A fascinating way to acclimate to

the differing perspectives, the bewildering array in personalities of life and in many cultures too. The absorption in time in an hospital environment tending to needs of those in all disarray... 

I have had to adapt to those looking to me for answers, help and assistance. It is good when those patients are aware of our role as volunteers within the NHS. Within my role I assist the catering staff in serving the food. The different levels in tiers of swallowing problems vast and many It is hard to say to a patient on serving this food, a nurse will come and assist, when they are so short staffed. The trusting faces for answers and having to wait. The awareness of keeping in mind those most reliant on such help ... the very same nurses apologizing for pinching a biscuit out the kitchen stores, to keep up the energy levels. 

It is not over dramatic when we hear the newsworthy stories of looking after these staff. And not take the mickey on their shift times. It is a very demanding vocation ... 

And this a ward so different to the others, it is bigger, has no recycling bin, no dinner bell, where the mealtimes are not really able to be on protected times. The almost certainty the bedside curtains are drawn around the individual beds when the fluids and the food are being dispensed ... a certain amount of dignity for their awareness of us being in their private space... 

The amount of our apologies to the high turnover in the movement of patients in taking the food with them, or offering what is left to those who were not there on the menu order round... this is where the crockery and cutlery disappears too.

And the constant apologies on the patients part for making a mess or not drinking the beverage etc...

It is good to be getting established in the inner workings of life beyond the door at home. The transference in the rig marole of doing it all over again to get established in another place ....

though first to wind down a life of times here