Who Cares? By Esther Walker Characters Jenny Allen Suzie Wilkie Rose Simpson Pete McGregor Robert Bryant Senior Staff Nurse Staff Nurse Support Worker Relative Patient Scene 1 Jenny is sitting at her desk doing some paperwork. Jenny remains seated throughout this scene (while Pete McGregor is standing, blocking her exit.) Suzie pokes her head round the door: Jen, there s Mrs McGregor s son here who d like to.. I want to know why my mum s been brought over here? Oh hello, yes of course, I m Jenny Allen, I m the senior staff nurse, I So you ll know what the hell is going on then? My mum spent hours at A&E yesterday waiting for a bed, then as soon as she s settled into it she s moved again why? What makes you lot think that moving people all the time is going to help them get better? I ve just been to see her, she looks ***** awful Well, unfortunately, there was a huge pressure on beds over on the acute side. Why the **** does that mean that MY mum has to be moved? She s very ill. She needs to be where the experts are, not in this ***** backwater We re perfectly able to look after her here Mr McGregor, mum s in good hands Forum Interactive, Who Cares? (Censored Version) Page 1
Don t you ******* dare patronise me, she s Mrs McGregor to you! I m sorry, look Mr McGregor.. No-one told me what was going on, if I d known I d have made sure I was with her, you lot treat her like a bag of rubbish! I m sorry that you weren t told. We certainly care very much for Mrs McGregor. She s settled in well and is comfortable. [Enters suddenly] Jenny it s Mr Glen, he s fallen, I need you. Look I m sorry, I m going to have to deal with this, we ll get the kettle on and you can both have a cup of tea. [Exits] tea!!!! For ***** sake!!! Scene 2 Jenny deals with the wandering patient and then walks back towards the staff office. She s feeling angry, hurt, upset at the encounter with Mr McGregor. She s also annoyed with Suzie for leaving her to deal with it. Although she s in charge, Suzie always wants to run the show. She bumps into Suzie along the way. He was a bit out of order wasn t he? Where did he go? He s with his mum Did you make them a cup of tea? No! Well can you do that please? I was just off for my break actually It won t take you two minutes! I don t want a whole lot of grief For god s sake I m the one who got the grief Forum Interactive, Who Cares? (Censored Version) Page 2
Well Jenny you should follow my lead and keep out the way And how the hell am I supposed to do that! Here, take these. I m the one needing a tea break. Well get her!! Scene 3 Mr Bryant has been on the ward for two weeks. He has an infected foot. He also has a mild cognitive impairment. Suzie and Rose are going to carry out a foot dressing on his heel. Suzie and Rose walk towards Mr Bryant and drag the curtains round. They have a trolley with them with the equipment they need to carry out the procedure. Alright there darling, how are you today? Just going to do the wee dressing for your heel Mr Bryant attempts to answer. He is startled as they take the covers down so they can look at his foot. He grabs the covers in a panic. Suzie firmly removes them from his grasp. Now then Mr Bryant don t be silly, we ve been through this millions of times haven t we? Certainly feels like it They begin to carry out the procedure. That Jenny gave me a right mouthful, wouldn t let me take my break! She s got her nappy in a tangle because some relative complained takes it out on me! She s got a cheek! Swans about looking down on us As this is going on Suzie is taking off the dressing that is currently on Mr Bryant s heel. He winces. She ll be going off sick soon you ll see they always do, those ones that can t take the pressure. OH COME ON Robert you re just being silly now (said angrily) it s not that bad (trying to sound playful) Forum Interactive, Who Cares? (Censored Version) Page 3
As the old dressing comes off there s a foul odour due to the infection. (The dressing is drawing out the infection and cleaning the wound.) (gasps) Wow!! That s raw! Rose and Suzie look at one another with disgust. Suzie needs more swabs as there is more pus than she imagined. She shouts out beyond the curtain to the corridor. Ann!! Can you get me more swabs? This is really pouring out! Mr Bryant looks worried. Mr Bryant: what s wrong? Is my foot OK? Ohhh. Help me! you re OK sweetheart, not a thing to worry about (to Mr Bryant). Jings that s rotten!! Isn t it getting any better? (to Suzie) Rose is passed some more swabs by a member of staff behind the curtain. Suzie gets her equipment ready. Meanwhile there s a noise behind the curtain, Rose peeps round. She s heard to say sorry if she s not in the office I don t know where she is. No I can t help, I don t know your loved one and I m busy in here at the moment. You can hear that the person she s talking to is Mr McGregor. Who was that? (whispers/mouths) Mr McGregor (whispers) Suzie makes a face. I tell you I m getting really fed up with this place. What time is it? Nearly time to go home. Can t come quick enough! As they re talking Jenny shouts from behind the curtain. I just wondered where we were with our new admission? what? (winks at Rose) (louder) where are we with our new admission? Forum Interactive, Who Cares? (Censored Version) Page 4
I thought she was YOUR patient! Suzie and Rose look at one another with disdain. Both nurses finish what they re doing in exaggerated silence. That s us finished doll. That s it all over til next time. Scene 4 Mr Bryant: (talking to himself) What s wrong with my foot? Oh dear, help me please. Why don t the staff like me? Have I done something wrong? What have I done? (Hears him as she walks past) what s that Mr Bryant? Are you OK? Mr Bryant: Oh nurse, what have I done? They don t like me here. I should go home. The nurses won t tell me what s wrong. Something s not right here, the nurses want to leave! My foot s terrible. Oh (She sits down with him) Oh Mr Bryant don t worry, your foot is getting better. You re in the best hands here. You ll be fit and well soon enough, we ll make sure of it. You re just as valued as everyone else. I ll get you a cup of tea how about that? And it ll soon be visiting time. She leaves him. She meets Rose and Suzie. I think Mr Bryant is getting worse. He s starting to get delusional. He s worried sick that there s something wrong with this place. It s such a shame. I wonder what could have made him think that. We should keep a close eye on him and tell his son and the medical staff. Rose and Suzie acknowledge these remarks non-verbally. Nothing is said and they carry on with the day s tasks. THE END Forum Interactive, Who Cares? (Censored Version) Page 5