Medical authorities do actually listen. That was my conclusion after my recent “under the knife experience” at Auckland Hospital.

Since the turn of the century I have picked up the unintentional ability to manufacture kidney stones at regular intervals.

I had nothing but praise for the surgeon’s skill that made the operation a complete success but I have to say the level of care in the ward left me frustrated. Despite my protest I was left in bed until mid afternoon the day after my operation. Apparently they had to retrieve a hoist from some other ward to save the tender backs of staff. Fair enough, hospital staffs’ backs do need to stay strong and healthy. However it really irritated me when my offer, to demonstrate how easy it is to transfer from bed to wheelchair, fell on deaf ears. I was not a happy chappie. At the end of the day I basically “walked” out.

Fast forwarding this tale to the present day, finds yours truly, in a far better mood. First, the bad news, my internal quarry had been working over time again. The stones had resurfaced. I tried to comfort myself by wondering if a third such operation qualifies for a free Stone Mason membership. The voice of reason told me not to pursue this line of thinking.

A much more sensible approach was to ensure I received a better standard of care-giving this time around. The best way to do this was to seek permission to have access to my own regular care-givers, in the ward. Early on in pre-operation procedure I broached the topic with my surgeon at the Manukau Super Clinic. He was most sympathetic and said it was indeed possible. He even recommended my own room during my hospital stint and I was pleased to observe he noted these recommendations down.

A few months later I received the call up. The pre-admission day went smoothly until my interview with the person in charge of nursing. She agreed that it was a good idea but apparently she had to ask the person who was in charge of whatever ward I was assigned to. This meant by the end of the day my care giving plans were up in the air.

I approached the day of my operation with trepidation. I had no worries about my actual op but was not looking forward to another potential round of fighting for my basic rights, from my hospital bed. My anxieties quickly dissolved. My care-giver was most welcome in the pre-op and post-op stages. He quickly demonstrated how easily it was to transfer me to firstly the x-ray bed and then to the bed that whisked me into theatre. The next morning he breezed in to dress me and transfer me to my wheelchair. As usual my care giving was completed quickly and efficiently, as the hospital staff stood back in amazement.

Everyone agreed that it was a win-win situation. The question that must be asked is ……

If a person obviously needs extra care giving, why isn’t that person’s regular care-giver automatically structured into the process?

Ross Flood
55 Hillside Road
Papatoetoe
Auckland
Phone/Fax (including answer phone) (09) 2787106
Email rflood@cpsociety.org.nz

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