Being in hospital for a week offered me a unique opportunity to see for myself how our NHS in Scotland really works. For me it was more of a listening exercise due to being heavily sedated most of the time. By that I mean no long meaningful discussions took place just comments on the murmurings of the variety staff who cared for me.
Lack of any decent internet and not really being bothered with the TV meant any news was should I say ‘ after the event’!
It was only after listening to staff making their thoughts clear to each other about the now infamous anti SNP nurse that I asked what had happened……at no point did I flag up my colours!!, nor did I ask theirs. To put it mildly their disgust was there for all to see with some even saying she had brought the profession into disrepute.
More importantly than that though were the high numbers of what I would term non politically inclined staff who openly said the greatest danger to the NHS was Theresa May. Theses little anicdotes were almost add ons to the low level interaction between us…..in other words due to the OriMorph I wasn’t up to long meaningful conversations!
As for the state of NHS Scotland, from the moment I walked in to the moment I was wheeled out I felt safe and well cared for in their hands.
Things have changed since my last surgery some 26yrs ago, the patient makes the decisions from Anaesthetics to pain control …..all my choice and timing. Even the decision to come home was mine……not until I felt safe.
I know all NHS staff throughout the country are the same, so we must guard this service like gold.
It was not until Tuesday night that I heard about the tradgedy in Manchester.
I have said for years all this is down to our Foreign Policy so I endorse Jeremy Corbyns speech. Being the second largest Arms exporter is not something I like to boast about.
You can follow Joan McDowall on twitter at @JoanFlitcroft and at her webpage Joan Flitcroft
featured image Nurse