medical problems

[Keith Tindell]

I think i told the story of my time on the Duke of Mistra, where two junior engineers, who were both great guys, and both were friends, but unfortunately got very filled up with the fire water, and got into an almighty punch up, one of them ended up with a horrendous gash from his upper lip and up into his cheek. We were a long way offshore bound for OZ, so the skipper took it on himself to stitch the wound. When we arrived in OZ, the guy was sent to the hospital for a surgeon to see what was required, in fact he congratulated the skipper on the job he had done, and said he could not have done better himself. So i got to wondering if the skippers of that era 1960 fish were ever given any information on how to deal with this type of medical situation, or was it a case of the old homeward bounders with the needle and hope for the best, kt

[John Arton]

One one tanker I was on the Spanish bosun, a huge fellow whose party trick was to carry a full 20litre drum of paint under each arm, slashed the palm of his hand badly. The Captain and Chief Steward (after a bottle of whiskey consumed by the three of them) were making such a hash of sewing up the wound that the bosun took the needle of them and did an excellent job of it himself.
On another ship in China, the strange 2nd Mate belted the old man for something the captain had said in the bar, opening up a big split above one eye. I was Mate at the time and had to persuade the captain to go ashore to the hospital as the wound was so near the eye I feared that by trying to stich it up myself I could do more damage to his eye. This was in Zinggang. (spelling) He went ashore and came back a few hours later with his wound stitched up with a number of tiny stiches and his face covered in blue violet. When the stiches eventually dissolved there was only a very faint line to show where the wound had been. The 2nd Mate was sacked on the spot and there was talk of him going home D.B.S. but the company got the British Consulate involved and he was eventually flown home. This was in the early 80's.
On departure, I went on the bridge after finishing forward stations, to find the two Chinese pilots being very concerned about the state of the Captain. He was slumped in the chair passed out, they thought he was drunk but he was actually suffering concussion from being lamped. Fortunately we were off to dry dock in Japan so I was able to get on the blower to the Company and they told me to take over until Japan where a relief was sent out for him.
rgds
J.A.

[John Pruden]

john then came super glue that's used more in hospitals today. I wish they would have used it on me over 200 stitches inside and out my shoulder muscle has never knitted together with my back?

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Keith.
I shudder to think of what would have happened to any seaman with the skipper sowing him up unless it was in a bag with a shackle.
I was lucky 16 years and the only time I did some damage other than fights was throwing a heaving line ashore in Lyttelton as I swung I hit my head on a stantion; opened up my scalp, glad we were in port.
Cheers Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Saw a chef cut his hand in the galley one day. Blood all over the place but thnakfully on a liner so the doc did sew him up.

But not such a good job as he lost a lotn of feeling around the cut and half of his hand. Saw him in Southampton a couple of years later and still no go with the hand.

[John Pruden]

marian what a marvellous person who thought super glue would close a wound up I believe it was for the Vietnam war wounded? when our toby had his op he had a cancer removed from his hind leg never bothered him anyway when he did his ablution's his elastic stitches bust I rang the vet he told me to get a tube I did it worked until it heeled ? I was going to tell barb it was lip gloss but she never fell for it?? jp

[Red Lead Ted]

J.P. Its a pity they cant super glue your poor wife Barbara with two new hip replacements she is on the never ending waiting list for, I never realized how much pain she was in until i met her a few weeks ago its an absolute disgrace the way the N.H.S, Has forgotten ordinary people that the N.H.S. Was put in place for. I wish her well and gods speed in recovery asap. Perhaps we have the wrong post code Regards to you both Terry.

[John Pruden]

terry everything was sorted 3 days before her op they thought she had heart trouble that's what is holding everything up she goes next month to have all results from the heart quack and then start again? jp

[cappy]

terry everything was sorted 3 days before her op they thought she had heart trouble that's what is holding everything up she goes next month to have all results from the heart quack and then start again? jp

seemed to remember you telling us that situation john ref barb ......certainly cant remember you having a problem with theNHS....me and mine have never had a problem only a ist class treatment and situation for the whole age range ....perhaps ted has had a bad experience regards cappy

[Red Lead Ted]

Lets hope all is well John and her long wait is coming to an end. Terry

- - - Updated - - -

seemed to remember you telling us that situation john ref barb ......certainly cant remember you having a problem with theNHS....me and mine have never had a problem only a ist class treatment and situation for the whole age range ....perhaps ted has had a bad experience regards cappy

Cappy, The bad experience i had is not unique my friend, And i am certainly not exclusive many people are getting hospital blunders and not all down to a consultant a lot of people are on waiting lists to see a consultant, And some unfortunately never make it.