UCH & Getting Plastered

We arrived at A&E at 7am, we left at 1pm. As long as this may seem, the service and people were fantastic. The NHS takes a lot of stick these days, but there will be no complaints from us.

Sharon had an initial assessment within 30 mins and we were praised for avoiding the nightmare of the night shift. A fuller assessment followed almost immediately and then X rays. A fractured right fibula at the ankle.

Into the plaster room for a cast.

More X rays to check the setting. Then an orthopaedic surgeon carefully took us through the diagnosis and prognosis. He wasn’t happy so the cast got cut off and he very physically manipulated the bones into the right position while new plaster was applied.

This was incredibly distressing. Sharon was tough, but some screams made it to the surface. She described it as only seeing black and hearing people talk. Pete cowered, teary, in the corner. It was horrible to see her in such pain.

More X rays, more chat with the surgeon. This was followed by blood tests and swabs. Then an ECG. Blood thinners were administered by injection in the stomach. (Pete will now have to administer this injection daily for four weeks.) We were handed a bag full of drugs, needles and a sharps box for disposing of said needles.

And away…as Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer would say. Albeit on crutches. Back to the hotel by Uber. Pasta and pizza for lunch.

Then the hotel and then Pete diving out for magazines and treats.

We started filtering the luggage and will post home the walking gear. And there’s also the tedious task of canceling all our bookings and dealing with the travel insurance.

Saturday’s music was to have been about Hackney Wick as we had intended to visit the new V&A East Storehouse. The music is now A&E by Goldfrapp.

I suspect that those who criticise the NHS as having gone to the dogs are quite often those who say the country as a whole has gone there too. And many will blame the foreign invasion. Of the more than a dozen staff we encountered we did not believe one was originally from the UK. They were all caring, concerned and competent. The place would be rooted without them.

On Monday the surgeon and his team will review and decide if surgery is needed. If so our plans will be determined by a slot in the operating theatre schedule.

So, no hiking in Scotland for us. We will see Pete’s brother & sister & spouses this Sunday in London. And also hopefully still see more family and friends in Glasgow later in the week. After that who knows.

Chris Bennett, Nike Running Global Head Coach has a saying about running and books. Here’s our version.

Life is like reading a book. It doesn’t matter how long it is or what’s happening, just read the page you’re on.