If you are ever an attendee for a patient, here's what I've learnt (as a patient, attendee and now a doctor)
1. Take shifts if you can. There is no guilt in getting some food and sleep even if your loved one is hospitalised

2. Keep all medical documents(Reports/Discharge Summaries) in one file. Bills in another. This will be easy to hand over to whoever is taking over while you take a break.

3. If you have friends/acquaintances nearby try to arrange food from there.(In case there isn't a canteen your comfortable with)If you're friends with someone who is hospitalised or caring for someone who is,ask them what food they're comfortable with & give them home cooked food

4. Have back up blood donors. Will not always be needed but anemia is very common and if any surgical intervention is required, a transfusion will be asked for. Most govt Blood Banks barter blood.

Contd.

If you know someone who is hospitalised and you're a healthy person capable of donating blood- volunteer. You may not have to. But it'll be very reassuring. If you hear of people from slightly rural backgrounds getting hospitalised, try to counsel them. There are still many myths

regarding blood donation. If you can, volunteer to donate. This will be helpful and will assuage fears regarding donation in the future.

5. Carry cash. Even if you have insurance. Supplies often run short. Some drugs aren't kept in stock. Some people don't work without a bribe. Sure, we must change the system & shouldn't give in but in the moment when you need to shift the patient somewhere urgently

that isn't what will run through your head. We're a corrupt people with an inefficient setup. If you know someone less privileged, help them out with cash. Even free healthcare is expensive.

(please add)