NHS cock up

[callmemadam]

I have been keeping these health bulletins to friends only but I don't care who reads this rant. As some people already know, poor cybersofa is very ill indeed. He has spent the past week in Poole Hospital (very good, up to now) but was to be allowed home today so long as there was a handy supply of oxygen. So I waited in all day for the delivery. So I got a call from the hospital asking if it had arrived. So I got another call from the hospital saying that er, it had been ordered for Monday. So I got a call from the oxygen suppliers (a PRIVATE COMPANY) to arrange delivery between 9 and 5. So he might not get home until Tuesday. And it's his birthday on Sunday. And some old friends have arranged to come from Cheshire and Wales (to Dorset) to visit on Monday and I now don't know where he'll be. And I drove down to the hospital like a witch on a broomstick, raging. And found a very unhappy man. And I'd like to tie someone to a chair and hit them.

Comments

[minniemoll.livejournal.com]

Been there, done that. Nothing changes in the NHS, no matter how much money they throw at it. Ray was often in hospital over weekends and then discharged on Mondays, just because there was no one there to discharge him over the weekend.

Much sympathy to him for being in hospital for his birthday. Ray started his first lot of chemo on Valentine's Day, and then was in hospital for Christmas, but I *think* he was out for his birthday. I'll cross my fingers that the oxygen arrives early on Monday.

Many many hugs to you both,

Hxxx

[hartleyhare.livejournal.com]

That's appalling. Poor cybersofa, and poor you, and very best wishes for his birthday.

xxx

[debodacious.livejournal.com]

That is horrendous. Surely there must be some emergency provision of out of hours oxygen available - not everyone knows in advance they are going to need it. Would it be worth trying your GP tomorrow to see if they can arrange emergency supplies? Or the Macmillan or Marie Curie people?

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Thank you all; forgive me for an inclusive reply.
The oxygen was supposedly ordered on Wednesday. Whose mistake it was I just have no way of finding out. I tried the GP. Right on the ball, knew all about the situation but whereas once a GP could prescribe oxygen and have a local pharmacy supply it, this is no longer possible. When I ranted at the man from the supplier he said the hospital had to apply for an emergency order to get anything over a weekend. I checked again with the hospital but for some reason we don't meet the criteria. The fact that it has upset the patient beyond anything, will probably bring on a fever and make him worse apparently doesn't tick the right boxes. Bloody red tape.