf and George to make my stay more bearable.
I will now share the observations and experience on the ward.
I was pre-booked as an appointment into the 'diabetic ward' in my local hospital because of my condition. I arrived at 9.30 am. I was asked to wait in the room marked diabetic diagnosis. The seating was good and because I had to have regular bloods taken my stay was imperative. I was determined throughout my stay that I would see this through because my consultant was very enthusiastic that getting the right medication would improve my life and health.
The day dragged on with the promise of a bed. It was not until after visiting, despite the ward sisters efforts, that I was told my bed would be ready. Ten pm arrived and the nurse showed me into a bay with three other gentlemen. I began to relax, however the other patients were asleep. I got undressed and there was a smell of stagnant water. I climbed into bed and started reading reading my kindle (thank whoever invented this machine, I had already worn out my ipad). The smell persisted, so I waited for the nurse to return, I told her about the smell and after another two nurses started using there smell senses deemed that the smell was in the pillow and mattress. Replacements were ordered whilst in sat in the chair, the replacement mattress also had a noxious smell, so one of the nurses went to the next door ward and brought one back. It was after 11pm when I finally got in bed.
I found out the reason why the nurse was able to get a mattress. The hospital had closed the ward the week before the bank holiday. That's the reason why I couldn't get a bed.
The closed ward was a geriatric ward and most of them ended up on my ward. There was only six diabetic patients in a forty bed ward.
Over the first night I was in I hardly got any sleep, because of the constant disruption and the needs of my fellow inmates. One patient when awake was in constant demand of care because of Parkinson's, however, he was still able to escape twice, with the hospital security bringing him back, he was moved to a more secure room on my third day because the staff couldn't handle him and the other patients at the same time.There was a diabetic gentleman in my bay, I couldn't believe he was offered continually sugar in his tea, helpings of high GI foods for every meal and a bottle of orange juice sat on his table with sweets and chocolate on his cabinet. Because of his Alzheimer's he often said yes! When he was awake, he continually groaned about not feeling well. Surprise!
The pressure and demand of the front line nursing staff was ridiculous. It was a madhouse. The nurse patient ratio was totally unworkable, many times my fellow inmates were left with no care for periods whilst the staff were dealing with other patients on the ward. The sights and smells were indescribable.
Because I was low maintenance, my ability to move, walk and do other things relieved my boredom, but having to stay in this environment, certainly opened my eyes to the condition and the threat to our NHS. I cannot blame the ward staff, they work really hard in difficult circumstances, Where the NHS is going wrong is that the money spent is spent in the wrong places, you will hear in different conversations with staff where things are decided, but the overall wrong, that a manager has more staff than a ward of patients! How can that be right?
Back to my stay, finally the consultant was happy and my diagnosis deemed that I started taking new medication and that I start the next morning before my breakfast, you can see what's coming, woke up and time for brekkie, no tablets, I was advised to have a little and the staff would chase the pharmacist. Time for my mid morning snack, no tablets. By the way I should have been discharged by now! Again I was told to restrict my intake and that the pharmacist would here shortly. Another hour and I was getting frustrated, I had had enough, I wanted the comfort of my home and family. Another hour, my consultant arrived and asked me, (me?) why I was still there. He stormed out of my bay and tore a strip off the following entourage of juniors and pharmacist. The pharmacist tried to stand up for herself, claiming she was unaware of my departure, before my consultant was able to reply, I told her that regardless of wether I was going or not I required the tablets to eat, appropriately my lunch was served, (you can't write this stuff). However I was able to leave the hospital within the hour, I still had to wait for a porter (hospital policy), even though I am very capable to do most things including carrying bags and walking.
My Health has improved because of my stay in hospital. For example my blood pressure was the lowest I can ever remember. I am really grateful to my consultant and ward nurses. But I wouldn't recommend the hotel conditions of my stay. The stay reminded me of the early eighties, when patient care came last, just as it has in the Staffordshire hospitals allegedly recently. The Tories and previous governments have a lot to answer for in the demise of our healthcare.
If I have to go in again, I can't afford private care, I would ask for them to put me in a temporary coma, till I was discharged.
It's a good job I had family, friends and the staff and a couple of inmates Alf and George to make my stay more bearable.
