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 ;-)
