Tag: healthcare

Life Support

Build an ADMIT KIT for unexpected hospital admissions when travelling

You never know when an unexpected medical problem will interrupt your trip with a hospital visit. Here is a list of useful items to take with you. Even better, if you (or a family member) are about to go to hospital, or you frequently require admission, why not make an admit kit. A small pre-packed bag with your name & contact number clearly attached to … Continue reading Build an ADMIT KIT for unexpected hospital admissions when travelling

Ian Miller1 Comment
Journal

How do you sleep when it’s 43 degrees Celsius?

Many parts of Australia are expecting temperatures consistently approaching or above 40 C (105 F) this week. Some areas will top 45 C (113 F). It’s hard enough trying to get our day to day activities done in these conditions, but imagine for a moment if you were trying to sleep through them overnight. For many shift workers this is a reality. Nurses, doctors, police, … Continue reading How do you sleep when it’s 43 degrees Celsius?

Ian Miller2 Comments
Life Support

What happens to William after he dies in hospital?

William is a 68 year old man who has just died in hospital.He could be your friend. He could be your spouse. He could be a close family member.This is the story of what will happen to William next. Immediately after William has died. William’s death might be expected: he has been receiving palliative care, nurses ensuring he has been comfortable and experiencing as little … Continue reading What happens to William after he dies in hospital?

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Life Support

Emergency department overcrowding. Why is my bed in a corridor?

Every day, all over Australia patients that have been treated in Emergency Departments (ED’s) and need admitting to hospital are moved out into ED corridors because there are no ward beds available.  Nationally, emergency department waiting times are steadily rising. A recent report (pdf) released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that for 2017-18 there were more than 8 million presentations to public … Continue reading Emergency department overcrowding. Why is my bed in a corridor?

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Life Support

What the heck is going on in this Emergency Department?

How come I have been waiting to be seen in the Emergency Department for 2 hours, and that lady walks in and goes straight through? That is just not fair. Everybody understands what a queue is. And it seems like a fair and reasonable way to be seen. After all, it works for banks, and GP surgeries, and football games. But the problem in an … Continue reading What the heck is going on in this Emergency Department?

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Journal

The day I left a person in a urine soaked bed.

Before I retired I was a nurse. I wrote this story sometime back around 2014. I suspect little has changed since then. An article in our local paper today described the anguish of a family of a patient who alleged they were left in a urine soaked bed for several hours.I make no comment on this  particular incident as I do not know the details around … Continue reading The day I left a person in a urine soaked bed.

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