I thought I'd just give you an update on things here.
Tom ended up staying in Hospital for 10 days during which we travelled to see him on a journey lasting at least 3/4 of an hour each way. As visiting was from 2 - 8 pm the days were a blur by the time we got back home in the evening and we were all exhausted with all the mental coping.
They dispersed the kidney stone but then he got blood clots in his lung and an infection.
The upturn of this was that they thought he was going to die and on the only day I didn't visit the kids rang to say come up quickly as he may be going.
Steve picked me up and by the time I got there he had rallied around.
He is now home but bedridden and we are waiting for a carer's package to be put in place to help me to cope. Apparently this could take several weeks and until then we will have to cope ourselves.
To say the NHS is in crisis is an understatement.
The ward that Tom was in was in chaos with little communication or compassion.
They intended for him to stay there until a carer's package was worked out and this meant that he would be bed blocking. Although it is going to be tough I could not see him just lying there for weeks deteriorating and so we bought him home.
Sadly things will not improve for him healthwise but it has got to be better to be home with family rather than in a ward where the care was so bad I cannot find words for it.
I just want to say that I am not knocking the staff as they do their best but the system is completely broken and it's no wonder nurses and doctors are leaving in droves.
Briony
x
Take care of yourself too dear lady, tough times for sure xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry Briony, I hope the care package is put in place quickly. You may need to keep badgering them until it is - a sad fact of life now. As Eileen above says, please do look after yourself. xx
ReplyDeleteI think everyone is hoping that they don’t need hospital treatment in the next few months.
ReplyDeleteLook after yourself
Briony, I am so so sorry to hear this. At least Tom is home now. I hope that the carer's package comes through quickly. Make sure you look after yourself too. x
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so sorry to read this. Yes I'm sure being at home will be much better for him than in hospital, it will be harder for you but also easier in a way, at least you will know you are with him all the time and won't have the stress of travelling. Doctors and nurses are doing the best they can I'm sure what's needed is better management if the NHS not just throwing more money at it and hoping for the best. Sending good thoughts your way, take care xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear your news. Hopefully, help will come sooner than expected. Our NHS has been failing for years, but it's not the same any more, it is scary as we get older because it's nothing like it was, at a time when we need it. Thank you for your comments on my blog, it's Marlene from Poppypatchwork, my phone only allows anonymous comments.
ReplyDeleteI´m so sorry Briony, I hope the care package is sorted out soon. I believe Tom must feel happier being at home although it is a lot for you to deal with, do take care of yourself. The state of the NHS is one of the major reasons why, at my age, I wouldn´t consider returning to live in England, sad but true.
ReplyDeleteThe above comment is from Sansthing, don´t know why it is 'anonymous'
DeleteSo sorry all of this has happened and I pray for strength for you that you can cope with the care he needs. I do hope you have someone that can help you other than the govt health people. prayers and hugs coming your way
ReplyDeleteI’m sure Tom must be glad to be home. Wishing you all the best in caring for him.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting us know. It's better that Tom can rest in the knowledge that his loved ones are close by. My best wishes to you and your family. xxx ilona
ReplyDeleteSending best wishes to you and the family. It is hard to see the NHS in crisis, when it has been so good in the past. I hope that care package is put in place for you quickly.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
OH, I am so very sorry! This is awful, they need to have home care available as soon as one is discharged from the hospital, especially with seniors!! But I am so glad he is better and home. Please continue to keep us updated.
ReplyDeleteBriony, my heart aches for you both. Been there, done that. Wishing you strength as you move forward each day. I hope the outside care you need will arrive sooner rather than later. My experience was that they told me the worst-case time line and things happened sooner than they said; however, it was still not as soon as we needed. The burden of care at home is a heavy one but it is one very important thing we can do for our loved one. The hospital is not a good place to be at this time. Hugs, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThe NHS was in much better shape when Labour left office in 2010. It is as if The Tories have deliberately run services down. Thank you so much for this update. I am pleased to hear that Tom is back home even though a care package has not been put in place. He will have more peace in his own bed.
ReplyDeleteI am sure Tom will be better off at home and presume that your family will rally around. Hopefully the care package will be put in place sooner than expected. I am so sorry to hear of all the problems besetting the U.K. at present. It all seems to be gloom and doom. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteI am sure on the day you had to rush to the hospital he was waiting for you to take him home and how much better he will be surrounded by his family. I hope you can find the strength to look after him until the care package is put in place. Sending best wishes to you and your family. x
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry to hear all this. I agree that being home is probably the better option for Tom. You will both be in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update and I hope that you have family and friends who will help out until you get a care package sorted out. As people have said...look after yourself !
ReplyDeletenot a lot any of us can do is there except provide a bit of moral support , mother was 3 days in an ambulance last time they admitted her at least shes currently in the best dementia unit in the area , her jail as she calls it .
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know what's going on, Briony. I'm glad Tom was able to come home. I'm sure he's better off there, as you said.
ReplyDeleteThe NHS needs more investment. As YP said, the Tories have not supported it adequately. Where's all this money that we're supposed to be saving by not being in the EU? Wasn't that supposed to be poured into the NHS?
Briony do some investgation into gear you can get to help you care and to make Tom more comfortable. Some things are unbelieveably simple like the special slippy sheet we found out about to slide the patient up the bed to help them sit up. I hope you get care help really soon to take the responsibility off you and allow you to just be with and share time with Tom while you still have it. Best wishes to you F and Mr T
ReplyDeletesorry to hear this take care of yourself. I hope they manage to find a package of support soon.
ReplyDeletePrayers for all of you. Hard thing to have to deal with. I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeletehad problem commenting.Briony,I am so very sorry to read this post.I just don't know what to say to comfort you.I am thinking of you all the time,praying you will get that Care Package very soon.It is so hard to see your loved one bedridden,and so stressful for you all.Lots of love and huggles xx
ReplyDeletewhy has my comment come up as Anonymous.Lee from Cornishcraftycorner.xx
ReplyDeleteI've just been catching up on your blog and I'm so sorry to read about all that's been going on since Christmas. It's a lot of work to care for someone at home; I hope you are having some help from family and friends while you wait for the care package to be put into place. Sending you well wishes from across the pond. Bless
ReplyDelete