Spent time as a patient in a local hospital this week. Reminded of how lucky we are to have access to emergency care, radiology, medication, surgery without having to worry about cost. Also reminded of how bewildering the system is, even as a clinician...

If I’m admitted with a minor injury, but am clinically stable, do I really need to be woken for observations at midnight and 4am?

If I’m going into theatre on my ward bed and having a procedure done on my hand, why should I wear paper undies?

Why can’t I keep and self-administer regular medication that you don’t stock on the ward?

Why do I need a wheelchair to go from ED to the ward, with an injured hand, but it’s fine for me to walk all around the ward to make a cup of tea?

Why is it okay for handwritten surgical risks on consent forms to be illegible?

And though I’m comfortable to ask these questions and many others in the moment, how many people aren’t?