Bay Watch 8

Bulletin 8: Wednesday 28th April 2010

I must apologise for the slight hiatus in the appearance of this final batch of Bay Watch bulletins. One of the side-effects of my procedure is impaired vision, so I've been unable to do as much on-screen work or reading as I should have liked, which has been very frustrating.

Things are looking good. On check-in we spot that my name appears on the whiteboard at the Nurses* Station, so at least I'm expected. We are then escorted to the cosy two-bedded Room 2 of Higginson Ward, one bed of which is conveniently available. The other inmate is a very pleasant and cheerful chap of about my age, named Keith. My amazing powers of deduction lead me to the conclusion that he is in because of a spot of leg trouble: his left leg is artificial from mid-thigh downwards. You can't fool me.

There's more to it that that, we learn. His life has been well and truly buggered up over the past two years after a mis-diagnosis. He reported a lump behind his left knee and was told that this was something called a Baker's cyst. He was asked to come back in nine months' time if he was still in pain. He did, to be told that the growth was cancerous and that it should have been treated months ago. His leg was amputated, but by then cancers had spread to his lungs and the rest of his body. He had lost his job – a porter at a Cambridge college – and the accommodation which went with it. He was having some lung treatment and was hoping to be out the next day. There's always someone worse off, isn't there? We met his lovely wife Heather during evening visiting time: she and Management had a great time chin-wagging and we're hoping to stay in touch over the months to come, since they occasionally take their grandchildren on day trips from Cambridge to Felixstowe.

There is a modestly-sized flat-screen TV on the wall. The volume is on low, and snooker is being shown. Very calming, and Titchmarsh-free.

Thursday 29th April
In the words of Ben Hur, 'Today is the day.' Management and Food Police have special dispensation to come in early to say good luck before I'm carted off at about 9.30am. I remember confirming my signature on a consent form, and being in a holding area outside a suite of operating theatres, with other punters all no doubt waiting to be wheeled in for their 10.00am procedures. I overhear some gossip among annoyed staff about a patient witholding their consent at this late stage for the second occasion. I don't even remember making it in to theatre. That's all I remember about 29th April.



*I'm henceforth following the NHS convention of ignoring the correct usage of the apostrophe. This also applies, for example, to 'childrens wards' and 'patients privacy.'