FEATURE
The Heart of the Matter An unexpected ‘vacation’ in the RVH Cardiovascular Department by Peter Hutchinson
This article covers a short period of time in my life and is a record of what transpired during that time. During a recent hospital stay I recorded my journey and its unexpected consequences, including my thoughts on the National Health Service (NHS) and the excellent service it provided to me. My reflections are also recorded pictorially with a series of sketches.
Background I attended my GP in early January ‘22 with a thigh problem and took the opportunity to raise the subject of additional concerns such as ankle swelling and shortness of breath upon exercise. Following an examination and an electrocardiograph (ECG) he immediately referred me to the A&E department in the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), where I was quickly triaged and thereafter admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit, Ward 5b, from where my twomonth journey through the hospital system began. This period in hospital allowed me, as a patient, to observe closely the daily routine of staff, patients and visitors and also the organisation of the building, its facilities and equipment, and their functioning, both individually and collectively. As an obsessive illustrator of my environment, this hospital stay resulted in many sketches which now illustrate this text. After a number of medical tests - including echocardiographs, ultrasounds, x-rays, CT scans and finally an angiogram – I underwent
a x4 heart bypass operation to replace blocked coronary arteries; now an almost routine procedure in hospitals, but slightly more traumatic for the patient. I was wheeled down to the operating theatre on my bed, with all my worldly goods stacked around me, robed in a not-so-flattering backless gown, and once in the theatre was transferred to the operating table. The theatre was an enormous space filled with wonderous electronic and technical equipment, including an oversized TV/ monitor screen. I was surrounded by a multiplicity of staff, including nurses, radiographers, anaesthetists and surgeons. Their quiet professionalism made me feel relaxed and I was so fascinated by the space and all that was going on around me that I wished I had my sketch book to record it. Once sedated, I had no further awareness of the next 5/6 hours until I woke up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), lying in bed with a dizzying array of tubes and connections attached to the monitors and appliances surrounding me. The patient care here was one nurse to one patient, with an amazing group of dedicated ICU nurses taking care of my every need. Almost immediately I was offered tea and toast, which was gratefully accepted as I had not eaten that day due to fasting (where would hospitals be without tea and toast !!). Incredibly, I was soon encouraged to get out of bed and stand; three days later I was walking unaided. I left ICU to complete my recovery in Cardiac Surgery Ward 5a. I cannot thank the nursing staff enough for their care and dedication; they were truly remarkable. Back in the ward my recovery continued and about a week later I left hospital to complete my convalescence at home. I am now well on the way to leading a normal life thanks to the coronary bypass operation which has given me a life expectancy of ±20 years - truly remarkable!! The post-operative care is ongoing with the hospital outpatients’ service monitoring my progress and supporting my recovery in every way possible. I had a slight hiccup some months into recovery when an upset in my heart rhythm resulted in my readmission to hospital. Following successful ablation of abnormal electric pathways in my heart’s conduction system a normal heartbeat was re-established, hopefully finishing my time as an inpatient under the care of the RVH cardiac unit.
Tea trolley, nighttime screen monitor and patient record whiteboard.
The Images While in hospital I recorded my journey as a travelogue, illustrated by a series of sketches. At the time they were not specifically drawn for any particular reason except to jot down my observations of how a place works: what makes it tick, what makes it unique and
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