Observations As A Hospital Patient - Wards Are Just Full Of Lonely Elderly People Refusing To Go Home.

[Smowball]

Have been in hospital since Monday morning, have moved ward 4 times, and I am shocked at how many patients do NOT need to be in here, when the hosp is desperate for the bed.(and I'm asking every day to go home, but tomorrow looks hopeful)And I'm not being ***, honestly.

For example, at this current time I am in a ward with 3 elderly ladies(I'm like the baby lol). The one to my right I have silently christened Madge(from the tv show BENIDORM) because she is skinny, tanned, has blonde hair piled up on her head, and is quite crude. She is 83 & sharp as a razor. Sits in bed tapping on her  IPhone all day. Originally had some breathing issue but all her sats are perfect now. But..... she does not want to go home. She has admitted to the other ladies that she lives alone and hates it. Even tho she has neighbours, daughters who visit every day, etc etc, but she clearly likes being in here.....talking to anyone and everyone non stop. So yesterday the doctors came round & said she could be discharged. Well, it had to be seen to be believed - she said if they discharged her she would throw herself out of the window! (It only opens 2 inches so not possible but she didn't know that). She said I am NOT going home, I am ill,and then went into an Oscar-worthy performance of chest pains, feeling faint, followed by she decided she was having a heart attack. Long story short, they decided to keep her in till Monday and reassess. As soon as they had left the ward she hopped out of bed, gets on her ifone, rings someone and says I'm here for another few days! As though she's at a holiday camp. 
I don't know the answer, but I suspect there are many like her in here. 
Anyway, I've been off oxygen for 24 hours, sats still borderline acceptable. So today they're seeing if I can go all day with no nebuliser and if I can they cud let me home in the morning. (Have everything crossed, as I can't cope with another Madge day!!)

Wish me luck!! xx

 

 

 

[brainiac]

I do wish you luck, and a speedy full recovery.

I speak as someone who has never been in a hospital overnight - I think I'd struggle.

[Rosetta]

Staff have to have the patience of Job to deal with the likes of Madge.

Glad to see you are on the mend Smow and will keep my fingers crossed you will be home soon and in your own bed

[ubasses]

Oh god that sounds awful, no wonder you can't wait to get out.  Fingers crossed for an exit tomorrow, and glad you are are on the road to recovery.  I have been lucky, only had to stay in hospital more than a day twice and both times got a room to myself.  Last time consultant asked me if I would like to go home that afternoon (Fri) or stay until Monday, I was on the phone before he even left the room.

Let's hope that the next post you start will be the Good morning one.

[calmck]

When I was nursing in the 60s the bigLondon hospitals had convalescent homes. Ours was in Clacton. It was staffed by a ward sister and pre nursing students, those wanting to train as nurses but not old enough. Also each ward took turns having empty beds blocked to accept emergency admissions. There was minimal patients kept on stretchers

[davebro3]

I was in the ozzy for 6 weeks after an accident. Apart from the obvious pain & suffering I really didn't mind too much being there. In my ward there were a couple who were on the final lap, the others didn't want to be in long term. 

My sympathies with your situation - breathing difficulties are very stressful.

[Smowball]

Hello braniac - wow, that's impressive never been in overnight! And yep it's no fun - you certainly don't get any sleep in here what with med rounds/ obs, admissions etc all at all hours of the night...... 

Hi Rosetta - I agree, the staff must have the patience of a saint!! I certainly couldn't do it. Madge has now pushed her table(the one that all bed have to put water on, meals etc) far too hard to move it,the tray that had been put on it with her dinner on has slid off abruptly straight onto the floor. Plate is smashed and food is everywhere! Nurse has heard & come in, to which Madge has said I don't know what happened, it just fell off......

Going to be a long afternoon...

[Lie-in King]

She sounds quite lovely, does Marge! 

I've had 2 6-day stays for different things & I'm glad to say neither was too fraught.

I hope you're home & recuperating soon, Smow x

[brainiac]

calmck makes a good point: convalescent homes/hospitals don't seem to exist any more.  My mum nearly died of a burst appendix when I was twelve and was treated in the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow, followed by a lengthy stay in a convalescent hospital in Mearnskirk, no longer there. 

[Smowball]

I hadn't thought about the lack of convalescence homes -  never really needed to. They've said to Madge that they are now trying to put carers in place for when she gets home, one in morn and one in evening, but that she will have to pay for them. But in all fairness she doesn't need them - they will come in and help her with breakfast/ dinner etc, which she doesn't need at all. 

[237SJ]

They should tell Madge that as she has said she is suicidal, they are going to take her to the psychiatric ward.  She'll soon go home then!  Hope you feel better soon.

[Hazlinny]

Hi Smow:  Hope tomorrow will be home day for you.x  I was in a medical assessment ward on a blood pressure monitor and things went like a fair all day.  A lovely girl(rather inebriated) was put in bed next to me .. I immediately christened her Snow White.  After being connected to various tubes, she then commenced to try to undo them so rest of my day was spent shouting "Nurse" to attract the attention of the busy staff.  When Night staff came on, I was amused when the Sister told me I would be going home later (?11 pm) as they needed the bed but she was sad as Day staff had told her how useful I had been alterting staff to Snow White - they actually sent me home by taxi (some 35 miles) - seemed to be no problem for the NHS!!  You certainly get your eyes opened lying in a hospital bed!

[Peter Pedant]

good luck

I dx'd myself at 8 pm - post transfusion. Idea of overnight.....

good luck c the O2

[Smowball]

Nurse just came round and told Madge that careers  have been arranged and that she can go home this afternoon now. 
"No no no!! There is nobody to pick me up! They are all at a family party.". We will pay for transport. " No good, I don't have my house keys!My daughter has them". Even tho we know that her keys are here in her handbag!. Ok, they relent,we will arrange it for tomorrow at 9am. "No no no, far too early - I won't be ready till gone lunchtime to go!". By this time the woman opposite is in hysterics and says I just can't believe your nerve!......Madge then rings her daughter and says she is being "thrown out"!! 

[Cloverjo]

Oh, Lord. There's always one.
I remember my granny in hospital with heart problems. She pointed to the woman in the opposite bed and said "Shoot me if I get like her." 

[Smowball]

*carers

[ladybirder]

Brilliant thread Smow;-)). Thank you.  xx

You could write a book when you get home.

[Smowball]

LOL @ LB - how funny as I messaged a friend earlier and said I could write a blog about life in here!! 🤣

[Patsy33]

Glad you're getting better, Smow. What a carry on! You dint get any rest in hospital do you? 😄 Hooe you can come out tomorrow x

[Arksided]

She seems a 'right un' as we'd say in Yorkshire. Since Mum brought me home I've never stayed overnight in hospital (touched wood) hope you can escape  knowing you have their blessing. Good luck Xx 🤞

[Thisoldbird]

Thanks for making me laugh..

Poor Madge..love, they are throwing  me out!! 

Attention seeker big time. 

I've had a few spells in hospitals and come across a few that don't want to go home. 

My husband was in 7 weeks last time. I visited every day. Boy that was an eye opener. Cups of tea thrown at a nurse, a chair apparently in the middle of the night.  Verbal abuse from fed up patients to other patients and staff. 

I get the loneliness, but rather that than spend it on a hospital ward. 

 

Hope you get home  tomorrow.  🏡