Oh Kim, you poor thing...
Mum's been there, too...
She dialysed at a private hospital because there was no slot available at our local hospital where she sees the Nephrology team... So she dialysed Tuesday and Friday, (She was only dialysing twice a week). The taxi, paid for by the Health Service Executive, uses to drive past the gates of our local hospital, and on to the private hospital...
She would LOVE to have gone back to her Senior Citizen's Daycare Centre, but that was on Fridays, so for the entire year, I requested a change of schedule to allow her to attend.. No joy!... But when they had someone who wanted Tuesdays, they put DREADFUL pressure on her to change to Mondays... We agreed to change day to suit them, IF they agreed to change day to suit Mum... They refused, and so did we!!!... They mentioned moving her day anyway... What I didn't threaten to say and do wasn't worth saying and doing!!!... Going to the media, Mum refusing to go to dialysis, Me contacting the Dialysis Co-Ordinator for the whole country, Me picketing the hospital day and night, and going to court if need be.... They backed down... RAPIDLY!!!...
... Honestly, I can't understand why I'm known as 'That B***h in the Wheelchair!'...
Then they wanted to change her time... She had 7am-11am... They wanted her to go to 3pm-7pm... Mum didn't like that idea ONE bit!!!... What bugs me most was them saying "Well, at your mum's age, we know that this will be a better time for her"... Of course nobody asked MUM what was best for her... My reply to that suggestion is NOT repeatable in polite company... Let's just say that the reply was two words, each of four letters, and the phonetic wording would be 'Foxtrot Oscar'!!!...
Thankfully, Mum's on CAPD now, but it was a hellish year!...
You not turning up for dialysis tomorrow should set the cat among the pidgeons... I'd LOVE to be a fly on THAT wall... Just make sure you get in touch with your Neph. and inform him or her of WHY you won't be attending... Oh and email him/her that video you made, and email it to the CEO of the company who provide your dialysis... Oh and if you can, get in touch with the Health Correspondant at your local radio, and TV stations... Let's blow all of this dreadful treatment of vulnerable people right out of the water!...
May God bless you and keep you safe, Kim...
Keep fighting the good fight!...
.. Throw a tantrum if need be.... As a Hospital Chaplin said to me one day when Mum was being neglected "It's time to become a B with an itch"... He was right, I did, and it worked!!!!!....
Darth...