I was properly awake by about 7am. Obviously the first feelings were "Where the hell am I?". Eventually the memories of the previous day came to me and I remembered where I was.
Shortly after I was greeted by a "Morning". It was from the girl in the bed opposite me. I returned the greeting and got another burst of "Morning". This time it was a male voice from the bed next to the girl. We chatted for a while then the breakfast trolley came around. Wasn't a great choice (cereal, cereal, cereal, cereal, or bread and a spread). I settled for Weetabix.
Then for a while I did writing of this as well as listening to Kiss100fm on my portable radio. About 9ish the girl said she was going for a cigarette. I enquired if she would show me where we could smoke. She agreed and once I had some trousers and shoes on (still wearing gown) we went to the (unofficial) smoking area which was on the fire escape.
Whilst out there I took the opportunity to make a couple of phone calls on my mobile which I had taken out with me. I contacted home and my work to update them on my situation. The girl and myself alse chatted about why we were there. She was in for a gall bladder removal operation, which had happened a few days ago.
When we got back onto the ward the doctors / consultants / registars were doing the rounds. They got to me at some point and like with the other patients the curtains were drawn. The doctor who seemed in charge then asked me some questions before another barrage of prodding and poking.
This doctor seemed to think it could be to do with my colon or gall bladder and requsted a scan (ultrasound I think) be undertaken. He then added some more drugs for me to take. As I was the last patient he was visiting on my ward, after finishing with me the doctor and his onterage left the ward.
Later in the morning the girl said she was going for another cigarette. We had been chatting to the guy in the bed next to her about how nice it was to get some fresh air out there as the ward was hot and stuffy. He was aprehensive though as he was here as had a broken leg (tibia) and he would have to negotiate the full length of the ward.
Once he was up on the crutches (leg wraped in a splint) he hobbled along the ward with us and joined us on the fire escape. Whilst outside they both said that they would most likely be going home today. We stayed out there about 10-15 minutes then returned to the ward. On our return we found out we would be moving wards.
The girl checked with the nurses to see if she really go home. The doctors had said she could and soon was packed and dressed, ready for her mum to get her. Just before lunch her mum turned up and she had said goodbye to everyone she made her way home.
The maintenance crew started moving everything that wasn't screwed down like the lockers next to beds, bins, tables, etc and also things that were screwed down like white-boards, paper towel dispensers, etc. The patients (including me) had to wait to be moved. We soon learned was due because infection control had to determine the ward safe (should I be worried?).
Before we were moved, lunch was brought round. I had Fish (Haddock I believe) and Chips. After lunch I made sure I had packed everything for the move into bags which I left at the foot of my bed.
The infection control team soon determined the new ward safe and shortly after the maintenance crew came down to start moving us (the patients). They started moving the females first, so the other 2 guys and myself had to wait about 20mins.
The guy with the broken leg was moved up to the new ward with us even though he was going home as he had to wait for his wife to finish her shift elsewhere in the hospital.
On arrival on the ward was the notable addition of a small unit on a swing arm above the bed to watch T.V.(terrestial and basic digital channels), make and recieve phone calls (direct) and listen to the radio (http://www.patientline.co.uk).
The upside of the unit is you have free radio, breakfast T.V., and to recieve calls. The downside is you have to pay for T.V. (2hour=£2.00. 1day=£3.50 7days £20,00) and obviously to make calls (20units on a £2.00 card and 50units on a £5.00 card).
About an hour after arrival on the ward the guy with broken leg was on his way home when his wife finished her shift.
That left on my half of the ward a guy who had a stomach problem and was on free fluids (basically any liquids) and myself.
After I had my tea,one of my sisters and my mum came to visit. They brought a card, flowers (*) and some other items I had phoned for them to bring in.
*Off Topic (slightly):- Why do people bring in Dead (cut) flowers into hospital when someone is sick. Wouldn't it be better to give a Living Plant?
On Topic:- They stayed for a while chatting about my stay and what's happening on the outside world. An hour or so into their visit my colleague who had visited yesterday (Thursday) popped in for another visit.
This was a short visit as he would be off to the meal at the local restaurant for 2 of my colleagues who were celebrating their birthdays recently. One was 40, whilst the other was 50. As we are a Mad bunch at work it was advertised in our tea-room as the "90th Birthday Meal".
My colleague also brought in with him a copy of the Evening Standard and some fruit. He brought me upto speed on things at work aswell. We started a crossword in the ES but he had to leave before finishing it so he could get to the meal on time. My mum and sister left a little while later.
Not long after my family left I went to find the place I could purchase cards for my T.V./Phone bedside unit. I was told there was a vending machine on the ground floor (5 floors down). On the way to the lift I asked a member of the nursing staff who said that there should be a machine on this floor. They took me to the main corridor and down one of the side corridors was the machine.
I got myself a 1day T.V. card to watch some evening entertainment. When I got to my bed I picked up the reciever to register my details. Once details were confirmed, the operator said that my extention number would appear on the screen to confirm I was registered. 7, 8, 9pm came and went with still no details. Twice I picked up the handset but all I got was a recorded message saying to replace the handset as my details were being registered. In the end I gave up and went to sleep.
On This Day - 1952: Tea rationing to end
News of the end of tea rationing means Britions will soon be able to enjoy unlimited 'cuppas' for the first time in 12 years.