Overstretched, underpaid and giving it their all | Mum In The Madhouse

Overstretched, underpaid and giving it their all

I have never made my admiration for the NHS a secret. I am one of the few who has seen them when a real emergency occurs. Who have seen them give their all when people where in life or death situations and watched as they provided amazing acute health care. Whats more this health care, which in other countries would costs tens of thousand of pounds is free.

nearly 12 years ago my wonderful dad was involved in an industrial accident, He was resuscitated at the scene by his work mates and the first responder (a paramedic in a car) and then blue lighted to hospital in an ambulance.  Upon arrive to the A&E department he was provided with top notch trauma care, including x-rays, scans, pain relief, breathing assistance and medication.  When my mum arrived at the hospital she was ushered in to the trauma department and keep pretty much informed and updated as the situation would allow.

My Dad was stabilised and transferred to the ITU (Intensive therapy unit) and began his time there.  Whilst in the unit, he had two nurses who provided two to one care for the duration of their shifts.  My dad was in a medically induced coma, both paralysed and sedated, so to prevent bed sores he was provided with a special bed with a dynamic air mattress to try to minimise the risk.  I can not fault the care he was given, down to them flying in medication from another hospital by helicopter to try and save his life.  It wasn’t to be sadly and after a further three weeks in hospital we had to make the decision to remove any medical assistance to life nad my father died.  During his time in hospital we were always kept informed of his status and encouraged to help with his care as much as practical and my mum was provided with a room at the hospital to ensure she could stay with her loved one.

The journey to getting Maxi was a hard one and the NHS were there with me every step of the way.  I had to have an operation when I was 20 weeks pregnant to save both of our lives and the NHS ensured that when I came round from the anesthetic that there was a ultra sound machine so I could see my baby was OK.  Maxi’s birth wasn’t textbook, but at the end of it I had a healthy baby.

During both the boys lives the NHS have been there when they needed them, providing top notch care without any price attached to it.  They have been there for me with the BRCA issues and I am due to be hospitalised again on 1 July for more surgery and I am glad, so glad that we have the NHS in this country.

I understand that it is by no means perfect and on the front line the staff are often stretched to breaking point, but in my experience if you are polite, understanding and considerate then they ensure that you get the best treatment they can possibly provide, as you can see from the last time I was in hospital.

I say hands off my NHS Tories, when it works it works well, they need more front line staff, more nurses and more midwives.

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