Waiting for transport

Mr T was moved to the Complex Care ward yesterday evening and I was not impressed.  The porter was lovely but managed to drop the antibiotics pump off the back of the wheelchair and then get the catheter tube caught in the wheels!  Then when we got to the ward the receptionist got ratty.  The ITU had been phoned to say Mr T's bed was ready except there was still someone in it.  They then proceeded to argue in front if us (although to fair the ITU nurse very calmly stood her ground).  They decided to move someone who was waiting to be collected to the waiting room and put Mr T in there.  Not until it's been cleaned I told them!  What they said?  I repeated he wasn't going into that room until it had been properly cleaned, that he had sepsis and should not be exposed to any infection risk that could be avoided.  

He was still very confused and didn't know where he was, and had been sleeping all day.  I had to leave before the night crew started so I rang up later and they sounded very disinterested.  I explained to them that he was severely sight impaired, has some difficulty hearing and understanding accents, so they needed to speak directly to him, calmly and not start talking fast with raised voices if he didn't understand them.  Also that should he deteriorate during the night then they were to call me regardless of the time.

Anyhow this morning he was much better.  I was able to help him have a shower and clean his teeth, and then the physio took him for a very short walk.  That wiped him out for the rest of the day.

The doctors had asked him some questions this morning that he couldn't answer so one of them came back to see us just after lunch.  I was able to tell them the history (it seems the paper records that are supposed to be electronic have some gaps?).  Anyhow he said what I told him was very useful as it means they know the internal physiology is complex.  Shortly after that he was asked if he eaten lunch (only a few mouthfuls), because they wanted to do an MRI scan.  So a four hour wait and then he was taken for his scan.  I was able to come with him, which helps both him and the staff.  He was not so good as the day wore on as his arthritis seems to have flared up and all his joints have gone very stiff.

While this was going on he was getting his antibiotics and I asked why they were being done differently to ITU.  Later the pharmacist came in to explain.  She said she'd had to look it up and had learnt something herself!  It is to do with the ITU needing to administer them in a way to prevent resistance.  Past experience has taught me not to take everything at face value, and the nurse who came to take blood said that was absolutely right, and when her Dad had been in the hospital she could see things that weren't being done as they should be.  Just keeping them on their toes!

After the scan it was a bit of a wait for the porters to take him back to the ward, and a quick dash for me to get my bus.  The timetable has changed and if I miss the 17:30 bus the next direct bus home isn't until 19:40.  In between three buses only go to Aztec West and from there I can get another bus.  The first bus was 2 minutes late and lost a bit more time so I missed my connecting bus by a couple of minutes.  So almost 30 minutes to wait for the next one!

My sister came to see me at the hospital today, and we had lunch.  I feel like an interloper in the staff restaurant and so it was nice to have someone to talk to!  She was telling me about my nieces and it was nice to catch up after so long, and just to have a conversation!