Privacy on the Hospital Ward

lemsip

I was visiting on an elderly persons ward recently where comodes were quite obviously used and the resulting smell that filled the ward was awful....

There's often little ventilation.

In the hospital I was in their remedy was to spray around the ward with the most pungent air-freshener which I can only describe as smelling like someone was burning oranges - it was hideous. My partner when visiting had to exit the ward when they used it because it made him gag.

I was offered the commode a couple of times, but decided to attempt to use the toilet - one feels so exposed with just a curtain between you and the next bed, and it's so unpleasant for the rest of the patients. Unavoidable though for some patients. It's all so primitive.

From the days when doctors wore white coats, I can tell a story which sounds unbelievable but true.
A patient needed an anal examination. On the next ward round the DR. asked if Mr ? had been to see the patient and examined. The patient's reply was "I think he has someone stuck his finger up my backside but he didn't have a white coat." When asked who they did not know they had been so frightened they missed the name. The patient was in a ward on their own and there were a lot of workmen about. Anyone could have put a pair of rubber gloves on. It doesn't bare thinking about.

Dickens

Fleurpepper

Spent 7.5 months in hospital when I was 19/20- 4.5 months in traction and on my back, with a pin through my knee and clock weights at the end of the bed to try and pull by smashed femur into shape. 3 beds, but only females. No TV, no internet, no phones, so thank goodness for the company. One lady next to me was in her 50s and had attempted suicide, and was in for a couple of months when I was totally dependent, and she was wonderful. Others came and went. They were asked to leave the room when I was bed washed and had to use the potty (oh I hated that bit).

...No TV, no internet, no phones

Of gosh, I'd forgotten there was a time when we didn't have those things to distract ourselves.

4/5 months in traction - my goodness, I can only imagine - the days must have dragged!

Oh yes, they did, and thank goodness for the other two, who changed regularly, and helped out and cheered me up. And the nurses, from all over the world.

Hate needlework at school, but learnt to crochet and embroider as impossible to read all the time. I had my 20th BD still in traction, and a few months later, our wedding!