As some of you will know, my mother had to go into hospital briefly last week. Other family members have been doing a good job helping out while I have had other commitments, but I’m free of that stuff now and as the person with the most flexible lifestyle, and living the closest, it is down to me to do much of the care.
I have been here less than a day and I have already had more than enough of health workers. A more arrogant, condescending and absolutely fucking useless bunch of jobsworths would be hard to find. We’ve had three separate visits. None of them seem to have any idea what any of the other lots of doing. All of them made it absolutely clear that they were there to do only one specific thing and they would not do or say anything outside of that. All of them clearly resented having anyone else here other than the patient. The amount of false jollity being exuded could fuel the entire country’s pantomime season for several years. The overwhelming impression that they give is that they don’t care about anything other than going through whatever act they’ve been told they have to perform to avoid getting sued for actually doing anything. You could not be more obviously dishonest if you tried.
Anyway, this is by way of warning that I am liable to have far less time available than usual, and I may be on a bit of a short fuse for a while.
Ah, health workers! What a joy for you. Like the one who told my mother that there were some very nice old peoples’ homes and you were allowed to take 7 books with you. My mother’s froideur eventually did penetrate the enforced jollity and the hw became faltering and then silent. I had to deal with a physio who was, quite frankly, completely manic and only the repeated use of the words ‘this is not going to happen today’ shut her up.
Anyway, our profound sympathies.
I’ve been there, and it sucks. ::hugs:: Hope everything gets back on an even keel as quickly as possible.
Sorry to hear your Mum’s not well. Hope things perk up for you both soon.
My brief experience of healthworkers was entirely different – except one who was obviously not experienced in dealing with people who were on palliative care – but they have to learn to deal with that kind of thing sometime.