Grandad – After dinner Sheila called for me to take me to the hospital to have my catheter changed. I was very disappointed not having the bag fitted for wear. They said they would get some for next time. I am trying to get fix up through Dr Gale or the male nurse.
Mum – Saw Dr Bennett in am. Syringed my left ear as I was deaf. Took dad to have catheter changed at hospital in afternoon. Very hot all day. FR rang – I rang back.
Notes
Catheter Issues
Grandad’s health had been poor following an operation to try to relieve urinary obstruction on 2 July 1975, see Chapter 116. This was not very successful and he was left with a permanent catheter. He had been bedbound for a period but had gradually improved and was now out of bed and had resumed making his own diary entries.
Sheila refers to my mother, Sheila May Drew, née Parkin. In the afternoon, she took grandad to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital to have his catheter changed. However, he was disappointed that they did not give hima “bag fitted for wear“. I believe he was referring to leg bags rather than the ones that go at the end of a bed. He hoped to get some through either his GP, Dr Gale, or the male nurse.
Dr Bennett
In the morning (am), mum saw Dr Bennett. Dr John F Bennett was one of the GPs in the Mile End Road surgery, see Chapter 116. He syringed mum’s left ear as she was deaf presumably in that ear. Our GP surgery no longer offers this service on the NHS but a private service is available there through a company called Ear View.
Comment on the Weather
Mum commented on the weather noting that it was very hot all day.
Rev Dowson
FR refers to Rev F R Dowson. Frederick Rodham Dowson entered the Methodist ministry in 1936. He was born in Haxby, York on 5 August 1912 and he died in Selsey on 4 September 2011, aged 99. I believe he was superintendent Minister for the Park Lane circuit from 1968 to 1974. He and mum were close and they spoke and corresponded frequently, see Chapter 114. On this occasion, he phoned and mum rang back.
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