chris and farideh

My OH started throwing up, with real bad headache, he looked like a ghost, real bad he was.
So this morning I took him to the GP, he said take him to the Gold Coast hospital ER immediately with a letter & phone call to the hospital to expect our arrival.
By the time we got to the hospital he couldnt even stand up, he was falling down, couldnt keep his head up, he fell flat on the chairs throwing up every 5 minuets.
So the nurse said we havent got any bed available in the ER, stay in the waiting room until we come get you, 5 hours later, they called him in, well he's in the ER as we speak I have been in the hospital for nearly 9 hours in total, they send me home to wait by the phone they know he has infection, but dont know where that infection is?
I'm so pissed off, I have private cover & the bloody hospital had no bed available either, I dont know why we are paying all these money every month, god I swear I never said NHS was shit, & if I said it I'm sorry, its the best health system in the world.
Now how can I distract myself, BE members try to cheer me up, I have to stay up by the phone all night.
Its not food poisoning, I wonder what it could be?

WelshSarah

Hi Farideh,

Fair play, you have been dealt some shit cards since getting to the gold coast.

I hope Chris is ok tonight but believe me the NHS is shit!!

curly

Farideh that's so awful having to sit and wait for news I know you said about the lack of beds etc. but at least he's somewhere where the treatment is available if he needs it.
BTW he'd have experienced about the same in the UK too. My mom had an evening in a corridor

Cheetah7

Same with my Mum. The nurse said 'there was no point in sending her up to the wards as she was only given 24 hours' - I will never forget those words - ever. She spent two days in A/E and it was only some serious pressure from my family that she got a bed.

Have they done any MRI scans or anything?

My thoughts are with you Farideh and please do not be afraid to insist on any tests, he is your husband, and you have every right to whatever tests may be needed to get a diagnosis.

Keep us informed.

chris and farideh

Thank guys just got phone call to go & get him as they need the bed, but if he gets any worse to take him back in 4 hours time, what the hell, I cant believe the treatment.
I'm so tried my brain has gone totally numb, I go & see to chris, I'll let you guys know later.

Fly Away

Blinkin heck, how much bad luck can you have. Sending you and Chris my best wishes. Hope he improves soon. Do not be scared to take him back to the hospital if you are worried.

borolad

on ballance here id like to say that the nhs has kept my son with us through the excelent drop of the hat treatment in the last year.
im sad you have had the experience to feel this way,maybe children are treat differantly.

Cheetah7

Have they given any indication of what is wrong? It is very worrying that they are sending him home if they dont know what is wrong.

Sparky wife

Sending vibes for you...hope OH gets better very soon.

JenniGee

Just sending you warm wishes.

I know it's so easy to be upset & start thinking that everything would be better back in the UK, but believe me, it isn't really like that - I think hopsitals are the same the world over, some good, some bad & a shortage of beds & waiting everywhere

Waiting is just the worst, but do try & relax some & make sure you have soemthing to eat & drink - look after yourself so you can be there when you're needed

Fingers crossed, eh?

Nickie

Thats awful

Hope hes ok soon.

Nickie

Olias

Just to balance the discussion, my wife and I are here on a student (and spouse!) visa and have paid about $500 for a years health cover. My wife has developed what we thought was Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, but turns out to be a weird form of tendonitis.

Well! we (she!) has had about $5000 worth of tests/scans/etc and all we have paid is the excess amounting to about $250. Even the prescriptions have only cost (on average) about $15 a time.

In the UK (although free!) this lot would have taken about 2 years with waiting lists for each procedure (took about 2 months in total here!)

Swings and roundabouts I guess, but we seem to have been lucky and she's on the mend!

Vash the Stampede

Very sorry to hear about your husband. Hope he gets looked after soon.

According to the 2007 European Health Consumer Index, the NHS is a "mediocre overall performer."

Out of 29 different European national healthcare systems, the NHS is ranked 17th in terms of service quality and 26th in terms of value for money. It also has one of the worst records for virus and infection control.

The best you can say for the NHS is that it pays for more than Medicare and provides cheaper prescriptions. Quality of service is definitely not something the NHS can brag about.

hollykimalan

Sorry to hear of your bad luck.
Your experiences are replicated in A/E departments all over the UK everyday/night.
Thats one of the reason I am leaving the A/E speciality in UK to work in ICU in Australia.
I know this is going to give you no comfort but please dont think the NHS is any different on this one.
HKA
x

Ozzidoc

Sorry to hear about this.

Push harder!!! This IS serious.

Tell them (lead ED physician) that you want antibiotic cover IMMEDIATELY. Get them to take bloods first, then administer the antibiotics.

Tell them that you already have a lawyer looking into the sub-standed healthcare and subsequent attempted cover-up of one member of your family, with a view of suing their ass off, and are quite prepared to retain that lawyer to look into the present situation. Also advise them that you are documenting everything by the minute/hour etc. And ask them for the names of all people involved in his care.

Also, ph your GP and ask for his/her advice.