Sad Tales and a Night at the Theatre

my friend who had been in hospital rang to say that some borderline malignancy had been found at her operation. She said that the surgeon had been quite upbeat though, and had not suggested further treatment. Somehow the interview with the surgeon raised more questions than it answered, so she was going to await her copy of the follow up letter from the surgeon to the GP which might mention staging and so on.

She said she was concentrating on recovering from the surgery, and though surrounded by helpful visitors now, that this would drop off after the next few weeks and we should then meet up at her house for dinner. I contacted another of our group who suggested we should each cook a course of the meal which would be fun. I shall supply the pudding!

I then had a call from my ex sister in law who said that her mother had been discharged home from hospital.She had attended a case conference. She had been very impressed by her mother's treatment at the rehabilitation centre and the way the team all worked together. It had been agreed that her mother would have four visits per day from the care worker to make sure she had not fallen over and so on.

However, when she visited on the Saturday after discharge her mother said the care worker had only called twice on Friday and not at all that morning. On checking the forms, the carer had filled these in to say she had visited four times the day before and had made her mother sign for this! My sister in law waited for the carer, who eventually arrived some time later than she was due, and confronted her about this. The care worker at first stated that her mother had requested her not to come so often, which was denied. Then my sister in law stated that she had lied on the form that she had been present, and she agreed that this had been so and 'they all do it'. My ex sister in law was very angry about this and took the keys back from the carer, who flounced off in a rage and said 'you look after your mother, then'. I suggested she contact the social worker and report all this and perhaps even try to find another agency if they could not send anyone better. It is a huge worry to her, and to all of us, particularly as we get older ourselves, to hear such stories of abuse.

On a happier note, I went to see 'Landscape with Weapon' at the Cottesloe. At least two of the cast of the TV hospital series 'The Green Wing' including the rather gorgeous Julian Rhind Tutt were in this. It was a brilliant play, well acted and a very enjoyable evening. I bumped into some people I knew there, always nice when you go to the theatre alone.