During the afternoon, two men  arrived, again arranged by our wonderful OT, to measure up for ramps over the various steps in the house and  access to the office and hopefully these will be in place within a few days making the whole process of moving from the house to office that much easier. We have been so lucky with our support team – I really cannot fault them.

I spent the day in my study with my laptop and telephone in catching up on matters which had built up during my absence. I won’t be able to resume using my office until the new ramps are in place. Even if I’m not in a wheelchair I would still find it difficult to negotiate the steps, even with the assistance of the pulpit frame.

I’ve been in this hospital  for nine days and I leave with the greatest admiration for the  very high standard of care provided.

As I have said earlier, in this blog, the dignity,  sensitivity and caring demonstrated by the nursing staff, at all levels, is exemplary, bearing in mind that they are dealing with elderly gentleman, many of whom are in various stages of dementia with associated problems such as incontinence. Quite clearly not every NHS hospital has this extremely high standard otherwise there would be no grounds at all for complaint.

When I left my ward I told all the lovely people, on duty at the time, that I hoped that would I never see them again – I’m sure they understood what I meant by that. Rather like the dentist, a great man but I’d rather not see him professionally, that is. However, if I should ever be unfortunate enough to have to be admitted to hospital again then I would always choose to come back to Addenbrookes

I would love to mention all of the caring staff who looked after me by name but to do so would be invidious, particularly, as I’m bound to forget, or indeed never have known,  the name of one or two of them.. So a global thank you for the wonderful care. they administered to me.

As a relatively healthy observer I had an excellent overview of degree of involvement and caring given by carers of loved ones in various stages of dementia. These carers, who I often saw visiting patients, are truly heroes and heroines. Giants of industry and the academia, are reduced, in their latter years, to sadly confused human beings, which, at times, can be very undignified, hopefully more for the carer then the cared for

I suppose the only small blot on this otherwise immaculate canvas is that the chief executive, Gareth Goodier, failed either to  acknowledge, or respond, to my e-mail. (I did check out with his PA and after extensive searches it seems that he never  received it.). Such a pity as it takes such a little time to respond and certainly does wonders for the hospital’s PR.

Enough of hospitals. I shall close this chapter and await my ambulance to start my new life at home with a variety of equipment.

The good Dr Long (Michael) arrives this  evening in time for ‘my lovely’s’ birthday tomorrow, when my darling daughter Chloe, will also be with us for the day. So  much to look forward to. The champagne will shortly report on the ice.

The breakfast was pretty basic. Various fruit juices. cereals and toast. Lunch, and indeed the evening meal, were fairly similar in that they comprised a very nourishing soup, all of which were quite delicious. and a choice of two or three hot dishes, one of which would be vegetarian. Alternatively, if you didn’t fancy a hot meal then there was a choice of two or three freshly cut, vacuum sealed sandwiches. Puddings were a variety of dishes – rice pudding; spicey apple; sponge pudding; sticky toffee pudding etc or various jellies, trifles or yoghurts. Mid-morning one would be offered a choice of a fruit juices, tea or coffee.  and the same in the afternoon with the addition of cake or biscuits. At bedtime, there was a  choice of the usual bedtime drinks – Horlicks; Ovaltine or Hot Chocolate. If I understood it correctly, the hospital only has £2.52  per day, per patient  to produce such a variety of eminently edible meals. If that is so I think it’s quite remarkable and I will never entertain a complaint about the poor quality  of NHS  catering from anyone.

Not only were the  physiotherapists really helpful but so were the occupational therapists. Anna and Angela came up to see me and took away the electric shaver pouch, they had had made for me on an earlier visit, in order to make some adjustments to it.

Now I can clamp it firmly on my right hand and shave myself, without assistance, when I’m lying flat on my bed. I commend this idea to anyone who has weak hands and shaves with an electric razor.

‘My lovely’ turned up just before lunch and bravely offered to purchase an NHS lunch from the trolley but this was refused, apparently it would  overcomplicate  the paperwork! She went off and returned early afternoon with some more goodies grapes, raspberries etc

Yesterday I sent an e-mail to the hospital CEO with, what I considered to be, some sensible comments. For example: name badges for staff to be worn on their  breast so that we can identify them easily and address them by their proper name instead of just calling ‘nurse’. I also questioned the sophisticated telephone and television system provided over each bed which is very nice but very expensive.  I am the only one in this 6 bed ward using it, although, at least,  two of the others could certainly afford it. I realise that this was probably part of a PDF contract (privately funded scheme for which the developer is paid an annual fee) (and therefore not within the control of the NHS. Despite this but I pointed out, what is, no   doubt, already  well known to any chief executive of the hospital, the importance of some form of entertainment for recovering patients and one for which they should not have to pay £5 a day  per day or 49P a minute telephone call. I also mentioned the lack of broadband facilities, which in this day and age, is essential to those of us who are active are confined to bed.

I should have also pointed out that the bathroom, which, apparently has only been fairly recently been completed, should have included an elevated WC, on a pedestal,  . such as we have recently had installed at home and an adjustable height shower seat (the one they have yet is fixed too low). This bathroom was clearly designed by someone who was not fully cognisant with the  requirements of elderly or sick patients. Even healthy elderly people have difficulty in  raising themselves from low seats.

Now to the most important event of the day. England became world champions by beating Australia in the 20/20 World Series Cricket, in Barbados, by a convincing seven wickets. Amazingly, this in England’s first world cricket title ever and augers well for  the forthcoming Ashes series.

What is a typical day here like for me for me here in hospital? I usually start my day at around for a listening to the World Service on the BBC, until radio four takes over at 5:30 a.m. Breakfast arrives at around 8.am in between I usually manage to do my daily bed exercises and then, leave my bed, using the pulpit frame and a little help from the nurses, into the bedside chair for breakfast.

After breakfast, which comprises cornflakes, orange juice and a piece of toast, if I am fortunate enough to grab a couple of nurses who take me into the shower to sit on the  loo and then have a thoroughly good shower, sitting on the fixed shower seat, before returning me to my  bedside chair to work through the morning on my laptop.

Another night mare night. I am certainly not going to be explicit as it might embarrass one or other of the patients or their     families. I only mention the fact that at night those poor souls who are confused are at their worst. In summary, not knowing where they are at all or wondering who all these people  sleeping in’their’ house’; or why has our house changed without their permission;  or you can wake up two o’clock in the morning and find one of these patients sitting in your chair adjacent to the bed -though partially clothed or totally naked -which is what happened to me last night and can be a little alarming. Of course, they know what they do and therefore one must be extremely sympathetic  and here the nursing staff show how brilliant they are, coaxing the patient back to bed,  in a  caring and considerate manner, even under the most trying circumstances. I am immensely impressed.

Cracks are already getting to appear in the Lib Con coalition the promised increase in inheritance tax allowance has been postponed; it looks as though VAT may well go up to 20%; and capital gains anything up to 50% more tax relief for the poorest families to be offset against tax for the next level -all matter is designed to hit the middle classes so this seems more like a Labour government that the Conservatives.

I put it to the doctors  that I have a limited walking life left and therefore even if the fracture does not heal perfectly  and I am left with a limp and even a little pain,  both would be a small price to pay for extending my walking life by a few weeks. They understood my concern and against the normal medical  process for getting me back on my feet, agreed to the use of the pulpit frame although, from time being, I can not still only put  the lightest  weight on the cast, but for heaven’s sake, it’s only a week or so since I broke it,  so  can’t possibly complain.

Of course, the highlight of every day is the visit (or perhaps two) from my lovely who brings me goodies in the way of fruit, nuts and chocolate. On my request, she  also brought me a little plain bottle containing whisky but one of the staff nurses noticed this and said rather sharply, that alcohol was not prescribed, so having be on the waggon for a week now I shall continue for a few days more, no doubt doing my system later a great deal of good. Funny thing is I don’t really miss it, nor indeed my evening cigar. It is nice to know, as I thought I might have become addicted to both but clearly they have become merely a matter of habit.

The days drag but  I’m fortunate in that  a second year Foundation Doctor, Gemma – I never learned her family name -, took pity on me when she realised I could not get broadband in this ward and very kindly lent her dongle, which allows me to use the Internet. She saved my life so I gave up my box of truffles.