Here we are hitting the end of June. My dad was discharged from hospital after major surgery, into the care of his 86 year old wife. Yes my mum. She agreed to it and said she could cope. So much for the surgeon’s reassurances that a home care package would be arranged. The very nice ward sister said: ‘Oh the surgeons always promise that but we cannot arrange it. We can keep him here for a few weeks while we arrange help. But the covid risk is too high. Not to mention bed blockers. ‘ My mother had already agreed to discharge. It’s been tense and trying to keep them safe is making them irritable. Note to self. Book my own care home early. I don’t want my children doing this tough stuff.

Meanwhile I went into London. Trains are now a bit more busy but car park only 1/4 full. So easy. I had appointments at physio for broken foot and another for review with Clinical Specialist Nurse Practitioner. (CNS). I have known her for ages she is clearly under some pressure. Not as friendly as in the past. In the waiting room I found the very lovely Medtronic Rep. Medtronic are the suppliers of the bladder implant known as an SNS. Rep and I have known each other for years too. Oh how we chatted about her children, lockdown, house decorating etc. Into the waiting room burst CNS bristling. Called us in. We meekly followed feeling like students called into the headteacher’s office – scared ? nah not me. Rep and I winked at each other. We had done nothing wrong. Rep and I exchanged more chatter whilst CNS fired up the computer screen powered by the software known as Eric. Clearly Eric was in trouble too but eventually CNS snapped at us to focus so that she could enter her very important keyboard tap tap tapping on her screen. Gawd. The upshot is or was that she has changed the SNS for the last time. The charging is meant to click and sound weird but it is not meant to send electric shocks down the leg. If this does not work then the SNS comes out. Nooooo.
Meanwhile awesome GP rang. Just checking up on events. Wondering if Dipstick has even seen me since April when he put the SNS in. Of course not. Awesome GP also let me know he was leaving General Practice and heading for bigger things in the world of training new doctors. Good for him. Massive loss for his patients. He assures me he will hand over to the best of the rest. Lets see.
Whilst I wondered what to give him to express farewell and thanks I happened upon the medical store next to the hospital. I actually needed some syringes for the bladder instils. Yes, the NHS supplies the instil but not the syringes nor needles which have to be a particular type to fit the particular type of ( male ie long) catheter. Too complicated for words. Anyhow this weird shop sells everything medically except…the syringes…actually I could have bought 1000 but not sure I could have carried them home! I did however, see the tshirts which are in the window. See previous blogs from April! Aha I thought what a great present for GP. They only come in one size but I bought two . Thinking Jerome would appreciate the humour.
In the sort of serendipitous way of things I in fact saw Daughter 2, and Jerome and his infamous colleague. We sipped coffee standing in Marylebone Road! As you do. They each had urgent medical phone calls coming in from time to time whilst we laughed and joked about nothing important at all. I was therefore able to give Jerome his tshirt. Freshly acquired. His colleague I gave the other. How we laughed at the thought of the next MDT zoom where the skeleton tshirts could be on show.
Now, all I need to do is get another one for GP!