Tuesday - October 06, 2009

Not unsympathetic to elderly ill BUT … this shows mindset and what ails National Health

This actress will not be at all familiar to Americans I’m sure. Doesn’t matter. I’m not even posting the entire article, although I would recommend you read it as it does have interest. Kind of scary too and leaves ppl with the impression that every hospital in the UK might be like this.  But that isn’t true.
Anyway ... The Mail had a very misleading headline, reminded me of Tiger’s term for dumb things.  “STUCK ON STUPID.”
The headline implied the old lady had to plan an escape from the hosp. Bosh. Not so although I don’t doubt her stay was not a walk in the park.

Royle Family was a popular sit-com.

I read the entire article but found no “plan.” What we did find however, was a mindset that says things should come to me without asking and I’m entitled.  A stroke is nothing to make light of.  She’s an old lady but has family around her and she certainly has some spare change due to her profession.  True, she has most likely paid into NHS all her life. Or at least since national health began here.  She was made a promise and it should be kept.  Don’t have a problem with that. BUT ....

The Royle Family’s Liz Smith was so appalled by her poor care in hospital she hatched a plan to escape...

By Angela Levin
Last updated at 10:19 AM on 06th October 2009

When Liz Smith suffered three strokes in just two days, not surprisingly she thought she was dying.

‘I was sure my end had come,’ says the 87-year-old actress, best known for playing Nana in the TV sitcom The Royle Family.

‘But still, I managed to tell my son Robert that I wanted to be buried in a wood without a coffin, so I’d have a green funeral.’ She bursts into laughter at the thought.

Liz has become something of a national treasure, recognised for her hilarious facial expressions and her deadpan delivery.

But, nine months since her strokes, speech - specifically language - is a real problem.

Liz often struggles to say the right word, ending up using a word that sounds similar to the one she wants - for example, ‘familiar’ when she means ‘family’.

This condition is called aphasia and is a common result of a stroke, explains Dr Peter Coleman of the Stroke Association.

For a few months, a nurse came every day to help me. I was also given a Zimmer frame and a special stool with arm rests to use in the kitchen.

‘But in the four months I’ve been home, I haven’t had one visit from my GP, which I think is disgraceful.

Luckily, my children are great and visit me on alternate days.’

‘My next ambition is to get rid of the Zimmer frame. I can walk a little by myself, but I’m waiting for social services to bring me a stick.’

The one thing she doesn’t want to give up is her new wheelchair. ‘I can just be taken out without making an effort,’ she enthuses.

I am pleased I didn’t die and that I have a bit longer.’ Her fans would agree.

‘But in the four months I’ve been home, I haven’t had one visit from my GP, which I think is disgraceful.

She makes it appear as though she is the ONLY patient her GP sees during the day.  Without going into a long song and dance, fact is that if she needed her doctor, a call would have brought him or her.  They make house calls here FREE when a person is too ill or unable to get to the practice.
The wife’s mother was bedridden for years here and whenever a doctor was needed, one came.  But there not enough of them and there are not enough hours in the day for a doc to man the office and also check in on people just to see how they are doing.  It’s not disgraceful. It’s a mind set that ignores everything else in the world except ME. 

But this is the corker far as we’re concerned.

I can walk a little by myself, but I’m waiting for social services to bring me a stick.’

She has family there. Her children are in attendance, and she’s waiting for SS to “bring me a stick.” Why?  Why can’t one of her kids just go out and buy one?  In fact, based on the wife’s experience when her mother needed one, she went to the Red Cross.  You give a donation (no set amount) and they take you through a storehouse and you get what you need if it’s in stock.  When you’re through with it you simply return it.
Or buy one.  The reason my wife went to the Red Cross was because the wait for a cane was going to be some weeks. So she found another source.
I still can’t get over the fact that national health here even covers aspirin.  WHY?  But people expect it I guess.  Things were PROMISED and now the service is trying to deliver.  One problem however is ... there sure do seem to be a heck of a lot of managers drawing pay. 

ALL OF THE ARTICLE IS HERE

Posted by peiper     on 10/06/2009 at 08:39 AM   
Filed Under: • Health-Medicine • UK •  
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