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I was in NCA General hospital, on a strict 6 h regime of pain killers,day and night. These are effective for about 4 h and the pain becomes literally excruciating and paralysing.
One night I woke up in mild pain at 0245 and due for new pills at 0330. By 0315 i was in thw agony phase, so I tried to call the nurse using their very sophisticated call system. Nothing happened. Tried umpteen times; decided system was on the blink. I thought about yelling (must have woken half the hospital, but my room was at the end of long corridor a good distance from the Nurses' Station and my cries went unheard, despite a stentorian voice. Tried to get of bed, but far too painful by this time.
What to do? I was at risk of serious consequences and it was already nearly 45 minutes after pill time. I then thought about phoning the hospital, but I didn't have a number that answered.
Brainwave! I dialled 112. Immediate response (in Greek) I explained in English my predicament (in English). The cop passed me to a colleague who spoke good English then to another one (presumably in the hospital). He asked name, ward, room number after another full explanation. He said he would help. I said Thank you and before I could press the button to cut the communication (about 3 min, I'd guess), the nurse was in my room with my pills. She tried the communication system which was truly on the blink. I managed to get back to sleep an hour late after a period of agony.
THANK YOU, 112 - GREAT SERVICE FOR PROBABLY AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM!!!
One night I woke up in mild pain at 0245 and due for new pills at 0330. By 0315 i was in thw agony phase, so I tried to call the nurse using their very sophisticated call system. Nothing happened. Tried umpteen times; decided system was on the blink. I thought about yelling (must have woken half the hospital, but my room was at the end of long corridor a good distance from the Nurses' Station and my cries went unheard, despite a stentorian voice. Tried to get of bed, but far too painful by this time.
What to do? I was at risk of serious consequences and it was already nearly 45 minutes after pill time. I then thought about phoning the hospital, but I didn't have a number that answered.
Brainwave! I dialled 112. Immediate response (in Greek) I explained in English my predicament (in English). The cop passed me to a colleague who spoke good English then to another one (presumably in the hospital). He asked name, ward, room number after another full explanation. He said he would help. I said Thank you and before I could press the button to cut the communication (about 3 min, I'd guess), the nurse was in my room with my pills. She tried the communication system which was truly on the blink. I managed to get back to sleep an hour late after a period of agony.
THANK YOU, 112 - GREAT SERVICE FOR PROBABLY AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM!!!
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