Aussie Road Trip Day Four Thursday 18th July

Checking out the Emergency Department at Dubbo Hospital

Before anyone panics about the above headline, be assured that it has all turned out well.

Today was supposed to be the day we explored the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo and then headed on to Parkes via the Radio Telescope (the Dish). It was not to be.

Whilst I was showering John suddenly became aware that there was something "worm shaped" floating in his eye. Not on the outside of his eye .... but inside it. He asked me to take a look at his eye when I emerged from the bathroom, and seeing nothing in his eye and hearing the problem, we both simultaneously decided that this needed to be checked out at the hospital as a matter of priority.

We headed to the hospital ED (luckily John had managed to get my GPS working again). He was taken in immediately for an initial assessment and we were told to take a seat in the waiting room to wait for another doctor to examine him.

We waited .... and waited ..... and waited some more. It was pretty frustrating, but I was slightly comforted by the thought that if they really thought he had something serious (like a retinal detachment) he would've been hustled in and treated more quickly.




John waiting for his appointment at the specialist centre

Eventually he was called back in and a doctor examined his eye and then called a private opthalmologist to get John an appointment. Luckily the opthalmologist could squeeze John in at 2.30 pm, so we drove to the specialist centre and did some waiting room waiting there.




John & Roameo wait....& wait

Fortunately the opthalmologist decided that it was not an acute retinal detachment, but more an age-related deterioration. He said John should avoid bar room brawls or chopping wood for the moment. This should be pretty easy advice to follow since neither activity was on the cards, (and she has issued me with a severe warning anyway).



Roameo at the specialist centre in Dubbo

We left the surgery feeling very relieved (and relieved of quite a deal of cash too). By this time it was 3.30pm so we had just enough time to squeeze in a quick visit to the Old Dubbo Gaol.






John outside the infirmary at the Old Dubbo Gaol
Not quite up to to the standard of Dubbo Base Hospital

This proved to be a really interesting diversion. It was a pretty grim spot and would've been a terrible place to be incarcerated.
The solitary confinement cells were particularly hideous, as prisoners suffered sensory deprivation of every kind including sound and sight. The cell was pitch black and soundproof.

The padded cells and straight jackets further down the corridor didn't look much fun either.

 


Roameo outside the condemned man's cell
(where he was almost lost forever)

I almost lost Roameo outside the condemned men's cells. He must've fallen out of my handbag when I took my camera out to take photos. Luckily there weren't many visitors there so late and John found him languishing on the ground before I'd even noticed his absence.

How embarassing if I'd had to explain to the Recovery Room staff at Nambour how I'd lost their mascot bear, who'd successfully travelled all over the world, to an ignominous end at Dubbo Gaol at the doorway to the condemned cell?





Barb in the women's section of the gaol



Locked away within the prison walls

I wouldn't want to spend any time in here








SAVED!
But only to face the gallows egad!
 

We're back at Green Gables Hotel again tonight after cancelling our accommodation in Parkes. We'll try again tomorrow for a quick visit to the zoo before hightailling directly to Hay. Wish us luck!