Rubylady

Oh ruby of course your patience is running out, too long for too little outcome but it's the best and safest place for you to be right now.

Your hospital will have a PALS service (think it stands for patient advice and liaison service but I might be wrong), ask for their details or for one of the nurses to contact them for you. Someone from PALS should come and visit you and you can explain. All hospitals have one of these services. The only thing to be aware of is that the service is often provided by just one person who may even work part time. Once you have contact they should be both supportive and helpful as an advocate for you. Just tell the person how it is!

A friend who was in hospital for seven weeks last year found them invaluable, I can only hope you find the same. Sorry, I dont know your area or the hospital, I'm down South in the West of England so can't be specific for you, it's definitely worth a try though

Your earlier thoughts about little things today sounded really helpful. See if you can manage one? Distance means I can't visit but I'm with you in thoughts. Hope today is a better one for you and let me know if PALS can help.

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I'm so sorry to hear that you're in hospital Rubylady, I do hope that things go well and that you're home again very soon.
I haven't been on GN for a while so trying to catch up!
I can't bring you roses in person but here's some from my garden. I don't imagine that I live close enough to visit (actually I have no idea where you live!) or I would happily visit with grapes.
((Hugs)) and love x

Hope this helps ruby.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service - PALS - provides you with advice and support in complete confidence.
PALS exists to help you deal with any issues you may have about the care provided and to guide you through the different services available.
The PALS team will:
Listen to your concerns about any services the hospital is providing for you or your family
Provide information to patients, carers and families about NHS services and other sources of help such as Citizen's Advice Bureau
Support you through an anxious time as a patient, relative, friend or visitor
Help sort out any problems quickly by liaising with staff
Support you in making your concerns heard
Give a voice to patients' issues, influencing change at the hospital
Monitor any problems arising, identify any gaps in services and have reporting responsibilities to the Trust Board
How to contact the PALS team

Telephone: 0161 276 8686
E-mail: [email protected]
Click here for a copy of the PALS leaflet
For further help and advice visit our Comments, Compliments, Concerns and Complaints page

Sorry, can't do proper links but this gives the information.

Hope they can help x

I imagine that the hospital as a whole is very busy dealing with casualties from the terrorist atrocity but
you should have been informed about PALS weeks ago when you were admitted. Ask your ward sister (or charge nurse) for a PALS information leaflet for patients.

How to contact the PALS team
Telephone: 0161 276 8686
E-mail: [email protected]

How frustrating ruby - no wonder you feel fed up. Before, you were at home feeling you were getting nowhere and now you are in hospital feeling you are getting nowhere! You can't win!

One thing I would say is that hospital beds are are at a premium and I am sure they would not be keeping you in unnecessarily, so I think you are going to have to take a deep breath, gird up your loins and dredge up a bit more of your store of grit and keep going. It sounds as though they want you to be as near to 100% as possible before surgery. There are lots of people rooting for you on here - 377 posts and counting!

I know that things seem to grind slow in hospital and it can be so frustrating - there you are, stuck in your bed and not a party to all the discussions and decision-making that is going on on your behalf in other places in the hospital.

You are in the best place, but it does not feel ideal from your end of things. Are you getting books? - there is usually a source of books in hospitals, often a trolley run by volunteers. Contact the hospital radio and ask them for a favourite tune? Do you knit? - could someone bring you in some wool and a pattern? You could always spend the time learning Chinese!!

Don't give up - the wheels are grinding, albeit slowly!

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I was going to suggest PALS too. I'm posting some pictures from our garden. One is the water feature which tinkles away and is very restful. The other two are what I see from my favourite place to sit on a sunny day.

Morning Ruby-do you have a tablet with you or are you relying on your phone?

If Ruby doesn't reply she is using the very expensive gizmo by her bed which is a phone, a TV and she can use it as a computer. It can be hit and miss for the internet.

Ruby I feel for you having to stay in a noisy, airless environment.
Could you get some ear defenders? Headphones that block out noise? There are lots available if you google.

Ask if there is somewhere you can go for fresh air, not the same place as the smokers go, though!

I hope someone from the PALS service can help you. I'd never heard of them.

Doing little things to cheer yourself up is a great idea! I wish I could visit you and meet Auntie Ann.

This is my granddaughter using her super-strength!

Presume PALS is like the old fashioned almoner?

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Morning Ruby, your task for today "Girding up your loins" or nightie" choose as necessary. ?

Operation next week sometime. X

That's a bit more definite at least ruby. If you've the energy ask a staff member to contact PALS for you, it can't do any harm and could be really useful to get support for your recovery time. Thinking of you.

Everyday I think of you Ruby.
Wishing you well and hope that you are a day near to coming home.

Good advice re PALs you need someone there to fight your corner, especially on days when you are not up to it yourself.

You have had some good news that your OP is going to be next week.
Another hurdle over.
Wishing you a peaceful night xxx

Hang on in there, Ruby, and all the best when the time comes. I'm so glad annsixty has been able to visit you in hospital.

Velcro, is it just a rip off?

I don't know why people buy Domestos, it's just money down the drain.

I love the "loin-girdng"! You must try it. - perhaps with a hospital sheet.

I rang up a local building firm, I said 'I want a skip outside my house.' He said ' Well, I'm not stopping you.'

I went into a shop and I said, "Can someone sell me a kettle?" The bloke said "Kenwood" I said, "Well, where is he?"

I went to the record shop and I said "What have you got by The Doors?" He said: "A bucket of sand and a fire blanket!"

courtesy of Tim Vine....Keep your chin up, ruby

I hate those Russian Matryoshka dolls, they're so full of themselves!
Keep your chin up Ruby! X

Lady walks into a bar "what'll you have" ? asked the barman, she says "I will have a double entendre", so he gave her one

Hi, I've enjoyed your jokes, thank you.

I phoned to see how the crew are getting on at my friend's and was told the sad news that my little blue budgie has died. She said her wing was damaged somehow. I'm really sad. And I wasn't there to be with her.

I have just PM'd you Ruby sorry to hear about your budgie.

I'm so sorry to hear about your budgie rubylady,how very sad for you when you're already feeling low. So for now you will be sad but that's ok,it's normal. Your going through something very stressful but hopefully with the other lovely GN here they have helped you with their jokes and photos.
You have such a great sense of humour and have made me smile many times.
Have a good sleep x