A Mistake Discovered Too Late

This morning I received a telephone response from Abby of Southampton General Hospital PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) concerning the manner of my discharge from hospital on 24th August (https://derrickjknight.com/2024/08/25/four-days/). I made it clear that I wanted to prevent this happening again to anyone else. She will discuss this with the relevant department and report back to me. I am under no illusions that the system will change other than perhaps ensuring that the discharge doesn’t happen on such a day when necessary help is not available.

We then transported another 13 spent compost bags of green refuse to Efford Recycling Centre and came home with two plant stands purchased from the Reuse Shop.

After lunch I finished reading the last story in my Folio Society collection from the work of Maria de Zayas.

Beginning with a dramatic description of a tempest and cleverly led escape to security by an exceptional male character in that he is honest, caring, and seeking answers to

the scene pictured in this illustration by Eric Fraser, it is in fact the treachery of women leading to the typical male cruelty. A woman’s lies result in the honour murder of an innocent man and the disparity of the two women in the picture.

The device for recounting the story is the falsely dishonoured man explaining it to the honourable protagonist and standing by his extreme cruelty as justified revenge.

Maria de Zayas closes with: “It is my opinion, incidentally, that some women suffer innocently. They are not all guilty, as is commonly supposed, and the ladies present might consider this: if the innocent….must pay for imaginary crimes, then what ought not to be the punishment of those who pursue their vicious follies in all reality. It is worth noting that, at the present day, men have such an adverse opinion of us that even if we endure innocent suffering they still decline to do anything about it.” In fairness, she has granted a happy ending to the good man of this tale.

Later, I watched the next episode of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams.

This evening we dined on salt and pepper, and tempura prawn preparations with Jackie’s colourful savoury rice.

67 comments

    1. You are right, GP. Apparently he was driving. He had come so far in Freddie’s little group. Thanks very much

  1. Interesting variety of topics. I think you are wise in your expectations of you what will happen because you expressed concern on being discharged on a day when nobody was available and Jackie was a good soldier, doing what was needed and possible. Interesting final story by this author.

  2. Well, at least PALS followed up. Perhaps they really will be more conscientious in future.
    Lovely garden photo. Is that a rain-catcher vessel-and-chain water feature in the left side of the photo? Cool!
    That artwork is stunning.

  3. At least they followed up with you (after a few weeks). Sigh.
    The story sounds like it gives the reader much to think about.
    A lovely purchase from the reuse shop.

  4. Wow Derrick, sometimes hospitals can go way off the path, I hope you will be okay. “The treachery of women”… That reminds me of divorce. 🤭

  5. YAY for the plant stands!
    I do hope the hospital will learn from your experience and make the necessary changes to be better helpers to their patients. I’m glad you shared your experience with them.
    Besides the necessary paid staff, our hospitals all have volunteer helpers (many volunteers, every day of the week) who are easily accessible and ready to help the patients. The volunteers are usually students and senior adults. They are so wonderful! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️

  6. I’m glad you made the complaint and I hope the antibiotics kick in soon
    I still need to watch Freddie’s final episode. I was saddened to hear on the news today that one of the boys in his Preston cricket team had been killed in a car crash. So very sad

    1. Thank you very much, Sue. Doubly sad since we have followed him in the series. I’m not sure if he was old enough to have been driving

  7. It is always a good idea to lodge a complaint. It can make a difference sometimes.

    The human condition can be hard to read about. Yes, there are still those who would seek to keep women down.

  8. I’m going to go and read post about the discharge and comment there.

    I thought you should know, I’m growing a few plants and I have you to thank. Can’t get a garden like yours but I’m glad I’m a proud owner of some plants

  9. Good for you for being persistent with the hospital. I’m a firm believer in giving feedback in hopes of better care and preventing future mistakes. Cheers for Maria’s happy ending!

  10. New beginnings all round. A clearer garden, useful pot stands, hopefully better health/recovery with the right antibiotic, lovely flowers, and delicious food.

  11. I have noticed over the past few days that my comments do not appear on your post. I shall have to make them directly in reader, I think.

  12. I am glad Abby followed up with you, Derrick. I hope something good comes out of it, and they will learn something from you ordeal. Congrats on the new plant stands.

  13. Much like the maladies haunting us in modern times, we have managed to complicate our systems. And the inertia regarding these processes is unstoppable. Wishing you expeditious recovery.

  14. I have just deleted a comment on another blog. The writer wanted to blame all unwanted pregnancies on the woman. I won’t elaborate but I decided it would accomplish nothing to comment.

  15. In France we can dump 20 tons of rubbish free of charge per annum. The car is weighed on entrance and exit. We’ve never got anyway close to our allowance but I’m wandering how much garden refuse you dump per annum. Do you know?

    1. No idea, but it all gets recycled so I don’t think they’ll start charging us quite yet. Thanks very much, Sheree

  16. Ah yes, tempura shrimp with rice for tonight… will do! Like Laurie, I hope your comments and complaints do some good at the hospital so no one else has to endure what you did.

  17. Lovley plant stands. Il like the idea of a “Reuse center.” I wish we had those. I am impressed that PALS followed up, even it it doesn’t lead to changes. I hope at least something will improve, though.

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