35 Comments

This is the saddest part so far, that you and your carers should have such a horrid battle with totally extraneous conditions at a time when you should be royally cared for by the authorities set up and paid to do just that. They’re in no way keeping their part of the contract between individuals and the state. This is not what I want to say. I’m too angry on your behalf. I hope you are being cuddled and loved as you deserve. What a hero you are, Hanif. Your family is wonderful.

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Totally agree

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"This place, which cannot be knocked down or renovated, is a ghost-ship, and on it drifts our country, embodied, into decay." What a stunning line. Could head a newspaper campaign.

Sorry to hear about the ordeal. Kx

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Ah, the buses... I had both arms in plaster casts and my neck in a brace and people stood for me. Once one of my arms was released, they no longer stood. May the sun be at your window, Hanif.

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To take nothing away from the incompetence and thoughtlessness of this experience, my overwhelming response was not outrage but familiarity. When I couldn’t sit up or even turn over, and sleep was interrupted for procedures every three hours, it made no sense, and even sleep never felt like more than being vaguely awake. The greatest absurdity came when. Team of people came to train nurses in how to use a new set of monitors, and they insisted on quizzing me on the new equipment. Did I like how it looked? Did I think it would be an improvement? Was it easier to use? Like, given your complete lack of expertise, do you think this spaceship will get you to Mars and back?

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And the familiarity you experience is a familiarity of so many people, including those with good health care coverage (heaven help those without it) in so many hospitals and not because the staff are uncaring or stupid. It is the bureacratic set up, the relentless dehuminization, that drives so many caring people out of their vocations in medicine.

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l am living in Canada where we also have a national health service and we are next to a country that has no national health service and now has a dictator. Our Canadian system is also in need of much repair and the public will to do something about this is faltering. Loving this world is the most difficult task.

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Thank heavens you're home again and that you have the capacity to describe it all--miseries, indignities, relief when it's over.

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Let's face it. no one deserves this shit treatment. It sickens and angers me that this continues to happen when billions have been poured into the NHS over decades and still this happens. I have heard over and over again about the admin failures and the incompetant shameful behaviour of dipsticks who lack the ability to behave sensitivity to those in need. Waiting hours is outrageous enough no wonder you blew your top. Peace and love to you.

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Bloody hell what a complete nightmare. Why on earth would they come into your room in the middle of the night to fix the vent. We all would have gone mad I assure you. I do hope that you start to feel a bit better soon and that you’re not in pain. At least you have retained your sense of humour. We are all , your readers , thinking of you and wishing you well. You are very brave.

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As long as you retain that acerbic style you're ahead of the game, Hanif.

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What an experience you went through. The description of the hospital left me reeling (I live in Mexico) and the guys in the middle of the night! outrageous.

I hope that you are ok, you are so brave despite all the crap, and thank goodness for your family who love you and stand by you regardless.

I agree with Cassandra, you are a hero.

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Oh my god.....this is what nearly 15 years of Tory under investment has brought us and you, to. Am.so sorry Hanif, I worked in the health service for years and feel badly about how it has been used and abused.....to quote the wonderful Joanie, " you don't know what you've got till it's gone"......much love, Jane. Xx

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So how are you doing now Hanif? But what gets me about how the NHS (doesn't) operate, is the indignity of its, the poverty, a poverty made all the more indignant by the sophistication of the technology, it's an insult, the technology that is. What should we call it? The technology of poverty or is that poverty of technology? I've been through comparable invasions of my body and all for nothing as it happened. The machines are inexorable aren't they, they have a 'life' of their own, they control us, we don't control them. I hope it's all worth it.

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I hope you are getting these complaints out to all sorts of publications. No one should experience this treatment - no hospital should look like a crack house. I live in the USA and this kind of things exists here - though many hospitals near me are in better repair. Be angry enough to be an activist, an advocate - but I hope you can sometimes put it aside to have some peace with those you love.

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hospital can be such an endurance. You’re a hero and so is your carer. When I had my son and was unable to move from my c section and completely and utterly delirious from lack of sleep I was also woken all night long for stupid reasons. I was in such a state of shock I couldn’t tell anyone off! So I’m glad you did!

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Not that you can write well... But I was so engaged AND enraged reading this, Hanif, that I almost missed a flight. Sending all good wishes for speedy healing to your nether regions.

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Good you made it home! Always wonder why hospitals have to keep weakening patients with middle of night vitals visits--sick and normal people need rest to recover!

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And the way they enter so roughly and turn ALL THE LİGHTS ON is like what would only happen in a sitcom and I tell you that this happens everyday in my county in private hospitals in my country Türkiye too. Ive been woken several times at night in the same way! But THE REPAIR story is WILD:(( It would be highly funny if it werent a true story…

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I almost feel like they are trying to take revenge on us ill ones because they have to look after us?

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