D-Day + 3 - Questions, questions

The last couple of days have been all about trying to establish answers to some pretty fundamental questions and I feel that we have made good progress.


The biggest question has been the NHS versus private issue. Because Dad had such a miserable time on the ward in the Charing Cross last month, we are VERY keen for him to be able to convalesce in a private room, where he will not be disturbed and be able to start his recovery in the right environment. However, given that the same surgeon would carry out the treatment at the same hospital at, give or take probably not much, around the same time and will be in the same Intensive Care Unit (ICU) irrespective of whether he goes private or NHS, it ovbiously seemed ideal to try to get stages one and two (surgery and ICU) done on the NHS and to pick up the tab and go private for stage three.


Unfortunately, this is not possible. You cannot split the whole process: it is either all private or all NHS. And having spoken with my GP, who left me in absolutely no doubt that we would be crazy to opt to go private and fund it ourselves, NHS it will be. What my GP did say was that frankly the old boy would not really be in a condition to really notice the environment on the ward and that when he was well enough to leave hospital, but not well enough to go home, we could move him to a convalescing home, such as Lynden Hills near Twyford.


I have also managed to sort out a couple of appointments for Mole and some of my halves for Monday. they will be given a tour of the NHS facilities on Monday afternoon, prior to a meeting with Mr Jiao at which concerns/issues and questions can be addressed.


I am trying to keep everyone (Mole, James and the halves) informed as much as I can. It is good to be busy trying to get information, make suggestions etc as it makes you feel as if you are doing something which, for me, feels very important at the moment.


I plan to tell the children this weekend. I will tell Minty (my 20 year old Exeter student) by phone and probably take William (10, Cothill) and Lydia (16, Downe House) out for lunch on Sunday and tell them at the same time as Tara (8, day school in London).