The book I present to you has the working title of A Stroke of Luck or a
Beginner's Guide to Being Hospitalised as a More-Mature Person and What
You Can Reasonably Expect. I believe that it represents a piece of
innovative non-fiction, in that it is written with a positive, yet
realistic, message about being a 'hospital virgin' at a more mature age.
The project has been developed through my own experience of
hospitalisation recently, for treatment on a stroke. The concept is
conceived via passages of digressions, examples of humour coupled with
sharp intakes of inter-active discussions based on the everyday
activities of a hospital ward that the reader may not be aware of, let
alone expect. It is in this respect that the book is unique: whilst
acknowledging that such institutions are full of medics and other
professionals by definition, there is also a whole spectrum of
'bit-part' players and 'events' too, which can have either a detrimental
or positive impact on the patient's recovery. Their role is examined
through character development and astute observation of what actually
occurs during a 'confinement': Victor Meldrew can and does 'believe it'
he has too! The story itself is chronological: from pre-admission,
admission, the period of the stay when time becomes meaningless and
thoughts begin to wander to level of absurdity never truly thought
possible, to discharge (which in itself seems a 'nasty' word to use
along with 'release', terms which come in for a wry comment or two!) and
after-care. Primarily, this book is written with the 'over fifties'
market in mind specifically, but I would envisage it being an
informative read to anyone who is new to the 'hospital game' or is
simply filled with trepidation at the possibility of it.
