Panels Or Panorama?

I got a call this morning from the Discharge Nurse saying The Mother was fit to be moved out of the Infirmary, maybe tomorrow.

"Where to?" I wondered.

"Alston!" I was told!

"ALSTON??????"

"Well, yes, Penrith hospital has no beds and the care home can't take her back because of her immobility."

I protested a bit as the care home has residents with worse mobility than The Mother, it was the oxygen they said they couldn't deal with. The nurse said she would check, particularly as I mentioned oxygen.

By the time I got to the ward this afternoon, the care home had agreed to carry out a new assessment along with social services and by the time I left the ward the doctor had said they were willing to keep her at Carlisle until next week hoping for either a bed in Penrith or a care home decision.

That will be far better than moving her temporarily to such a remote location without a plan in place for her permanent care.

She is now off O2 and is looking very well and the particular registrar on duty today hadn't "seen" Mum for a week or two and was astounded by her recovery. Against all odds and expectations she is fit enough to leave.

The 14 miles extra involved in a daily journey to Alston may not sound much but, it is a town situated in the Pennines with a narrow, minor road leading up to it with steep hills and hairpin bends so unlike the straight, flat, quiet road I use at present.

I'd rather see this view of these glass panels every day for a few more days than an unknown number of days seeing a beautiful panorama from a mountain top! If she is to go to Alston there is just no telling when a more suitable place for her care would be found.

Thanks for all your support and well wishes over this very difficult month.