Gives Neighbourhood Watch a whole new meaning
The Radical
8th Feb 2018
A 94 year old man collected by ambulance
from Esh Winning before 9am for an 11am appointment
at the Bishop Auckland hospital.
He arrives at the Clinic and has his identity checked
As he stands queuing at the Receptionists desk
While she sits !!!!!
Like a prison inmate –
“Who is you next of kin” ?
Just in case he doesnt make it out of the door.
“Take a seat in the waiting room”
And he waits and waits
Nobody comes to speak to him
Nobody asks if he needs assistance to go to the toilet.
Nurses in Grey ? I doubt it
Standing around the “station” looking useless
Ignoring him !
Would you like me to get you a cup of tea ?
Do you need help with your medication ?
Would you like me to help you stretch your legs ?
Those days of Nursing Care are gone !
The writer could not help
because he was called for his appointment, before the old man
But wished he had put on his Neighbourhood watch suit and returned
to check that the 94 year old was still alive and not in need.
Even though the writer
was in a difficult situation following his appointment at Clinic.
Though he was concerned enough to phone the Senior Nurse on Duty, at
the said Hospital,when he arrived home,
but only got a person who said that this particular Clinic
was not her concern and left wondering
if this old man spoke to anyone before getting home for supper.
Because after his appointment
he would have to ask someone to
let the Ambulance station know
he was ready to be collected for the return home.
“But he had someone with him” the Hospital Authorities were heard to say.
Yes a 92 year old by his side who could hardly be called his responsible
carer, in the strange surroundings
they found themselves in, says the writer.
Had the man been admitted he would have been in the care of the ward
staff, but because he was ONLY an outpatient, he was on his own.
We are all on our own when we go to the Outpatient Clinic aren’t we ?
But at least the records will show who was our Next of Kin !
And at least he wasn’t left sitting in an ambulance outside
for 4 hours or more.