Hospital Visit

Today I visited the General Hospital to see Mam, her consultant Dr Shaw and to see my consultant in regard to my herniated disc.

On the way in, I got a phonecall from Debbie Barnes who informed me that the plan was to reinstate the care package as of Monday evening with Mam coming home on Monday afternoon. There will be two visits per day - just like at the beginning.

This was also partly what Dr Shaw wanted to talk to me about - about whether I was happy about Mam coming home under this regime, did I feel it would work etc. I said we'd just have to try it out and see. I stressed that my availability in the house could not be guaranteed given the condition of my back (hospitalisation expected) and the desire to find a new job. But Mam wants to come home.

I don't know how this is going to work out, frankly. Another thing Dr Shaw mentioned was that the waiting time to get into LSoP can be several months - possibly more than six. So thoughts of selling the house are not for the immediate term, can I take it?

A related issue is that if the wait is too long, then Mam's health may have deteriorated to the point at which the LSoP might not take her in! So we'd have to find somewhere else - there are such places. Dr Shaw mentioned somewhere called St Catherine's - do any of you know of this place? We should have a back-up plan. Do you think we should also get Mam into the waiting list of another place which cares for people with greater needs?

Nurse Sheila instructed me in the use of the catheter. I need to clarify some points about the longer tube that needs to be connected when Mam's in bed. I was very tired by the time I got to the hospital and wasn't taking as much in as usual.

More later. Op will probably not be for another eight weeks.