starting to understand the crisis in health care.

Okay this may be a long entry.

I'm documenting my time trying to get blood in Hervey Bay.
We thought that since it was Christmas we would try to get blood here rather than travel to
Brisbane.  Doc Shoozenbootzen's practice manager sorted out a doc up here to admit me. He will for all time be the shock jock  or doc jock. Anyway I have never seen him or talked to him. His assisatant talks to me and is very nice but never has given me their location or their phone number, I have to call into the Hospital switch to get to her. So first off they got me in to do the crossmatch blood test on Monday for blood on Friday...no has to be blood on Saturday. I said are you sure you can take the crossmatch blood more than 3 days before? they said yes. I asked the state pathology tech the same question she said yes. Its a rule at my regular clinic and at the regular pathology people that it can't be more than three days old.

So I get a call while on Fraser Island ...actually several calls but I couldn't call back because the phone number is blocked... anyway on spec I call the lady at the hospital who says yes I was calling to say you have to do another blood test for cross match Friday. Dooh!

I come Friday do the test and phone her back ( Remember I have to go through the hospital switch every time), and ask her some basics like what time?  Don't know the "bed lady" was trying to get me. Where? The medical ward. Huh. I have to be put in a hospital bed! The bed lady never called so had to call back again and she was gone home so put on to the ward clerk I guess. I'm guessing about all this because no one would say names, give phone numbers etc. anyway was told to report to medical ward at 9:30am. because I have to get admitted by the staff doc and they start work at 8:00 am but won't be able to see me until then. as we arrived on time were hopeful. I'm puzzled why we have to waste this staff docs time when my consultant and Doc Jock have both signed off on my need. but am told the staff Doc has to order the blood ..but the blood has been ordered and in fact i know its at Pathology already!! The staff Doc has to order it be brought over from Pathology!!!

20 minutes till someone came in to say 'hi and someone will be in to see me' in a few moments. 10:00 rolls past and a nurse starts to canulate, dramas as usual but its in as doc drops by and we're off....

Nope it wasn't until11:00 til they brought blood in only to
discover the doc hadn't done consent form. five people are now in flurry to get forms etc because blood can only be out of fridge for 1/2 hour.  Now I'm thinking its going to be out for two hours while infusing so whats the big deal but I don't say anything because we are finally seeing some speed. 11.45 I start the blood pump and its now 1.30. Four hours to get 3/4 of one bag into me. second bag queued up though. My nurse today is very nice and competent.  asked her why it seems so hard and out of the ordinary....they never do day bloods here!!!! why am i here? dont know. day bloods are usually done at the oncology unit down the hall!!!!! WTF???

We have decided to re-explore this Hervey Bay transfusion again from scratch with better knowledge about what can go wrong but do it in the first week of Jan when I don't urgently need blood.

Anyay I have asked for my blood results twice and still have not seen them. three times while editing!

The food was edible.

What a waste of tax payer funds. to all my queenslander pals i'm sorry the system is so wastefull hope no one really sick needed this bed.

makes me really appreciate the staff at my regular clinic

more later
Chris