A Three Day Blur - Day 1

With the call on Wednesday saying come in early so they could try and raise the potassium level in my blood we arrived at the Spencer wing breathless, slightly unprepared and unsure at that moment whether the op would happen the next 72 hours really did become a blur of "will it, won't it?" that literally changed by the minute as the clock ticked by.

The problem arises because low potassium makes general anaesthetic very dangerous. At the time I was admitted on Wednesday there was no chance they were going to operate unless the potassium level was raised and the plan was simply to use either soluble tablets or an IV drip depending on the result of an initial blood test at that time. The level turned out to be lower than they thought so it was the drip option: started late afternoon and going through the evening with regular monitoring of the potassium levels along the way.

The Spencer wing is a separate building annexed to the main QEQM hospital and is designed in many ways like modern hotels: with individual rooms each en-suite with tv, wi-fi, and regular facilities like any roadside motel you'd happily stop off overnight at on a business or pleasure trip. What sets this apart from the main NHS is the relaxed but efficient atmosphere created by some of the most dedicated, professional and amazing staff I have ever encountered. Everyone from the Matron, Mary, through to the other senior nursing staff who were all very experienced (often 20 plus years) to the more junior staff what set these apart was the fact that you felt their work was still a vocation from which they still derived the utmost pleasure from doing: nothing was too much trouble, everything was carried out with a care and attention to detail and always done "now" rather than "in a minute" . Add to that a smile on faces that defined the delight they all got from doing work they obviously loved doing. Nursing staff are not enough though; and a ward relies on many ancillary and support workers: cleaners, caterers, porters, secretarial etc and without exception the same mindset was there in everyone. Every one was an absolute credit to the establishment. This is how it should be.

So Wednesday evening went by, with the potassium pump whirring away, and the IV bag due to be replaced at 2am (which it was, on the dot: another sign of the staff efficiency). Jen sat with me and we ordered dinner for her too, served with mine (chicken soup, followed by jacket potato with a variety of filling, ice cream and profiteroles for dessert. Never let it be said I don't treat her to a meal out from time to time)