I was still really not very keen on Weald House and so went to see the British Nursing Association in Cambridge and was very impressed with their home nursing services and then Dad was keen but sadly mother was not when Di and I rushed over to Bury St Edmunds to discuss it with her. After dropping off Freda at Stanton, I drove Di and I back to Paxton too weary to think any more about it. London’s ambulance service still ‘in a shambles’ but least there is the prospect is of talks tomorrow.
Another long and stressful day. I had a conversation with Freda this morning to compare notes and then I started looking through the Yellow Pages for other nursing home adverts as I was really not very keen on Weald House. I chanced upon adverts for nursing services under the banner ‘As you need never leave your own home’ and so I called the British Nursing Association and arranged to see the Superintendent in Hills Rd, Cambridge on my way to see Dad at Addenbrookes this afternoon.
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I had lunch and then off I went, and I was impressed with the nursing agency. They can offer everything from auxiliary to qualified nursing from two hours to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They have ‘sleeper duties’ involving overnight stay, they will cook a meal and wash up and, in short, I could not see why Mum and Dad could not be nursed home rather than considering a rather stark and depressing nursing home at all. I drove on to Dad when I told him of what I had learnt, and he was keen to give them a try at home. It was a touching occasion: The day before I had offered Dad a chance to come out for a couple of hours and see Weald House, but he had said ‘best not to’ but ‘just to go there’. When I arrived today, I was therefore surprised to see him washed and dressed ready to have a trip instead as ‘we might as well go and look’. I therefore took him downstairs for a chat and, him being on much less morphine, he was very sensible and lucid. I got us a cup of tea and we sat, and he drank it all with the aid of a straw and enjoyed it. He was keen on a trial return home and, keener still, knowing what Mum’s reaction for the idea would be.
After I came home, I discussed the situation with Freda by phone and she warned that mum would be dead set on the nursing home and so I dashed over to Bury St Edmunds with Di to see her together there. She was as Freda thought. She even seems afraid of the wheelchair and was all mentally prepared for the nursing home. I had to telephone Dad from her ward and he was disappointed and rather upset. Wearily, we dropped Freda off at the Stanton and then drove home to Paxton, arriving at 11pm and recovered by having a milky drink each before bed. We were too weary to even think about the situation and determine that Dad’s considered view would be the guideline in the morning. The news today was appalling problems in the ambulance dispute, with London’s ambulance service still ‘in a shambles’. At least there is the prospect is of talks tomorrow.