30 years ago today I was lying in a hospital in South London Surrounded by tubes, lines and breathing apparatus and ….a tiny lovely not very well baby.

Here I am 30 years on lying in a North London hospital no respiratory apparatus, just a cannula line and bung which has blocked. The tiny baby is 6’ 6 and 30! yikes

in the intervening years I really had not been in hospital for myself …until 2009 !

To explain, after a flurry of activity between Jerome and Awesome Mrs Infectious Diseases I received a call at 8:20 to get to them asap

Train delays not withstanding I got to the grotty clinic hidden behind Tottenham Court Road. Contrary to the rest of the hospital it seems covid has gone. The temperature, mask and sanitiser border guards have disappeared and their sentry box restored to its former glory: A condom shop next to the STD clinic. It’s actually called Free Doms. I guess in a post pandemic, freedom or free condoms or free love is rampant? Well goodluck to the patients Enjoy your freedom – while it lasts .

Upstairs I was greeted like an old friend The amazing team began processing me for hospital-at-home. It tookmost of the day. The line went in. Tests were done.The refresher tutorial too. Pharmacy took forever ( as ever) . Chief nurse says she has no sense of humour . Well as before we seemed to get along fine. And laughed louder than ever when I told her trainee she had broken my foot last time. Trunchball has nothing on Chief Nurse. She’s actually tiny and toldme today she has won many an archery medal . Wow I said Thats seriously tough Yep she replied My best medal is for “rear of the year” how we laughed how we giggled. especially when the Registrar popped her head in to check we were ok we just laughed even more!

Whilst I waited I watched in wonder as the team received phone calls requesting urgent patient discharges, forgetting it was Friday and hospital-at-home needs hours to organise

A random patient wandered in. She had realised it was a walk in clinic.

She walked in .. Apparently her father had passed away some years ago. He had had a tropical disease. He had been treated here. Poor lady felt she needed to be tested since she might have this disease too. Oh how those amazing nurses calmly asked if she had been abroad No ( pandemic restrictions) symptoms? None etc etc They gently guided her out.Suggested she see her gp

Next up was a teenager and his Dad I don’t know what they had contracted but after doctor checks, they were ushered into blood tests.

The phlebotomist had left the building leaving a bewildered agency lady to grapple with the IT system before going anywhere near a patient. After some tension the rest of the team got her sorted and in went teenager and his Dad

Leaving his son in the waiting area – Dad went off for a pee That left two of us sitting there Before you could even say needle the poor boy slid gracefully to the floor out cold. Nurses and doctors appeared from all corners , revived him and sat him up. No sooner had he regained some equilibrium than his Dad appeared. Asking questions. Checking for fractures and feeling his pulse. He quizzed the boy – was it the needle? Was it the heat? Its just a scratchDont think about the needle

Boff… poorboy crashed to the ground. again . fainted right out

All those brilliant nurses, doctors and receptionists again rushed out. Gently reviving boy and getting Dad to shut up talking about needles!

In the midst of this chaos chief nurse appeared from the basement pharmacy . She had my drugs. My needles . Syringes. Sharps box and everything needed for diy hospital at home. Lucky me off I went grinning at Free Dom and made my way home

Today the line blocked Grr But another train a quick turnaround and Ill be on my way to freedom once more

NHS is in tough times but wow they are coping with humour and patience and a bit of freedom