Burwood: Rules, Rules, Rules...

Upon arrival at Burwood Spinal Unit, it was immediately clear that they are VERY strict with the rules.... 

• The covid visiting rules
• The hoisting rules
• The scheduling rules
• The lock up rules

Only 1 visitor (and 1 dependent) per patient is allowed. We have to take turns to be with him. Half of us wait outside under the tree, or in the whanau room, while the other half visit with him. 

Dee's nurse even checked the photos on my phone to ensure that there were no staff or other patients in any of the photos that I took. 

Dee is not allowed to slide-board transfer to go to the toilet, or his wheelchair. He has to wait to be hoisted as he had not had clearance from all the medical parties yet.

Visiting hours are STRICTLY 11am - 7pm. They make a PA around the unit at 6:30pm telling everyone that it is time to say your farewells, then at 7pm they patrol the hallways and ensure all visitors are gone. 

On Dee's second night in Burwood he got locked out of the unit! He was sitting out in the gardens talking to us on the phone and tried to get back to his room at around 8pm. New to wheeling himself around, he awkwardly wheeled himself to all the doors he could find, with no luck. Tapping on the window getting a nurses attention, he asked to be let in. She, however, proceeded to yell at him that he should have already been inside and that it's after lockup. Of course no one had told him that. She told him he had to take himself around to the main entrance of the hospital to come back in. Of course, he had no idea where that was, how to get there, or even if he would actually make it in his new temporary chair. Dee continued to wheel himself around the unit looking for a way in. Luckily another guy in his room spoke up to the security guard, pleading Dee's case that he had just arrived and didn't know the rules, and he finally let him in 'on the down low'. 

After being here for a few days, we are getting used to the rules & routines. The first day was really hard because he didn't even have a wheelchair so it was a sudden shock to have all flown down to Christchurch to not even be allowed to see him, but now he can get out of bed and get around, we can sit in the gardens together, all of us. 

In the big picture, we can see why they have to be strict. It is just so hard for everyone. We have a 25 minute drive to the hospital so once we are there, it's kind of for the day. We are establishing a new routine. In fact, we all were commenting that it feels like we have been here for ages (weeks) already... and it has only been 4 days. 

He is in the right place. We have already seen improvements in his endurance, being up and out of bed, sitting in his chair for longer periods during the days. In Palmy, he basically just lay there all day. In Burwood they make him do everything he can for himself. The different range of spinal equipment down here makes a huge difference to him being more independent. It really is the little things that make his life easier.. like the front wheels and the footplate on the wheelchair! 

We have also noticed continued deterioration of his fine motor skills. He is now struggling to write, cut his finger nails, and play his guitar.  We are waiting for new tests from Burwood... of course!