Wednesday

I thought mum had regressed to the "take me home now" diatribe when I went last night but she wasn't as angry with it as before and the mood quickly passed, anti-depressant starting to work? The staff are still concerned about her food and drink intake although she did have a few spoonfuls of pudding today. I couldn't persuade her to have a drink or even a malteser tonight, so I have no idea whether she's on the mend or still declining. Ha ha - declining - an unintentional pun!

I like the ward mum is on, its not full of barmy old ladies (just mum, lol) but just 4 beds and at the moment the other three are occupied by a woman in her twenties/early thirties, a woman in her forties and a very frail elderly woman. Mum was entertaining them last night with her loud observations on all and sundry - "is that a man in that bed over there?", "I feel sorry for her, she looks lonely", "they care more about how the beds look than the patients", "I haven't been since I came here" and so on.

A big bone of contention in the UK is hospital parking charges and at mum's hospital, the money goes to some developer, not back into the healthcare pot. It costs me £2 for 1-2 hours and last night I was 7 minutes over the 2 hours so it cost me £3! When I stayed with her all day the first time she was admitted, that cost £10. Someone's getting rich and it ain't me! I'm going to get a 'frequent visitor' card which should save me some money. Visiting again tonight and lovely daughter is coming with me.