Bloods for viewing
It was the ritual
of bloods again today which presages my second appointment with my consultant
this year. The meetings now seem to have stretched from quarterly to almost
every 4 to 5 months though this was to allow for my consultant taking his
holiday this year in July rather than August as he did last year.
This might well be
my last major medical appointment in the Netherlands before I leave the country
for a somewhat uncertain future to places yet undefined but I have lived
dangerously enough to be sure that things will turn out fine and my outlook as
I sort out the confusion from the direction will lead to a presently invisible
but definitely better end.
Handled with efficiency
As I made for the
hospital allowing for just under 3 weeks for the bloods to be tested, I found
myself at the end of a queue over 20 deep but handled with the efficiency you
will not find in the poorly managed supermarkets we ply in the Netherlands.
They had opened an
extra registration desk and had all the 6 blood-letting temporary wards fully
staffed even though when I saw I was being served unsupervised by a trainee, I
held my breath long enough not to panic at the possibility of a mishap.
I only had two
forms listing the blood tests that needed to be done requiring 7 vials of blood
and it almost made me faint when the man next to me had what numbered like 6
forms, I did not bother to think of whether he’ll need a transfusion after
giving blood.
Don’t stop flowing now
For the first time,
I watched the needle go under my skin and after the second vial, the blood
ceased to flow, in my mind I prayed I will not have to suffer another puncture
wound for blood as she deftly manipulated the needle till the vial seemed to
fill up with great reluctance.
At the seventh
vial, without it getting to a quarter full, the flow stopped and nothing could
be done to take any more blood from that puncture, after surveying the vial,
she decided there was enough for the tests as she removed the needle and covering
the prick incision with cotton wool then labelled the vials before sealing my
arm with tape.
As I am wont to do,
I walked round to the chapel office to see if the catholic pastor was in, unfortunately,
he wasn’t and I really have not seen him for nigh on a year.
Appreciation
In three weeks, the
tale of the bloods will be revealed and maybe, just maybe I will know unto whom
my medical records will have to be transferred when I leave the Netherlands.
If anything, the
quality of medical care I have received in the Netherlands has been sterling
and amazing, I would not know if I can been assured of this standard of care in
any other country and it is a primary concern that has featured in
considerations of going to Africa – the honest truth is I do not expect to see
anything near the quality I have grown accustomed to here.
2 comments:
All the best Akin! You remain firmly in my thoughts and prayers. Netherlands leads in many ways unknown us in Nigeria. Perhaps it is good for the Dutch that way ;-)
Do keep us posted on your adventures for I know you would be alright. Hugs :-)
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