All six of the above photos were taken on our way home from the West Country. We made a detour via Gloucestershire. All the photos were taken in one town, Ledbury. I have shown them to remind me (and stop me getting swollen headed about Suffolk) that we do not have a monopoly of medieval, timber framed buildings here East Anglia.
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Yesterday we had a very hospitally/medical kind of day. In the morning I'd been asked to go into our local hospital for a check up. Saw a heart consultant. He was a man in his sixties, I should think, who was unforthcoming and uncommunicative. He felt my pulse, then said, accusingly, "your pulse is very irregular." Then admitted, grudgingly "But strong". I was then sent off to have an E.C.G. While we were waiting, Ann gave me her opinion that the consultant was "Unsympathetic - almost rude". We agreed that it seemed a pity that a man who's spent his working life doing an interesting, well paid, job, gives barely common courtesy back to his patients.
After the E.C.G. was taken by a cheerful, and efficient nurse, I was told not to leave the hospital before the Consultant had seen the result of the test. After we'd been hanging around for quite a while, a young nurse scurried up to me and said that the Consultant had seen the G.C.E. result and didn't want to see me again. That suited me very well as the feeling was quite mutual. We were glad to get away.
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Before we left the hospital we went across to a new building, where Hilary's senior stepson was. He'd had an emergency apendixectomy (think I've got that a bit wrong, but you'll know what I mean, I'm sure) a day or so previously, and I'd told Hilary we'd pop in and see him. Found his ward. I knew it was not visiting hours, and verging on lunch time any way. but found a nice young staff nurse, who told me where Christopher was, thought it would be a good idea for him to see someone, but asked me not to stay more than a few minutes. Found Christopher looking a bit frail, but he was pleased to see us, and we stayed about five minutes.
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At five in the afternoon I had an appointment in our local surgery to see my own G.P. as I was due for a drugs revue. He is a welcoming and well mannered young man who is interested in his patients. Just before we left Ann asked him about our annual 'flu jab. "It's due in about ten days up at the local school", he said.
"But hang on a minute, I'm sure we've got some here. I'll do it now. It'll save you a journey".
The difference between people !!!!!!
13 comments:
What fabulous buildings, I've never been there and have to admit I assumed they were Suffolk ones.
The different treatment my mother received from the same consultant depending on whether she saw him privately through her insurance or as an NHS patient having been admitted in an emergency, and similar behaviour towards me by someone else, when the only difference was NHS or private, made me quite cynical about certain consultants.
Sorry to read your experiences with the consultant :(
But oh! How I wish I had know you were coming to Ledbury! - you could have come and had a cup of something and a chat with us ( if you wanted) We are about 4 miles outside of Ledbury and yes - it is a lovely place with many many black and white medeival buildings - as does most of Herefordshire :)
Hello Z. I am just old enough to remember hearing my parents and grandparents talking about the N.H.S. when it was first introduced. They all agreed that it was a great and good institution, and something of which the Labour Party could be truly proud - all of which I think was perfectly true! It seems a shame that things have come to the present pass.
Thank you Compostwoman. I wish I had used my loaf a bit more. We'd have taken you up on your kind offer. Also, my apologies to Herefordshire. You'll have gathered that my geography is a bit shaky as regards your side of the country.
Ledbury IS only a few miles from the Gloucestershire border, so you are forgiven ;)
Herefordshire has a fabulous Black and White trail, where you can see lots of small market towns and villages with the most stunning half timbered examples.
I think the consultant demonstrated the fact that people in their 60's are the most curmudgeonly, reaching a nadir at the age of 65.
That's my experience anyway ;-)
I think you may be right Rog. I remember at about that age trying curmudgeonly and not liking it much. Nor did anyone else! So now, a good many years later, I think I've achieved some sort of serenity (which sound boring - but isn't really. I think it's only chaps who go through a curmudgeonly state (?) but if I'm wrong perhaps my lady readers will correct me.
The experiences I'm referring to aren't recent, mine were 30-something years ago and my mother's were 12-20 years ago. I think there's something in what Rog says - present company excepted, of course.
Hello Z. In view of your and your mother's experiences (and mine) I really don't think things have improved in hospitals over the last few years.
Oh, and regarding curmudgeonliness, I don't think any of my lady readers have yet achieved the age that Rog mentions as the nadir of curmudgeonliness (what a word!) so will, of course, be unqualified to comment.
What an old smoothie you are Mike!
Bit less of the 'old' if you please, young Rog.
(But thanks, anyway).
I think my latest blog post proves my 65 theory completely!
I've read your last blog entry Rog, and I think it's a well balanced, well reasoned, and quite restrained piece of curmudgeonliness; and I agree with every word of it.
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