Antoine update - day three
He’s still in the hospital, and they still don’t know when they will have the resources to give him the diagnostic tests he really needs. Right now they’re talking about keeping him in for a third night, because they very likely won’t be able to fit him in today for those tests.
This is outrageous. For one thing, beds are so scarce that Antoine had to wait 15 hours for one on Monday. Why on earth can’t they prioritize him for these tests and free up a bed for someone who really needs it? The tests are, by the way, quite a serious matter. If he has what they think he does, it can kill him if it goes untreated (tens of thousands of people die from it every year). For another thing, I really don’t like the idea of Antoine having to hang around a hospital and risk catching MRSA or some other superbug that kills thousands of patients in British hospitals every year.
Props to Antoine, who refused to be subjected to another blood test this morning until he’d spoken to a doctor. (It took them four tries to draw blood from him yesterday because they’d let him dehydrate. Nice.) The doctor, like everyone else, is hemming and hawing about when they’ll be able to test him. I suggested to Antoine that he say, “Sod this for a game of soldiers” and discharge himself, as there’s no point in him sleeping on a ward another night when he can simply come back to the hospital when they manage to fit him in. As he pointed out to me, though, that arrangement would probably suit them all too well, and he’d be kept waiting for weeks rather than days for these essential tests.
Antoine’s supposed to fly to Cincinnati on Saturday. Let’s just say I really, really hope he’s well enough to make the trip - and not still in some Soviet-style hospital, waiting for urgent care after days of waiting.
Filed under: Life
But remember, all you countries with socialized medicine are so much better than America! Yeeee-ha! [shoots six-guns in the air and raises a barn]
Honestly, this has gone past the point where I am furious at us having paid a bundle of money to the NHS just for Antoine to be neglected. I am seriously worried, distraught…and there is nothing I can do to change the situation. Until now, I truly believed they would FOR SURE get him these urgent tests today. Now that I know they’re not bothered, I’m sort of losing it.
Hopefully they will get the tests done soon so he can be on a plane to you!
My friend Darren from Malta was mis-diagnosed in Malta. I told him not to worry and get a second opinion outside of Malta. Thankfully he did and it was a great relief to him that he was not seriously ill as he had been told.
Just to let you know. For emergencies here. Always go to University Hospital. They are the most prepared. My friend Mike is one of the ED doctors there. He also pilots the copter. The other hospitals specialize in specific areas.
Thank you, Blake - that’s a tip I hope I never need to use!
Funnily enough, that’s where I go to in Germany, a University Hospital. They have a lot more interest in you as a patient and really try to help you.
I hope all works out well for Antoine, I know what he is going through, I’ve been in and out of hospital for the last two weeks!
I can’t imagine how you feel, being an ocean apart from him with waiting as your only option.
Best to both of you.
Frances, I had no idea. Will email you. x
Thanks, everyone. Have been agitating for some agitation and hope this gets sorted today.