When The Sun Goes Down And The Drip Goes Up

There are frequent little accidents with people ´falling off pavements´ ´tripping up steps´ ´slipping on water left by the other clients in the toilets!!!´ Summer sandals and flip flops are to blame for many of these accidents. ´Twisting their ankle while playing squash´ generally some things that could be avoided with common sense. Looking where you are going! But accidents do happen and we will always have patients in hospital while on holiday. They will be annoyed ´Watching the sun go down and their drip go up!´

Sometimes we would give anything to ´put back time´ If only they could have done so on this case. We’ll call them Patrick and Samantha. They arrived for a secret long weekend. The weather was glorious and after quickly checking into the hotel they made their way to the beach. Nothing was going to stop Samantha going for a ride on the water with the skis. In the north of Majorca we have a very long open beach, perfect for water skiing. That day the wind was up and as they started off in separate boats alongside each other, they had lost themselves in their expectations for the weekend. Not long after doing a turn to come back the other way Patrick, showing off to Samantha, took the wave badly and flipped up!! Samantha took the full force of his skis and yes, you’ve guessed! Under she went crying out with pain.

Rushed into A&E we promptly diagnosed two fractured legs, severely fractured nose, deep gash on her cheek and side. Not a good state but treatable. Patrick was distraught. Samantha very angry, mixed with severe pain. We patched her up and decided on her treatment plan. Problem here, No insurance. They didn’t think they would need it for a weekend BREAK! Well that’s what she got, well and truly. Patrick had to think and make plans. No way was Samantha going to let him leave her. Full marks for him, He didn’t´.

This story cost him a lot of money. Maybe his marriage too. Take into account the following actions. First, a telephone call to his wife explaining why he wouldn’t be back from his ´business course´ on time. Then of course he had so many other arrangements to make including the subsequent urgent phone calls to his bank to arrange a loan!! He had to pay for her repatriation with a Mr Hugo and a private repatriation company. The final cost was around £25,000. Take into account, the unavoidable stretcher repatriation and private ambulance on arrival. Then private hospital and plastic surgery for Samantha’s face. Was it all worth it? That’s something we will never know. We cannot keep in touch and get information as to how these patients complete all the treatment they require. Samantha has tried to contact us through a website but we have never followed it up. After all we’re not here to judge anyone, we’re here to help and listen.

Muriel was another case who was admitted almost directly from the airport. Having arrived at the hotel they were walking around the pool to the terrace for their cocktail before dinner. As happens so easily Muriel lost her footing and tumbled into the pool. She hit her hip on the side. You’ve guessed, she fractured her hip and leg in two places. She couldn’t understand how it had happened. She was very confused. And they had no holiday insurance. I explained to her husband James that she could be transferred to an NHS hospital across the island. James refused and decided she should stay with us and be operated immediately. He would be paying for all that was necessary. All this time Muriel was in extreme pain and rambling saying to James” James where are we? I thought we were having a holiday”. James answered constantly, “Yes Muriel we are but you’ve had an accident” She continued to be disorientated.

Their hotel was a well known local five star. Maybe she was unable to receive five star accommodation from us. I think she got five star medical treatment though, so did James. We allowed him to stay with her in the room. Poor man he was so very patient with her. A lovely dignified gentleman. Their daughter, Carol, who arrived to help them both, looked just like her father and sounded just like her mother. She also had an exquisite refined English voice. For her own good and with a request from James and Carol, we slightly sedated Muriel. She was suffering not only from pain but also with her undignified predicament. “I only came for my holiday” She constantly reminded us. As she was elderly, which you may have gathered, she was on numerous medications. Not only did she need all of these but furthermore needed special attention for her various other “beastly ailments”.

The situation took a turn for the better when I inquired about any other insurance they may have.” Oh Yes “James admitted “I’ve been paying a private patient’s plan for nearly forty years and never claimed anything” “Brilliant” was my answer to that. This could be all sorted. Within two hours they had cover initially for all the medical costs. Things were plain sailing after that apart from having to sooth her feelings over various aspects of her hospital stay. She was ok. Regrettably, but for their own safety, sometimes we have to gently secure patients arms and/or legs. If not we would forever be putting drip lines back in. Worse still could be the resetting of bones after operations. The patient doesn’t realise what they are doing hence the slight sedation. But this is always with the family’s permission. Can you imagine Muriel struggling out of her traction to get to the toilet sorry, ladies room, “I’m not using that beastly bedpan and you won’t make me” was her unvarying reply