Well here we are three weeks on from 'the fall'. I have not taken any painkillers since yesterday morning and whilst I can feel the hip a bit more I will try and maintain the 'no painkillers' standard if at all possible. Did a lot of Physio exercises yesterday and I think it is the results of that I can feel this morning which I suppose is to be expected.
I enjoyed my little outing in the self-propelled wheelchair yesterday so I may go to the downstairs lounge later this morning for a little treat; that will, I hope, boost my confidence for the trip to Stoke Bruerne tomorrow. Slightly anxious about the visit to Stoke Bruerne only because I am not sure of my stamina and I feel I may flag easily after so long in a warm hospital. The only way to find out is to do it and see what happens.
Last night was The Friends of The Canal Museum AGM and the first one I have missed since living in Stoke Bruerne. The chairman, David Blagrove, also missed the AGM as sadly he, like me, is resident in NGH. I do hope things went well and that my friend, Lorna, who is vice-chairman, had a trouble-free evening.
Amanda's visit to me yesterday was on behalf of Matron Naomi Walters but that wasn't a made clear. I know I shouldn't be but I am still anxious about the short-term future after 14-December and the possibility of being sent outside Northampton for specialist care. It all revolves around being outside my sphere of friends and the ability of them to visit and for people to wash my clothes etc. as the NHS don't (understandable) but to expect friends to travel up to 60 miles round trip to visit and help keep me in clean knickers for an indeterminate period does make me anxious. I find my feelings are all over the place at the moment and that's just down to lack of clarity and the knowledge that, with almost complete certainty, home is not a viable option for some time. I shall keep doing the Physio exercises in the hope that may help tip the balance towards being allowed home.
A lovely, and unexpected, visit from Bill Mann this afternoon just back from harvesting olives on his small holding in southern Italy. Thank you Bill.
After Bill left my friend Sue sent me an SMS message suggesting I make contact with Age UK to,ask about help (oh how I hate having to ask for help). However I did and it seems from talking to them that NGH must:
None of that has been done in any professional way at all (and only in fits and starts when I have asked) in the time I have been here. I do understand they are under pressure with the volume of patients (customers) they have but there comes a time when they must front up and talk to me. I am starting to get to the stage when I will refuse to do anything unless I have someone of my choosing with me at any discussions.
This evening Vicky popped in and we had a lovely long chat covering a huge range of subjects - Vicky mentioned that she wondered if the reason I have felt a bit down on some days is attributable to the Vitamin D deficiency identified (Vicky called it the 'happy vitamin) for which the prescription on my notes seems to have gone west. The nursing staff have promised to follow up with this on Monday.
It seems that the Vitamin D supplement asked for by Dr Naz (the Consultant Geriatric doctor) earlier in the week has not been 'written up' so despite me thinking I was receiving it I have not been. Being a weekend nothing can be done until Monday - this should be a seven day a week NHS and not a five day a week NHS. I do understand Jonathan Hunt's view on this.
Amanda's visit to me yesterday was on behalf of Matron Naomi Walters but that wasn't a made clear. I know I shouldn't be but I am still anxious about the short-term future after 14-December and the possibility of being sent outside Northampton for specialist care. It all revolves around being outside my sphere of friends and the ability of them to visit and for people to wash my clothes etc. as the NHS don't (understandable) but to expect friends to travel up to 60 miles round trip to visit and help keep me in clean knickers for an indeterminate period does make me anxious. I find my feelings are all over the place at the moment and that's just down to lack of clarity and the knowledge that, with almost complete certainty, home is not a viable option for some time. I shall keep doing the Physio exercises in the hope that may help tip the balance towards being allowed home.
A lovely, and unexpected, visit from Bill Mann this afternoon just back from harvesting olives on his small holding in southern Italy. Thank you Bill.
After Bill left my friend Sue sent me an SMS message suggesting I make contact with Age UK to,ask about help (oh how I hate having to ask for help). However I did and it seems from talking to them that NGH must:
- Brief me on the help that is available to me outside the NHS
- Discuss my care plan with me (they have now had more than three weeks to do that)
- Take into account my personal needs
None of that has been done in any professional way at all (and only in fits and starts when I have asked) in the time I have been here. I do understand they are under pressure with the volume of patients (customers) they have but there comes a time when they must front up and talk to me. I am starting to get to the stage when I will refuse to do anything unless I have someone of my choosing with me at any discussions.
This evening Vicky popped in and we had a lovely long chat covering a huge range of subjects - Vicky mentioned that she wondered if the reason I have felt a bit down on some days is attributable to the Vitamin D deficiency identified (Vicky called it the 'happy vitamin) for which the prescription on my notes seems to have gone west. The nursing staff have promised to follow up with this on Monday.
It seems that the Vitamin D supplement asked for by Dr Naz (the Consultant Geriatric doctor) earlier in the week has not been 'written up' so despite me thinking I was receiving it I have not been. Being a weekend nothing can be done until Monday - this should be a seven day a week NHS and not a five day a week NHS. I do understand Jonathan Hunt's view on this.
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