| Lochalsh
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I'm not trying to beat Gershwin playing his own music. I wanted to tell you how much I love "Love Walked In," and the Grainger arrangement was the one I liked best of the versions on YouTube. And, yes, the original of the song was fine as is, but I think Grainger was allowed to do a riff on it. After all, as one of your poets, Thomas Cowper said, "Variety is the very spice of life." Besides, it's not as though the Grainger is a bastardization of the Gershwin.
Reply #721. Jun 23 10, 10:24 AM
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| lesley153
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Sorry, I got that, but didn't express it very well... I found a few versions of "I got rhythm" but still thought that Gershwin's was the best.
I've just had an annoying call from my GP's reception. People at Papworth told me that GP surgeries arrange patient transport. They get funding for it, and it's there to be used. I mentioned it to a friend who has been a General Practice receptionist for 25 years, and she said arranging patient transport is a doddle - she does it every day.
The receptionist who just rang told me that they've checked the rules, and I'm not entitled to use it. It seems that you have to be bedbound or wheelchair-bound to qualify. As I'm capable of walking from the house to a car, I can arrange it myself, and pay for it myself.
I shall double-check with Papworth in the morning. Should be interesting. I am most peeved off, but it will be a very polite phone call - as always! |
Reply #722. Jun 23 10, 10:43 AM
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| lesley153
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I had the bright idea of finding out for myself, googled patient transport, chose
"Eligibility criteria for patient transport services, revised Sept 2007"
and came up with this:
 http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_078373
I clicked the link that says Download Eligibility Criteria, and am none the wiser. (I can't post it here because it contains two "at" signs, and the nanny filter thinks it's chatspeak.)
Prize to anyone who can see the word "bed" anywhere, because I can't. There are a few references to transporting wheelchairs but nothing I could see about requiring one, or being bedridden, or needing help getting in and out of cars. Hmmm. Papworth in the morning, I think. |
Reply #723. Jun 23 10, 11:03 AM
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Deunan 
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I can't get the blasted thing to go past the first page. We can send people to space where they set up house and yet I can't help Lesley get a deserved ride to hospital...bad words, bad words, bad words.
I know surgery will be a success. I can't wait to hear of your energy growing even more. I wish I could visit but it might be too much for you.
How will you return home? Will you be in hospital long?
Reply #724. Jun 23 10, 11:32 AM
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| lesley153
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Annoying, isn't it? We sent people round the world, and into space, before we thought of putting wheels on suitcases.
The surgeon said the average stay in hospital is ten days. A visit would be lovely but Colorado to Bedford might put you in the next bed!
The crossed wires are over transport to the pre-admission clinic. It's not a big deal; just annoying that no two people can agree about much.
Travel before and after surgery is simpler: Jonathan will drive me there and stick around till I'm back on the ward. Then he'll go aback to London and his job, until I'm discharged, and then he will take me home, and stay till I can cope by myself. (Although I'm sure he'll manage to visit now and then.) He's contracted to spend twelve months at the job, and July handing over to his successor, but he has been talking to nearby senior people, and they think he'll be able to finish early, as these are exceptional circumstances.
He was determined to honour his contract, but they might let him go, and I shall be delighted. |
Reply #725. Jun 23 10, 12:00 PM
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honeybee4
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I hope you figure out a way to get the transport.
I have been trying since Wednesday of last week to find out when my scheduled kidney ultrasound would be scheduled. Everytime I would call the lady would be away from the phone and I was told to leave a message and information. I did and she never called back. This morning, a little irate, I called and insisted on talking to her. I was told my appointment was today at 1:30. She told me to drink 20 ounces of water every hour before my test. This was at 8:00 am. I did and started feeling weird. I called her back and told her I couldn't drink any more water. She said "Oh no honey, you will drink the water an hour before the test. Now you tell me!
Reply #726. Jun 23 10, 12:07 PM
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| lesley153
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Total communication failure AND she called you honey?
**splutter**
Were you tempted to wee on her? |
Reply #727. Jun 23 10, 12:21 PM
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honeybee4
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It is only 11:30 now.I haven't gone to the appointment yet. What an idea Lesley. HaHa.
Reply #728. Jun 23 10, 12:28 PM
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| Lochalsh
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Lesley, our esteemed chat-mate's name *is* Honey, after all. :-)
Reply #729. Jun 23 10, 1:38 PM
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Deunan
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Sorry, Lesley, I misunderstood your destination.
Reply #730. Jun 23 10, 2:20 PM
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| lesley153
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Judy, hope it goes well... WHEN you actually get there.
Lochalsh - nice try. ;)
Deunan - sorry, I don't understand this post and am now irretrievably confused. |
Reply #731. Jun 23 10, 7:08 PM
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| Lochalsh
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Lochalsh - nice try. ;)
____
Thanks, sweetie ;)
Reply #732. Jun 23 10, 7:26 PM
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Deunan
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You are checking about transport to the pre-admission clinic not the hospital. I misunderstood.
Reply #733. Jun 23 10, 7:43 PM
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| lesley153
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Ah - I'm with you now - need more sleep!
Bedford to Papworth is about a 40-minute drive, and I don't think you can get there by public transport.
I need to get to Papworth for pre-admission checks on the 1st. Any other time I would drive but it may be too far for me to drive safely, I shall probably get lost, and it's Too Early!
Papworth tell me I can get patient transport, my own GP's staff tell me I can't.
When I go in on the 14th for surgery on the 15th, Jonathan will take me, and that will be much simpler! |
Reply #734. Jun 23 10, 8:18 PM
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MarchHare007
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The way I read it Lesley - you qualify.
Would Papworth organise the transport from their end?
Honeybee I hope all goes well.
Drown the Helper I think. ;)
Reply #735. Jun 23 10, 9:33 PM
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| sherry75
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Maybe something to do with two different PCT (one in Beds and the hospital in Cambs). I would have thought Papworth could put pressure on your GP surgery to arrange transport as it does seem very intransigent - imagine public transport is going all the way into Cambridge and then getting a local bus, which would take for ever. Perhaps a friend or neighbour may offer to drive you?
Reply #736. Jun 24 10, 2:16 AM
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| lesley153
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MH, I'd have thought so. We shall see.
Sherry - two different PCTs - could well be that. Pressure? yes, I am actually hoping they will if they need to. What surprised me was that they'd had to check the rules, which makes it sound like they've never arranged patient transport before. And the friend who works with that sort of thing didn't tell me I don't qualify because I can walk.
We all meet people, or see them on the telly, who say they have the best friends or neighbours in the world, will do anything for them, and take them anywhere they want to go. Where do you meet these paragons? Most of the people I know are up to their eyes with jobs and children. Oh no - make that all - the only exception was Merv, and he doesn't drive and I haven't seen him for 18 months, which I am quite happy about.
It's about 20 miles - a 30-40 minute drive - and I think it's too much of an imposition on most people to ask them to take you, hang around for an hour or three or however long the tests take, and then take you home again.
I shall see if I can find someone in Papworth to tell me how it works.
|
Reply #737. Jun 24 10, 7:09 AM
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| lesley153
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I rang Papworth admissions office, and spoke to a woman who said that there are some GPs who try very hard not to do things... She will ring them and see if she can persuade them change their minds.
So - so far, I have a GP who doesn't think a patient with breathing difficulties warrants picking up his stethoscope, but does think it's OK to tell her she's a liar and a hypochondriac; a practice manager who always does what doctors tell him; and receptionist who are, what, also obeying doctors' orders? We shall see.
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Reply #738. Jun 24 10, 7:21 AM
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| lesley153
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That's what the ambulance service managers said, when I complained about the ambulance crew that picked me up. They didn't seem to think I deserved their service. I asked if the crew knew the conclusion the hospital had reached. They don't, and the managers said they didn't need to know my medical details. The fact that Bedford hospital kept me in for three weeks is proof enough for them.
Thank you for reminding me about Dial-a-Ride. I don't think I can use them for this though, because it's sort of hospital treatment, rather than visiting, and it's outside Bedford... Yes, it's very cheap - £1 to join, £3 a year subscription, and the fares are probably peanuts.
When I came out of Bedford hospital in mid-April, forbidden to drive, and not being able to walk very far very easily, I was horrified at the prospect of spending weeks or months relying on the charity of friends and neighbours, most of whom aren't at home most of the time, and Sandy's in America now, or taxis, or (worst of all) public transport. I wouldn't have felt so desperate if I'd remembered them.
I did walk to the post office once. Very tentatively, very slowly! It's half a mile, and it took me twenty minutes there, and a few minutes less to walk back, because it's more downhill. Not something I'd want to make a habit of.
Haven't heard anything from Papworth yet. |
Reply #740. Jun 24 10, 9:32 AM
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