I Love You, Nurse!

 

I don’t know about you, but I’m typing this in the midst of the worst winter weather Britain has seen for the past 18 years (apparently).

 

Normally, I’m pretty cautious about venturing outside, and definitely try to stay indoors if the words “shovel” and “snow” get equal billing in a sentence. However, given the recent storms, there was no way the family could be without a car; I walked into the village with my son on Monday, and on the way back thought it would be prudent to put my AA membership card in the front of my wallet, so that the rescue team could find me…

 

Having made it back, and made soup with the spoils of my marching victory, I decided that clearing the cars would be a good move. And it’s here that the story starts…

 

Whilst clearing the cars, I made the mistake of trying to save energy by not moving my feet, but by swivelling around. And it was great – until Sir Isaac Newton got roundly pissed-off with me and demanded more rispek. At which point I went over and decided to show my love of Rover/MG cars by submitting my chest on one.

 

Flash forward to the next day, where my wife was keen to point out that “Your ribs don’t look equal – I think you should call the doctor.”

 

In the midst of intense snowfall, doctors aren’t particularly keen to hear from idiots who have been over-exerting themselves in the snow, so the instruction was to get myself to the nearest A&E.

 

And if you’ve been reading and waiting for the story, I apologise. Because there isn’t one.

 

I got down to Frimley Park Hospital, did some stunts in the car park, and promptly ventured into the wrong department, where I was given instructions to go to the correct department. Despite the best efforts of the signs, I got there OK – although the resulting detours were a real eye-opener in what hospital staff do every day.

 

Once there, I was sent through a series of nurses, doctors and consultants, who I can only describe as EXCELLENT. 

 

Much of what is said about the NHS always comes back to one group – Government. And I’ll agree with that.

 

The government are endlessly tinkering with management organisations, league tables, “Consumer Satisfaction Surveys”, but I’ve yet to see one that gives me a chance to give proper feedback to the people in the hospitals.

 

Well – this is my chance. To ALL of you at Frimley Park – from the receptionist on the desk when I first walked in, the receptionist in the Fracture Clinic who told me I was in the wrong place, the nurses and porters who guided me to A&E, the admission staff in A&E, to the triage nurse (yes, that’s YOU, AJ), to the consultant and the X-ray specialist – here’s where I say “THANK YOU”.

 

I doubt anyone involved in my whole scenario will read any of it, but I’d just like you to think that the next time someone comes on the TV and bitches about the NHS, just remember that they’re doing a great job; please think about aiming your anger at the right people…

 

(This post is dedicated to ALL to hard-working and caring people at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey).