I set off last week for a trip (ahem) to Guernsey in the Channel Islands to stay with family, and a trip is exactly what happened..... at London City Airport.....on a step...... fortunately my ankle is intact. Unfortunately another bone in my foot broke. Ouch!
Short version - I'm fine. Longer version read below!
It happened at "arrivals" as I was on the way to baggage reclaim.... fortunately passengers came to my aid as I lay on the floor texting the friend, Anne, who was meeting me "Don't panic, but I've had a fall". (Reply was "What do you mean don't panic. Tell them to come and get me!" - they couldn't, security and all that).
Anyway a security person patrolling came along and got me into a wheelchair. It has to be said against First Aid rules as she got me to stand up and hobble down more stairs to a wheelchair at the bottom, despite my saying I couldn't put weight on my foot and I felt faint! But we made it! (yes letter going off to airport about that...). Wheeled through to collect my baggage and be met by a First Aider, who did know all the rules.
He wheeled me through to meet Anne, who bless her, is becoming used to visiting A&E with me (New York, London, Croydon...).... and we headed for the first aid room, which apparently doubles as a baby changing room. Um yes there was a baby there. Wait outside while room vacated and I get wheeled in. When I say "room" it's more of a cupboard..... I got wheeled in and no one else could get in, so out came a chair that was there and I was manoeuvred round it. As it was a baby changing room it had a wash hand basin and a hand dryer. Any time anyone moved the hot air shot out into the room. At this point I was convinced I would faint! Anyway I got onto the couch at the end and everyone stayed well clear of the hand-dryer! First Aider chap was very efficient but as I was a woman ( well spotted) he had to call a female first aider to deal with me. So when SHE arrived we had to start all over again explaining what had happened... Iced compress produced and plonked on foot which was starting to swell up rather nicely. Unclear as to whether sprain or break so recommended to go to A&E (Accident and Emergency). No need for Ambulance we said we'd make our way via a taxi. Having done this before (several times.....) we decided to get the taxi to take us to Anne's house so we could dump luggage and go to a local hospital. Then if we were still there at 1am it was just a sort journey "home".
First aider orders taxi and takes us to cafe so I can get a cup of hot sweet tea! Cafe busy. We very politely ask people to move so the wheelchair and I can get through. People move an inch...seriously..... NOBODY got up out of their chair to make way. Got tea at last and then got wheeled to taxi. I realised nobody really looks where they are going or considers other people. Many of course were looking at smart phones. But all were in small "boxes" not engaging with their environment at all. Constantly had to shout warnings to people or ask them to move. And boy if they had to move their luggage, did we get dirty looks. It was a depressing experience.
Taxi journey back to Anne's was a nightmare with taxi driver driving very fast and then slamming on brakes. We also narrowly avoided a collision with another vehicle, with screeching of brakes. Sigh. By the time we got back to Anne's we were BOTH feeling sick. Anne's mum lives nearby so was on hand with more tea and lots of sympathy. We then set off to A&E in Croydon (Surrey).
It's fair to say that the hospital is very old and undergoing some refurbishment. But we got seen pretty quickly for an A&E, and didn't have to wait long at triage.
Sent through speedily to be seen by a nurse and later a doctor. Receptionist gave me a form to fill in with a list of questions relating to injury. "Was an animal involved?" Nope can't blame Button this time.... OR Pecky Hen! I was then seen by a nurse for usual blood pressure, temperature checks etc. Goes back to sit in waiting room......
Nurse arrives with a piece of paper and a pen - could I fill in a customer satisfaction survey please. HUH? No seriously. Tick boxes from "poor" to "excellent". I look at nurse... he might need to stick needles in me..... I'm taking no chances, I tick Excellent and ramble incoherently in the "Why" box. (He was excellent actually and it's a sad indictment of our health service that someone with many years training and experience has to rely on a tick box exercise on level of service provided).
Called to see Doctor who is very jolly and makes lots of notes. 50/50 as to whether foot has broken bone or bad sprain etc. Off to X-ray......
Get called through to X-ray very quickly and sit on table. Confusion then ensues as the clinical record they have for me isn't ME! It's someone else with the same name and date of birth but who lives in London and not Orkney..... Many phone calls made by radiographer......
Meanwhile I lie on table and wonder what the dripping sounds are. I sit up..... I am surrounded (I kid you not) with buckets and large boxes which are catching drips from the ceiling...... it's raining heavily and seemingly the ceiling is leaking badly.... all around me and the electrical equipment. Gulp......
Eventually X-rays taken and I hop back to reception (no crutches or wheelchair provided, just hanging onto wall, and Anne, and hopping...). Then have a lengthy discussion (me on one leg) with receptionist over mistake. Receptionist thinks I might need to have x-rays done again as they are electronically attached to the wrong record. I said I'm not happy about that, not least as don't want to be exposed to more radiation because of a clerical error. She calls Doctor.... further prolonged discussion at which point I say I need to sit down......
Doctor then sees me and shows me x-ray. Small bit of bone has broken off. She produces a walking-boot (see above). I practice walking successfully, am given a crutch for stability (seriously dangerous with a crutch and abandon it later). Hands me notes and sends us on our way (phew). I'm to report to local fracture clinic in Orkney when I get home.
Once back at Anne's I read notes from Doctor. "Presented with a tiny limp". I might have accepted "Tiny, presented with limp" but seriously how can not being able to put weight on foot, hopping and holding onto anything available for balance be classed as "tiny limp" Harumph!
And I left the most bizarre to last..... as we were waiting for a taxi to take us back to Anne's I received this text......
HUH??? Seriously?? Yup seriously. I ignored it and got another one later that evening. I am a patient NOT a customer! Yes I use a service but seriously - how often does anyone have any choice as to which A&E they attend???!!!!! And collecting "satisfaction" information that way is hugely inaccurate for all sorts of reasons. Has NHS England lost its senses? Wait that's a rhetorical question because yes it has......
Anyway foot went a range of multi colours before fading..... see picture. Not as painful as it looks, honestly. I was well looked after by Anne and her Mum, and had a good time catching up with friends. Though sadly won't see family this year.
I arrived home at the weekend and am doing OK getting around the house thanks to lots of help from friends, including
Mr & Mrs Tense Towers, and neighbours. I got "assistance" at airports which worked brilliantly, although again depressing to get dirty looks and glares from fellow passengers. Makes me seriously wonder what sort of society we have become.....
Walking boot nicely protects foot and make me look like a) Robocop or b) Ice Hockey Skater!
Off to the fracture clinic tomorrow and hoping to be told things are progressing well. May need to keep boot on for 4 to 6 weeks but we'll see!
And no of course Button is not sympathetic. Clearly she ignored the memo "MIND MY FOOT!" (as you can see though, it is MUCH better in terms of bruises and swelling).
