I have a new project in the pipeline that begs you to ask the question "What am I worth?". It is a comment on the hospital system and questions who is worthy of treatment.
This week I have spent a bit of time visiting in hospital and watching how a public hospital operates and it's really quite dismal. You don't want to get sick, that's for sure. The nurses have the customer service level of any store in the UK and don't get me started on the scheduling!! If you have no intention of doing something at or by a certain time why tell a patient that it will happen. People want information, they like to know what is happening, they find it comforting. I know this, I have been incorporating it into the way I work for the past 20 years.
It's a strange mentality people have.
Answer me this - which is more comforting -
1. "Yes, I know you are in pain. we are bringing your pain medication now" - it never comes, no explanation is given.
2. "Sorry, I know you are in pain, we are unable to get the one your doctor has prescribed but here are your alternatives". alternative medication is administered.
1. We will be with you shortly, please wait. 3 hrs later.
2. Im sorry, it's going to be a 2-3 hr wait.
In my line of work if I ask how long something will take many people feel they should respond with "five minutes" because they think it is what I want to hear. Not true. I need an accurate estimation so I can keep other things moving and shuffle a schedule around to improve efficiency. I like to think I have a pretty good track record for doing this well.
It just felt like the flow of information was very stagnated and scattered. I understand certain protocols need to be in place for WHS laws and what not but you wouldn't think a bottle of water would be too much to ask for.
When I told these stories to a friend who has spent way too much time in hospitals supervising her parents treatment over the past 10+ years she didnt bat an eyelid and was not surprised to hear any of it.
It's eye opening. Lots of sick people in the world and not enough funding to treat them all or to even make the ones who can get into hospital comfortable. That is the definition of "Met minimal requirements". A review I received once on my Airbnb place. It sits amidst the 49 other glowing reviews about me and my place do :-p to you!!
What else? If you go into hospital afterhours or god forbid on a Friday, don't expect much in the way of support. A friend of mine went in on a Friday but couldn't contact her health insurer until office hours Monday. I would say switch providers but its too late by the time you are in hospital on a Friday night , isn't it?
I was also reminded that life is short and life is precious. Why waste time hating on politicians and posting it all over facebook go spend time with people you care about. You never know when they might not be around anymore. I still don't know the details, but I know he is no more - We should never have kept putting off that Yum Cha lunch!!
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