Unfortunately,I have had more lengthy stays ,ever since childhood,in hospital than many folk have had hot dinners!!! There was a period in the late 90's when I had 13 rather serious operations within 2 and a half years!!! I have used both Private and Public hospitals and have been fortunate enough to have had the best surgeons and related specialists in Australia on every single visit.I have absolutely no complaints aboutthe treatment I received on any occasion.My last stay in hospital was the day prior to New Year's Eve,almost exactly 18 months back! I fell down the 3 shallow steps I use at least 30 times each day!! It was 7 o'clock in the (Sunday) morning,as I was going out to my beloved ferns and orchids.I fell face first onto tiles set into a concrete floor,and turned my face so as to save my nose,and also tried to take some of the fall on my right hand and knee.So uch for lessening the damage!!! I broke my nose anyway,as well as smashing my eye socket causing 2 blow-out fractures to the bottom of the eye socket and a break to the upper section as well!!! My brain went into overdrive,and I grabbed a towel which happened to be close to me,aand clutching it to my bleeding face Istumbled up the steps, grabbed the icepack from the freezer,called the ambulance,turned on the Air con. and lights,and fed and watered the dogs.\I also left the back door open so they could coome in and go out as they wished!!!! And I even grabbed all my medications and list of dosages /times taken. It is amazing how the brain can take over so totally.....When I got to the hospital I was in a neck braxce,not allowed to mopve at all,not allowed to cry or sneeze which was rather difficult with such injuries! My hands and arms were so covered with blood,that initially the paramedics thought I had tried to cut my wrists!!! As soon as they realised this was not the case,their sighs of relief were audible!! I ended up in the major public hospital for almost a full week,and I was taken such great care of,as they had all my records from so so far back, that I fortunately did not have to go through a whole lot of allergy and illlness history info! I looked like I had gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson,and lost each one very badly! If we had been having a New Years Eve Fancy Dress there in the Emergency Medical Ward,I wlould not have needed to use a single scrap of make-up! With the fractures to the eye socket causing double vision and nerver damage,at least I could say to the good looking doctors that it was a pleasure indeed to see twice as many of them!!!
The only real worry I had was about my dogs,but my neighbour,who had heard me scream and made sure I got an ambulance,came to let me know that he was taking care of everything at the house for me,so not to worry. Gosh, I do lopvbe the way people really care up here in this tropical North Qld city I call home!!
You're lucky Jules _ I ended up in Royal Perth hospital after my big accident (the main public hospital) and was in a brace and not allowed to mvoe so I could not eat. Eventually when I had missed one meal already as I was not allowed to sit up -I rang the bell and they said they didnt have time to feed me and I should get my family in to do this!
Needless to say I lost weight before being transferred to the spinal unit for a month!
That is absolutely appalling and disgusting! If this had happened to me,I would have reported it to the Health Rights Commission!! My specialist gave me their number and told me that as patients we all have the right to be treated with dignity and respect,even more so when we are injured or ill. I have never needed to use this contact,but it is nice to have it. I do believe Townsville is the exception to the rule,as I have never heard anyone complain about the general hospital here! Even the food choices are great!! It definitely helps patients to get better when things are pleasant! I feel so sad for all you had to go through.It is simply WRONG!
They were very busy but still -having already missed one meal and I didnt have a husband to feed me and at the time only one child living near but he was at work till quite late, so lunch was of course missed. They came to collect the tray and just took it full -LOL -i can laugh now