I escaped from the madness of Ward 20

Mr MaxFax didn’t come to the ward but his team did. They said I could go home. That was 8am.

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Amazingly the pharmacy sent the take home meds ( mouthwash and antibiotics ) in record time. 9:00 am.

Cool. So I was ready to go home, the discharge letter was missing. I could have walked out but they’d locked my regular home meds in a cupboard so held them hostage. Eventually I was told I’d have to go to the ‘discharge’ lounge. They make that sound like some VIP airport lounge. It’s not ! 1200 pm

I told them my friends were picking me up and were about to arrive. ( well they HAD set off!)

After a lot of huffing and puffing suddenly the ‘press print’ occurred. Letter arrived. Cannula removed. Meds unlocked. I walked out. 14:00 avoided the dreaded discharge lounge.

Bed released for the next inmate.

I know it’s all really busy and staff are managing big pressures, but just click ‘print’ and the discharge letter in all its uselessness would magically free up a bed.

The noise levels in the bay were so bad . One patient had so many groups of visitors throughout the day, staying for hours. Laughing joking playing stuff over the speakers on their phones. I cannot imagine the poor old lady they had come to see could possibly feel better let alone the rest of the ward. This made it impossible to try to sleep , rest and chill. Of course we all know how important visiting is for families, one little boy came to see his mum. He / she was so quiet and polite and showed how to do the right thing contrary to the loud party in the next bed. but there’s even a nurse on the reclining seat in the bay. Dunno what she’s there for. The night one slept there. The day one just scrolled on her phone. Surely she could police the visitor rules.

As Ward 20 is head and neck specialist you’d think the the ward had not run out of ice packs, which must be a basic part of post‑operative care. As for the morning toast how is it really possible to make it so rubbery the knife can’t cut it let alone the ‘soft food only’ post surgery jaw. !

I’ve written to PALs not at all to criticise individual staff — some were kind and doing their best — but because the chaos has a massive impact. Maybe I can hope that it’ll be better for future patients.

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