So an update of Mum and her hospital saga.

With some fantastic support from friends, both on the internet and “in real life” Anna Bligh has requested a meeting to discuss my letter. Fantastic step in the right direction and very impressive. I will let you know how that goes.

The other positive step was, after making a not harsh, but strongly worded phone call to the surgeon, we were granted a meeting that afternoon with the doctor, the physio, the Occupational therapist and social worker. Mum, probably got no further than hearing she would more than likely have to give up her house, which has devastated her, but my brother and I got a lot of answers to a lot of questions.

Like what’s next. Like what are Mum’s care options. Like where we go to from here.

The system is still having major suckage issues.

Like how prior to her operation, the nurse wanted to double check that she definitely didn’t want a blood transfusion should she need one during surgery. Um, no Mum never said that. How in the fuck do you get something like so wrong? What if we weren’t there with her? What if someone couldn’t respond?

Like why mum was being given anti-depressants that included a sleeping table component (which wasn’t made known to us) first thing in the morning, which in turn made her very sleepy all day and basically, off her face.

When I came to visit her on Saturday morning, she was both sleepy and disorientated. She said the social worker had been to visit the day before but she was still confused and didn’t take a lot of it in. No fucking wonder. She was off her head.

After asking the nurse about this, they agreed that the doctor should have prescribed them for night time. HELLO geniuses.

In our previous family meeting, the doctor had advised there would be no reason to do an invasive colonoscopy after getting all the test results needed from the brain tumour.

But then, I turn up Saturday, Colonoscopy prep written on her board. No information regarding this was or has been passed on. Keeping in mind we only just found out her stent has been put in tonight. I imagine this is fairly major. We (my brother and I) have had no information relating to this matter.
Basically jelly and soup since Saturday morning until Sunday then nil by mouth until tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Today they took her from the ward at lunch time but didn’t do the colonoscopy and the stent until 4pm. 4 hours whilst 10 people went in before her. When Mum had the “gall” to ask why she was being overlooked, she was reduced to tears when a nurse said to her, “You’re lucky you don’t have to pay for this Mrs Clarke. Do you have any idea how much this equipment costs?” I Shit you not.

Mum then, in tears, scrambled to tell the nurse she will make a donation. Needless to say, I cannot begin to tell you my anger right now. Um hello bitchface, she did pay for this equipment. It’s called 50 years of working and paying taxes.

As do I. As does her son.

When I spoke to her an hour ago, she still hadn’t eaten nor was she allowed to until tomorrow morning. Not even a cup of tea.

So when I do get to see Anna Bligh, I’m going to remind her about her boss’s promise. It went like this - if the states couldn’t fix the health system by mid 2009, he would. So come on K Rudd. As you said, the buck stops with you. Fix this shambles.