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Thank you for your kind words. I know what you mean about different routine and my dad likes his own personal routine which would send many people bonkers.

He loves watching TV mainly sport or politics the choice of stations at the hospital is poor the main 5 terrestrial channels plus a few satellite ones but no premier satellite channels and not even the BBC Parliamentary Channel, the best for current events is BBC 24 hour and CNN what a wonderful choice both are left wing propaganda channels so one has sift everything one hears.

They will not let you ignore visiting hours in fact they are petty about even five minutes I arrived at five minutes to 2 and was not allowed in until 2.00pm. The actual visiting hours are 2.00pm - 8.00pm each day which I have done the last 3 days. I thought it would be very boring but I soon found that it is one big soap opera and one big lesson in inefficiency, in a second means up to 30 minutes in a minute up to an hour and I will do that shortly you can still be waiting in 2 hours. There seems to be no real hiaracy with someone prioritizing you would not mind so much if they said I am very busy it will be 10 minutes but to be told a minute or second and over 15 minutes goes by and nothing happens and so you enquire in case they have forgotten and you get snapped at "we have not forgotten be there in a minute" which normally means another 15 minute wait.

The biggest thing also is the cost of the TV and telephone for one day TV 3.50 pounds or if over 65 as dad is you get 2 days which is 48 hours but over 12 hours of this you cannot use because they do not like you watching TV before about 8.00am and then you are not allowed to watch it after 10.00pm. I bought dad a 3 day card which he will get 6 days from which cost 10.00 pounds after he has seen the doctor on the 4th if it looks as though he will be in there for a long time I will buy a 7 day card for 20.00 pounds which will last 14 days. The telephone I think is something like 40 pence a minute with a minimum call of 20 pence or 2 units as you buy cards that have units on them.

Thank you for praying for his peace of mind IMHO that is as important if not more important I think that most of his problems will go away with the infection but he is convinced that they will not because he has been having problems really without appreciating it for a few months with his waterworks he has now realised. I pointed out to him that probably he has been fighting the infection for months and the biopsy finally took him over the edge where he could no longer fight it and therefore collapsed.

At least we do not have your worry of hospital bills but we still have to pay to get to the hospital and as mentioned TV and telephone which is a worry as we already have a very tight budget in view of the care bill for mum each month.

God Bless and thank you for your kind thoughts.
Love
Eleanor

PS next review for dad will be on the 4th January when the consultants return from Christmas and New year holiday.

Hello--

Hope your dad is improving. I've been an at-home mom for years but I'm a nurse too, and worked in several hospitals. I have to say the hosp. your dad is in is NOT doing much for his emotional well-being, is it??? I can't tell from your post how long a stay he is facing but hope it's not more than another few days.

I'm just trying to think of a few things that might make his stay easier. Visiting hours first. Would your dr. write a note so you could come earlier/stay later? Is he in a room by himself or with just one other person? Or a ward with a bunch of people? If it's just him in the room, unless you're causing trouble (LOL!) or tiring your dad out or upsetting him, it's just not right for them to be so strict about them. Same with restricting TV viewing.

As for having to wait when you ask for things, if it's something your dad really needs, like help to get up and go to the bathroom, or pain medicine or something vital like that, raise he** till they get in there in a timely manner and help him. Or, ask them to show you where supplies are kept so you can help him (if you're comfortable with this) for example, if he needs ice water, ask them where it is so you can get it.

I feel so bad for you and for your dad. I don't know if they're terribly overworked or just unorganized, but IMHO there's just no excuse for that kind of care.

These are just some suggestions--whether or not you choose to make a fuss is up to you. But if you're even a little worried about your dad's well-being, raise all the heck you need to! Perhaps after he goes home you can also write a letter to the hosp. president outlining your complaints.

Meanwhile, prayers for your dad's FAST recovery!