So, it was an interesting week last week when I had a medical episode at work. I won’t go into specifics, as you don’t want to know about ‘old man problems’. But it was pretty scary – to the point I was thinking my time on this Earth had run out.
My first port of call was Caloundra Hospital, where I was given VIP service that I couldn’t fault, some very reassuring nurses and a very efficient doctor.
The next part of the adventure was the ambulance ride to Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH). Same thing: highly efficient and caring crew delivering me to a very busy hospital where I got to experience ramping.
My Old Mate was there to greet me with a very reassuring smile and “WTF are you doing here?”.
That was followed by a running commentary about mistakenly parking in the private hospital car park and having to hoof it all the way to emergency in a totally other hospital. Very inconvenient.
Now this encounter, from the “WTF” to the marathon walk, broke the ice with all the ramping crew and actually made me feel a whole lot better as well.
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At that point, I started marvelling at what frontline workers have to navigate every day – whether delivering patients or trying to repair them. It is bloody amazing.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, I had some tests, was shifted to different areas where the staff changed and I had to tell my story a thousand times.
I arrived at Caloundra at 12.30pm on September 20; I eventually was discharged at SCUH at 3.45am the next day.
Now, the reason I am putting the time and date in is if someone from Queensland Health or a politician happens to be reading this, please take note.
In that time, I never encountered one staff member or paramedic who wasn’t totally professional and caring.
The way every one of them handled sometimes difficult patients and situations was incredible.
The only grumpy person I came across was the one I married, but her tough love usually does the trick with me and certainly amuses others.
So, thank you to all and sundry for the job you do. In my mind, the pollies and high-end bureaucrats should base their salary on what these people do for a whole lot less. Love you all, and it’s times like that you realise how much you love your family.
Ashley Robinson is Mets Caloundra CEO, chairman of Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
