Specialised Military Hospital Petition

[hobby]

For all those who signed the petition, we failed to convince those in power.

Please see: http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page16864

[tonymadge]

I spent a week in the military ward of Selly Oak Hospital coming home Saturday after one of my dogs decided my thumb was a temptation and he basically removed it..well he amputated it 90% breaking bone etc so it was hanging off at a weird angle! I was blue lighted to hospital where they decided it needed microsurgery to re-attach it. I was told I was being transfered to the military ward at Selly Oak. I was a little nervous as I did not know what to expect.
However I found the whole experience has changed my perceptions and views on what goes on in this place.
The staff mainly Military were superb, no thats not enough...they were wonderful compasionate and so professional in the way they treat the wounded and injured service heroes that they themselves are the quiet heroes in the way they carry out their duties.
The ward is mainly Military but does cater for a small amount of civilian injuries. The food was excellent the standard of cleanliness and overall standard was first class.
I found that the support the injured soldiers received from the Military itself was superb, there were constant visits from senior officers, welfare service, charities and fellow injured soldiers whom had had replacement limbs etc. These moral boosting visits did make a difference, I was watching from the sidelines and soaked in what I saw.
I was in a small bay with the other 5 beds taken by two guys from the RAF one from the Paras and two from the Army, they had various injuries mainly from IED's but what made me feel proud of our young, was their spirit, despite not only seeing terrible things at such an early stage of their life but also suffering injuries that I won't describe suffice to say my hanging off thumb was a mere scratch to what these guys had to suffer.
These chaps were in good spirits and did not take depression as the pill despite having good cause, no they were in good solid frames of mind seeing their injuries as something to tackle deal with, beat and live a full active life again, I know that their determination to get back to their friends and regiments stood out and would make the nation proud of our youth, we hear bad things about the kids of today, well I saw first hand that our future is safe as long as we have these brave ones around.
One example was a young lad 20 years of age he had been blown up in a vehicle, despite his serious injuries he went back to the truck and pulled out the driver who was badly injured, he gave first aid and pretty much saved his life, seeing the pride on his Mom's face as well as being allowed to read the letters from his fellow men, Sgt's and Captain fills you with pride that there are young men around like him.
On a personal note I found that my treatment was also excellent and after a short while the guys felt comfortable with me and we got on fine albeit I could not share the experiences they had I found that they were happy to chat and talk about things. I would have not been surprised to be kept at distance as I was I guess an outsider but this was not a problem in their eyes.
So in short... A great hospital doing a wonderful job, I have to agree a proper Military only Hospital would no doubt be ideal, however Selly Oak do a great job and the Military DO look after their own to a very high standard.
Selly Oak being in the middle of England is not too difficult to get to and I did see that many families are brought there to see the injured and put into accomodation for the duration.
Ok nuff said from me..I would say Thumbs up to Selly Oak ..its just a bit painful at the moment ;-)

[Garry Russell]

Hi Tony

How ghastly :o

Sorry to hear about this nasty incident with the dog

You prove the need and benefit of having a specialist hospital

Lets just hope this situation is not only maintained but improved upon.

All the best mate for a speedy recovery

Garry

[tonymadge]

Cheers Garry will pm you re chat soon once more comfortable ;-)

[Garry Russell]

OK mate

Garry

[hobby]

That is a much better report than those I read in the press some months ago - but those reports may not have described Selly Oak. Iread of one case in which a wounded serviceman was subjected to unwarranted abuse by civilians and that obviously did not occur during the period you spent 'in dock.'

I was also glad to read that your injured companions did not 'cut you out', serving servicemen can be somewhat exclusive at times towards civilians.

I hope that you are no longer in pain and that you will soon be able to hold both a full and empty beer jug - or perhaps it wasn't your drinking hand!

[tonymadge]

The access to the ward was strictly controlled, you had to get permission to get on the ward via an intercom, so no one could just walk in. I did read in the local press about a senior officer complaining about treatment to service men at Selly Oak, but he was in Afghanistan and was repeating word of mouth, the complaints were investigated and found to be rumour control in overdrive, one complaint he made was a service man had to walk 2 miles to a cash point for taxi fare upon discharge from hospital, this I know is untrue as every one I saw leave had an escort to take them for travel warrant etc then transport to train station etc. But then again good news never makes the press... they like to dig dirt even when there is none!

[Filonian]

Sorry to hear about you trials and tribulations Tony, hope you are soon very much on the mend.

Thanks for the report on Selly Oak, dispels doubts created by the "newshounds".

Just a small tip for you - try feeding your dog, then perhaps he will not attempt to take chunks out of you. :roll:

Graham