I WAS heartened this week by the universal cry that the NHS needs some proper TLC, an overhaul, money.
I have a friend in hospital at present who broke her ankle and leg after a nasty fall in Wales and has had a frightening time over the past fortnight.
‘You need to be putting weight on your leg’ said the physio who came to see her after her op.
‘Are you sure, the surgeon told me not to. Maybe check,’ she argued (whereas so many wouldn’t because words out of a medic’s mouth are often gospel).
He checked and came back. ‘Ah yes, keep the weight off your leg.’
She’s just been transferred near home to Liverpool. She asked about her notes and if copies would be sent on.
She was told the info was on her discharge letter. She pointed out that all it said on the discharge letter was ‘fixed’.
They agreed it needed to be rewritten as it wasn’t much info about a complex surgery.
Should it really be down to the patient to notice such errors? The NHS needs complex surgery itself by skilled hands. I do hope it gets it – and soon. At the end of the day, health is our only true wealth.
If ever there was a glowing example of community spirit, it was this week when a line as long as Richard Osman’s leg formed outside Parkway Cinema after a call for bums on seats.
When I wrote my piece about the cinema last week, I didn’t realise they were struggling so it was wonderful to see so many coming out in force to support this lovely crew.
Long may it continue. As I said last week: we use it, or we lose it. Also – excellent nachos, do treat yourself.
The Proud of Barnsley nominations are coming in thick and fast and I had a gulp moment seeing a familiar face in last week’s Chron: Helen Love, who was in the year above me at school, being nominated for an award.
Helen, who had made a life for herself in Kent, has returned home to be a full-time carer for her mum who has dementia.
And Helen’s daughter Lucy has moved in too to help out.
What a kind thing for a family to do, trying to keep mum in her own home rather than put her in a care home.
It is a hard life looking after someone whose world shrinks more and more every day.
I lost a little bit more of my mum every week and it would have broken my heart for her to have stayed with us, and yet at the same time disappeared. It really is a terrible disease. Good luck, Helen.
I was asked this week if I would consider being a councillor. I was very flattered when they gave me the reasons they thought it would be a good idea because I DO care about Barnsley and want things to be better for it.
But, there’s more chance of the Harlem Globetrotters ringing me up and asking me to their star shooter than there is of me entering politics.
I’m sure the Tour de Yorkshire thing was great for Barnsley but do forgive me that I couldn’t drum up the same excitement for it that the arrival of my new label maker in the post did. There is no joy like the joy of new stationery. Good job we’re not all alike, as someone’s old gran most likely used to say.
