General Medical issues thread

[blackcat20]

Presented at ED yesterday with an abscess that wasn't responding to treatment. Sat on waiting room for approx 6 hours on IV ABs before finally moving to short stay then to surgical ward. Into theatre around 4pm, out of recovery by 5.30. Feeling absolutely fine this morning but can't get anyone to discharge me. And breakfast was a sad piece of white bread and jam

 

[Quickstatus]

white bread and jam

Oh dear. Likely got the "tea and toast" treatment.

Here is something about hospital diets

 

[blackcat20]

Oh dear. Likely given the "tea and toast" treatment

Here is something about hospital diets

Yet I got a proper dinner last night.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yet I got a proper dinner last night

Morning T&T sometimes given for afternoon surgery
Possibly the initial plan was for surgery to be done in early arvo the next day and a nurse logged the request for evening dinner and morning T&T
Then the surgery got pushed forward to early afternoon that day which meant dinner last night was still valid but no one logged the change from morning T&T to normal breakfast.

Did you fill out the breakfast menu which accompanied the dinner tray?

 

[blackcat20]

Morning T&T sometimes given for afternoon surgery
Possibly the initial plan was for surgery to be done in early arvo the next day and a nurse logged the request for evening dinner and morning T&T
Then the surgery got pushed forward to early afternoon that day which meant dinner last night was still valid but no one logged the change from morning T&T to normal breakfast.

Did you fill out the breakfast menu which accompanied the dinner tray?

I came in via ED so had surgery when they had a gap. Didn't fill out any menu for anything, I just got what was provided. So proper dinner immediately post surgery, snacks overnight then pathetic breakfast. Lunch was omlette, veggies and cake

 

[Quickstatus]

pathetic breakfast

Yes I suspect T&T was logged the day before and not corrected.

 

[blackcat20]

Yes I suspect T&T was logged the day before and not corrected.

I don't, I just don't think they have an option, as no options were offered for the next day either (while taking my lunch and dinner orders). TBF, they do provide cereal but I can't eat it.

 

[Quickstatus]

as no options were offered for the next day

Bizzare.
usually when no options are given, its because the diet limitations (such as Nil by mouth, clear fluids) been logged by the ward nurses

Just do Uber Eats - a lot of our patients are doing that these days.... Current favourites that Ive seen are Chargrill Charlies and KFC
The hospital public cafe is doing a roaring trade delivering real coffee to patients in the ward.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just do Uber Eats - a lot of our patients are doing that these days.... Current favourites that Ive seen are Chargrill Charlies and KFC
The hospital public cafe is doing a roaring trade delivering real coffee to patients in the ward.

how does that work? Surely the hospital doesn’t allow just anyone off the street carrying food to go into a patient‘s room? What if it’s a shared ward? I know at Hobart Private you can’t get past nurses station without being on the list of visitors.

 

[Quickstatus]

how does that work

Use app (sorry i had to put it in)
They deliver to hospital
Some of the patients go downstairs to get it, or their relatives get it for them
The hospital has a very dedicated volunteer force who deliver flowers etc, so sometimes it comes up via them. Though the rules are that it has to be delivered to the RN in charge first.

Question then is if they can go down to get their food why are they in hospital

Same question can be asked of the ICU patient who is sitting up reading the morning paper.

 

[Pushka]

Use app (sorry i had to put it in)
They deliver to hospital
Some of the patients go downstairs to get it, or their relatives get it for them
The hospital has a very dedicated volunteer force who deliver flowers etc, so sometimes it comes up via them. Though the rules are that it has to be delivered to the RN in charge first.

Question then is if they can go down to get their food why are they in hospital

Same question can be asked of the ICU patient who is sitting up reading the morning paper.

I was ambulatory the day after major but laparoscopic surgery but needed to be in hospital. Same with the DVT. And the meals were dreadful. In a shared ward, the lady with intellectual disability used an appropriate (and completely foul) phrase to describe it. Then mine was delivered. I looked at the server and said - I'm with her!

 

[Quickstatus]

used an appropriate (and completely foul) phrase to describe it

I keep telling the hospital executive that as there is a significant Chinese population in the hospital catchment area they should do Congee as a culturally appropriate light diet. Chinese people's version of Chicken soup is Congee - thats what they eat if unwell. In fact every culture has their version of Chicken soup. And it costs nothing, Just a big pot with a bit of rice, then add whatever accompaniments - egg, shredded meat, fish.

But No, they know better....

 

[prozac]

I keep telling the hospital executive that as there is a significant Chinese population in the hospital catchment area they should do Congee as a culturally appropriate light diet. Chinese people's version of Chicken soup is Congee - thats what they eat if unwell. In fact every culture has their version of Chicken soup. And it costs nothing, Just a big pot with a bit of rice, then add whatever accompaniments - egg, shredded meat, fish.

But No, they know better....

So they offer chicken soup?

 

[Pushka]

I keep telling the hospital executive that as there is a significant Chinese population in the hospital catchment area they should do Congee as a culturally appropriate light diet. Chinese people's version of Chicken soup is Congee - thats what they eat if unwell. In fact every culture has their version of Chicken soup. And it costs nothing, Just a big pot with a bit of rice, then add whatever accompaniments - egg, shredded meat, fish.

But No, they know better....

Chicken soup would be wonderful I think. So easy to cook. So many cultures use this for convalescence. Would need to be described as soup for me and not congee though. My bad.

 

[Quickstatus]

So they offer chicken soup

Actually come to think of it, the answer is no.
The only soup is some kind of brown water - I think its made from powdered something

Chicken soup, minestrone soup, miso, congee (which can be made watery or thick) - no options for these....

So easy to cook.

And maybe cheaper than bread and jam that @blackcat20 got

 

[drron]

I must say that the meals at the Launceston General Hospital were usually a reasonable standard and the best hospital fare I saw.

But then I am biased as every now and then they put on very reasonable scallop pies.

 

[blackcat20]

I was dressed and ready to go home by 7am yesterday, not even requiring panadol. But it took them until almost 1pm to check on me and clear me to leave. Such a waste of time. Fortunately the person sharing my room was discharged while I was in surgery so I had the place to myself. Aside from the food, and slow discharge, I have no complaints. Though the aftercare instructions were very vague....

 

[Quickstatus]

Such a waste of time

aftercare instructions

I must admit - even for us, thats is the slowest and most frustrating part of getting out of hospital.
It generally falls to the RN to organise all of that and they are usually very busy.

 

[prozac]

I must admit - even for us, thats is the slowest and most frustrating part of getting out of hospital.
It generally falls to the RN to organise all of that and they are usually very busy.

When I had an allocated cardiologist who insisted I had reflux I walked to the nurses station and told them I am leaving now. Quickest way out.

 

[Pushka]

I was dressed and ready to go home by 7am yesterday, not even requiring panadol. But it took them until almost 1pm to check on me and clear me to leave. Such a waste of time. Fortunately the person sharing my room was discharged while I was in surgery so I had the place to myself. Aside from the food, and slow discharge, I have no complaints. Though the aftercare instructions were very vague....

It also means the bed is blocked from new patients being admitted. An option would be for a comfortable waiting room for patients ready to be discharged but just awaiting final meds and instructions. And there is usually a kerfuffle getting the meds correct anyway.

I was put in a mixed ward of 8 people. Disgusting. I was in a solo room to start with but got moved out that night as they needed it for a prisoner to come in. The next morning the admin person came around asking if I would switch to using my private health cover. It did not get me any advantage other than the TV. The nursing staff were lovely. After I walked in to the very shared bathroom and it was, vomit worthy, they saw my face and showed me to a shower area at the very end. Beautifully clean and thats how I left it. The nurse had made up my bed during this time and it was heaven to get into and I told her she was a Saint. Next to the clean shower room was another ward - 8 beds and completely empty. At the time SA was building its new RAH. Staff were instructed to keep wards closed to make sure the new RAH had more beds than the current one.