Alone/Single post operation

[Dickydon]

Hi, as I live on my own with no family or any friends I can ask to pick me up post surgery of my Aortic & Mitral valve replacement, (date not yet set) are there any uniformed plans in place with hospitals for people in my situation: single, alone, I'll probably be in hospital upto 10 days anyway but what happens after the 10 days if there is nobody to pick you up take you home and be there for post care?

As most people, I'm sure, have family/friends to pick them up and keep an eye on them etc... which is always stipulated when you have surgery or any invasive treatment in hospital that someone is there to collect you and so on....

Thanks

[Rose54]

Hi

The Hospital will speak to you about this before discharge thay do have a Social Team that can put thinks in place for you for support you will need in your home .

[Dickydon in reply to Rose54]

Thanks Rose. I'll raise all those questions.

[Nic25]

Hi Dickydon. Rose54 is right. Hospitals have a duty of care to discharge patients safely. Many offer a transport service to get patients who have no alternative home, so worth checking what the options are, perhaps with your cardiology nurse? I had an AVR last December and my hospital, Guy's and St Thomas's, offered a transport service. However as it was only insured to take me and would have meant a long wait and long journey (it was essentially a bus/coach that would drop people off) and we could afford alternatives, we went for a self-booked taxi. Also worth checking with the hospital (if local) or your GP about community nurse or care support for when you get home. One person I know who had an AVR a few months before me and was single and without a support network booked into a nursing/care home for a few weeks before returning home. Not cheap I expect, but perhaps also something to consider if feasible/realistic for you? But good luck for the operation. Hope it goes well and you're soon on the road to recovery! Nic x

[Dickydon in reply to Nic25]

Thanks Nick, I understand where you're coming from and points like Rose54. Where I live in London neighbours etc... are professionals and have their own busy lives and tend to keep themselves to themselves. Friends really, are work colleagues who have their own commitments and families and live all over the place. I'm not a socially active person either as my job involves lots of travel etc... so jus like to relax at home. So the nursing aftercare place may be only option which I'll look into.

Thanks, Chris

[Nic25 in reply to Dickydon]

Hey Chris. Just further to what HappyJo says yes it was Pete/Ticktock 61 I was referring to. I didn't reference him as he's kind of withdrawn from this site but his posts about his AVR are very warts and all about the whole AVR process and so may be helpful for you (I certainly found them helpful as he was two-three months ahead of me). I've also done a number of (not as good) posts plus have pdfs from GSTT about the whole OHS process I can share with you if you're interested? But it also sounds like you're on top of things! Hope that helps. Cheers Nic x

[Dickydon]

Thanks happyJo, for your thoughts

[Purplecross]

Hi I also on my own and had Aortic valve replacement I was in St Thomas hospital in London. I was in 8 days when it came time to leave the nurses ask if anyone was collecting me when I said no they arrange for their patient services to take me home brilliant service. They did ask if their was going to be someone to stay the first night. I told a white lie and said their was as a wanted to go home as I had a disabled cat and my 80 year old neighbour was feeding her for me. I must amit I slept in the chair that night to scared to lay down but I survived. Hope everything goes well for you

[Dickydon in reply to Purplecross]

Thanks Purplecross. That's prob what I may do, white lie are not bad lies to do. 😇