Interview 42

Age at interview: 66

Age at diagnosis: 63

Brief Outline: Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000, and treated with hormone therapy and chemotherapy. Also given some radiotherapy to control pain caused by metastases in the bones.

Background: Retired engineer, single, no children.

He was impressed by the organisation and with the way the doctors at the hospice managed to control his pain.

I went to the hospice a couple of times. The first time it was to check the reasons for pain and identify the best means of attacking it. During these tests it was noticed that I was anaemic. And the second time I went into the hospice was for a blood transfusion. They gave me quite a lot of blood, and that is why I was there for a number of days. Those were the reasons for the hospice visits.

What was it like there, as a patient?

It was very nice. The people were very kind, and I was absolutely amazed at the organisation. The number of staff, number of patients, all had different, different ailments, and everything worked like clockwork. I was very impressed. I wish we could have some of that in industry.

And how did they manage to sort the pain out?

By choosing correct medication, whereas elsewhere the GPs were struggling with different medications. I found the consultants in the hospice were able to tell me straight off what was the matter and the first medication they offered worked. It happened twice. That's why I was very impressed.
 

Discussed how hospitals vary. He particularly misses being able to eat properly when staying in hospital.

I've been in three different hospitals, because I've worked abroad. I've worked out of the country...

What about in this country?

In this country again, different hospitals. They do vary quite a lot. Maybe it is their size or whatever. I've found, of the three, a couple of them were very good, but the third one was a little bit overrun. They could not attend to you enough.

Overrun?

Overrun, over worked. When you said you would like to get something done they will say, "Yes, we'll get it done", but nothing happens. In other places, they actually understand what you are saying and they would go out of their way to put you right.

Now, you say you come from India. Do you have any particular needs when you are in hospital, from the point of view of your background, and how are they catered for?

I particularly miss my food. And part of the reason why I dislike, or I think I didn't gain enough in hospital, was the food. There was one hospital where there was an attempt made to get different types of food. That was nice, that helped. But not being able to eat properly in hospital and surrounded by patients, also with the same sort of disease, was not the best, was not the best thing.