I used to read articles about hospital waiting lists with only mild
interest. Having experienced hospital treatment since 2000 I feel real
sympathy for the people who have to wait in pain or anxiety, because what
they are missing is in my experience treatment of real value delivered by
caring staff.
Images from earlier years in my life have been of long rows of beds,
limited visiting hours, and difficulty in getting information about the
treatment and the prospect of success. I grew up believing that to be
treated caringly as an individual, not just a number, patients had to pay
for care in a private hospital. I did so on several occasions, and
sometimes my image of excellent care was matched - sometimes not.
Haematology Department
Cancer in my immune system in 2000 meant that I was referred to the
Haematology Department at Christchurch Hospital where a skilled doctor
prescribed chemotherapy which resulted in prompt relief from the painful
symptoms and eventually a cure of the condition. Staff throughout the
treatment were very caring and full information was given at each stage.
Regular checks are still undertaken to check on any recurrence of the
condition.
Osteoporosis
The staff at Princess Margaret Hospital provided service of a similar
standard in diagnosing and treating osteoporosis.
Cardiology Department
The Cardiology Department staff were equally caring and efficient in
diagnosing and treating heart problems. When I reported to Accident and
Emergency with angina which did not respond to the nitro lingual spray I
could not have faulted the attention I was given, and I was fortunate in
being admitted to the chest pain unit in eight hours.
I remained in the ward for five days and I was so impressed by the care
there also that I decided that I must write this article.
Each patient was assigned a particular nurse to supervise the care in each
shift. The women and men who looked after me were pleasant, cheerful and
communicative. During any procedure there was full explanation of each step
and of the purpose of the treatment. Many of them were parents with
responsibilities at home but they never gave a sign that they were too
tired to go the extra mile to help the patients. In my experience the bell
was answered very promptly during the day or night when any of us rang with
angina pain.
Chaplaincy service
The men and women in the chaplaincy service are available for patients who
need someone to talk to about their worries or personal problems, and a
service is held in the chapel on Sunday mornings. Volunteers from churches
around the city are available to take patients to the service in
wheelchairs.
Patient services
In the past in private hospitals I had chosen to be in a private room, but
this time I enjoyed the company of the other patients in the five-bed ward.
The women were sympathetic and supportive of each other. A telephone in the
room was available for inward calls and the patient in the nearest bed
acted as telephonist and took the cordless phone to any patient who could
not get out of bed.
A menu with ample choice was provided for patients to order their meals,
and hot drinks were available in the day room. Television was available in
the day room too and a phone for outward calls.
An angiogram located the cause of the angina and I was discharged soon
after a stent had been fitted.
Follow-up care
The policy of the Cardiology Department is not only to offer patients
treatment and follow-up after they leave hospital, but also to help them
manage their own lives in such a way as to reduce the likelihood of the
problem recurring.
A programme called Cardiac Rehabilitation offers patients who have been
discharged six supportive weekly sessions on a Thursday afternoon.
These sessions begin with helpful talks on topics which include answers to
questions about symptoms or medication, and advice on diet, sleep problems,
emotional responses, giving up smoking, coping with diabetes.
The talk is followed by a half hour session of exercises which can be done
standing or seated, and these have a double value. Doing the exercises at
the class helps with fitness, and doing them with the cardiology
physiotherapists inspires confidence. They also establish a pattern to be
followed in exercises done at home - even though I don't reach a full half
hour without the incentive of being in the group and exercising to music.
Afternoon tea is welcome after the exercise and the food offered is a guide
to what is best for a healthy heart. Recipes are also available -
uncomplicated and making minimal demands on the cook.
Improvements in health care in the twenty first century
Recently I have been thinking a lot about the difference between the health
care available to me and to my mother. She suffered years of acute angina
pain with no relief except anginine tablets which became less and less
effective, whereas eight years ago I had relief from heart surgery, and
when angina pain recurred this winter I had a stent fitted. She had sight
problems for most of her life and when near the end of her life she had a
cataract operation she had to lie still in hospital for two
weeks. Recently I had a cataract removed and was just over two hours in
hospital.
I'm sure that many of our readers have experiences to share in the forum at
the end of this article. Not everyone has a positive experience in
hospital. I hope that many readers like me are able to feel grateful for
the care given in the public health system in the twenty first century.
