Thursday, 8 December 2011
Manchester on Channel 5
Well, I'll be able to watch all my European football on chanel 5 now.......Happy Christmas Sir Alex
How do we save Europe
Well, we clearly need to. The hope of creating a trading block to compete with the US and Far East has been partly successful. With Britain no longer making anything of note, and reliant on the service industry. our ability to trade outwith such a structure has to be limited. But, and it's a big but, we are outwith the finance system, and gain nothing from our tendency to gold plate all EU legislation no matter how daft. The EU court of human rights is clearly bonkers, and we have as much to fear from uncontrolled EU immigration as that from outwith the EU. EU nationals have free access and can rapidly access all benefits and health care, usually at rates that are unheard of in their home states. Is it any wonder we are seeing thousands of Eastern European health tourists. "Dave" has a tough time ahead, but if we are to stand apart from the Euro project, and economically we would seem to have to, then he needs to protect our financial sector (the only sector we have) and actually stepping away from the pointelss, expensive and devisive polices above and reconfiguring how much of the European project we actually wish to encompass, might be no bad thing. A referendum may in the end be necessary.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Dibbled on my own lawn
Now, I'm all for keeping drunk drivers off the road, and my own approach is to rarely drive with more than one pint of Beer in me, and even then consumed over the necessary three hours, but our Boys in Blue do seem to be getting a bit enthusiastic these days.
Returning homeward last night at 12:30 ish, and about 300yds away from my house, I was aware of something approaching at a hell of a rate on the road approaching a roundabout I'd just exited. I gave it a bare glance, but next look in the mirror and he's all over my rear bumper. I speeded up a little to gain enough space to let him know I was to turn into our road, and he's still there, screaming into the turn, still on my bumper..only then does he flash the blue lights. He does a Jack Regan in front of my car, and then has to move when I point out that I could indeed pull over....preferably into my own front drive. There we go through the usual ritual, culminating in me blowing on his chips. By now all the curtains are twitching, including ours, where the missus is pissing herself laughing, having only just driven in from the same gig herself. Naturally the meter hardly registers, and he then has to come up with some half baked excuse for his Starsky and Hutch escapade, on a vehicle with no faults, that had contravened no traffic regs....apparently they doing heightened security in our neighbourhood due to burglary...err..bollocks !!
Returning homeward last night at 12:30 ish, and about 300yds away from my house, I was aware of something approaching at a hell of a rate on the road approaching a roundabout I'd just exited. I gave it a bare glance, but next look in the mirror and he's all over my rear bumper. I speeded up a little to gain enough space to let him know I was to turn into our road, and he's still there, screaming into the turn, still on my bumper..only then does he flash the blue lights. He does a Jack Regan in front of my car, and then has to move when I point out that I could indeed pull over....preferably into my own front drive. There we go through the usual ritual, culminating in me blowing on his chips. By now all the curtains are twitching, including ours, where the missus is pissing herself laughing, having only just driven in from the same gig herself. Naturally the meter hardly registers, and he then has to come up with some half baked excuse for his Starsky and Hutch escapade, on a vehicle with no faults, that had contravened no traffic regs....apparently they doing heightened security in our neighbourhood due to burglary...err..bollocks !!
Friday, 18 November 2011
Antibiotics....have we got the message yet.
Hmm. Mixed messages on the news today. Patients are thick, 25% admit to not knowing what a virus is, and they inappropriately demand antibiotics. So far, so good, but it appears we give them out on demand....Don't think so. We give them out to get the steaming whining mess that has come back for the last three days on the trot, off our seat, having told them 3 times already that the Erythromycin they're going to be given (Chosen for maximum side effects) is not going to make ablind bit of difference, no matter how green their, or little Jimmy's, snot is.
There is an easy solution, the Govt could do a proper advertising campaign, you know, the sort of approach that Ricky Gervais employs when he wants to get something, (like his new series), noticed. Good old fashioned insults.
How about bloody great posters on buses, saying "Hey, Stupid..we keep telling you, antibiotics don't cure colds and flu, and no it's not a chest infection, you dozy hypochondriacal git, its a bit of bronchitis at worst, so sod off and buy some Lem-Sip."
The bleating that would follow in tabloids and day time televison would really get the point across...
There is an easy solution, the Govt could do a proper advertising campaign, you know, the sort of approach that Ricky Gervais employs when he wants to get something, (like his new series), noticed. Good old fashioned insults.
How about bloody great posters on buses, saying "Hey, Stupid..we keep telling you, antibiotics don't cure colds and flu, and no it's not a chest infection, you dozy hypochondriacal git, its a bit of bronchitis at worst, so sod off and buy some Lem-Sip."
The bleating that would follow in tabloids and day time televison would really get the point across...
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Father Ted...what have facts got to do with anything.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/07/nhs-cancer-figures-cameron-lansley?fb=optOut
You'll enjoy this one. I did. Dave and Ted told that they've been talking Bollocks...well who'd have thought it. ?
You'll enjoy this one. I did. Dave and Ted told that they've been talking Bollocks...well who'd have thought it. ?
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
We are not worthy
I have been told that I get a little over excited at times.
I would like to draw your attention to the seeting mass that is Dr Rant
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Rant/193529394005612
I frankly can't compete. Go and pay homage
I would like to draw your attention to the seeting mass that is Dr Rant
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Rant/193529394005612
I frankly can't compete. Go and pay homage
The Lansley Rap
http://sotontab.co.uk/degree-break/2011/03/26/andrew-lansley-tory-tosser/
Now Sicky's no fan of Father Ted, but this young chap really doesn't like him. After the intial minute or so, ensuring that we are clear what he thinks of Father Ted, the remainder is a pretty astute description of our NHS future. Well said young man.
Now Sicky's no fan of Father Ted, but this young chap really doesn't like him. After the intial minute or so, ensuring that we are clear what he thinks of Father Ted, the remainder is a pretty astute description of our NHS future. Well said young man.
Lansley is told to release the secrets
Labour MP John Healey challenged the health secretary Andrew Lansley on 29 November 2010 to release the government’s risk assessments of their NHS reorganisation and health bill under FoI legislation [letter attached].
The Information Commissioner sent John Healey his decision on 2 November 2011, which requires the Department of Health to publish this information and confirms the government have broken the law in withholding it from the MP.
John Healey MP released the Commissioner’s decision today and said:
“The Government is forcing through the biggest reorganisation in NHS history and Andrew Lansley has spent the last year trying to keep the huge risks secret.
“The Information Commissioner now says the health secretary has broken the law in hiding the truth from the public. This is a landmark legal decision which confirms a million NHS staff and the public have a right to know the risks the Government is running with our NHS and what steps they’re taking to reduce the dangers.
“The year-long cover up is a disgrace, especially when doctors, nurses, patients groups and the public are all so worried about the Tories’ NHS plans.
“Confusion, incompetence and cover up have been the hallmarks of the Government’s handling of their huge NHS reorganisation. The Commissioner’s report is a demolition job of Lansley’s attempts to keep the truth from the public. The Department of Health has fought for a year to keep secret their own assessment of the dangers to the NHS and the Commissioner makes clear he’s had no truck with the Government’s attempts to keep the information hidden.
As we on here know already, the papers that will be released are not going to be full of any great secrets, but the "secret" they will reveal, is that no-one in the DOH has the slightest idea how all this will pan out, and that larges swathes of the paperwork will probably have "Not thought through yet" stamped all over them...
Now that might be considered to be a bit of a risk....
The Information Commissioner sent John Healey his decision on 2 November 2011, which requires the Department of Health to publish this information and confirms the government have broken the law in withholding it from the MP.
John Healey MP released the Commissioner’s decision today and said:
“The Government is forcing through the biggest reorganisation in NHS history and Andrew Lansley has spent the last year trying to keep the huge risks secret.
“The Information Commissioner now says the health secretary has broken the law in hiding the truth from the public. This is a landmark legal decision which confirms a million NHS staff and the public have a right to know the risks the Government is running with our NHS and what steps they’re taking to reduce the dangers.
“The year-long cover up is a disgrace, especially when doctors, nurses, patients groups and the public are all so worried about the Tories’ NHS plans.
“Confusion, incompetence and cover up have been the hallmarks of the Government’s handling of their huge NHS reorganisation. The Commissioner’s report is a demolition job of Lansley’s attempts to keep the truth from the public. The Department of Health has fought for a year to keep secret their own assessment of the dangers to the NHS and the Commissioner makes clear he’s had no truck with the Government’s attempts to keep the information hidden.
As we on here know already, the papers that will be released are not going to be full of any great secrets, but the "secret" they will reveal, is that no-one in the DOH has the slightest idea how all this will pan out, and that larges swathes of the paperwork will probably have "Not thought through yet" stamped all over them...
Now that might be considered to be a bit of a risk....
We're going to win the Cup
Well, here we go again. England minus the tit that is John Terry, beat Spain, by playing 11 behind the ball, and despite being played and passed off the park, the tabloids will see this as a new dawn.
If Spain had scored in the first ten minutes, what was Plan B ?
"Only lose 1-0" presumably.
And then we beat Sweden. Now it may be nice to finally do it after 40 odd years, but that just confirms that we are slightly less crap now, than in recent times......
We'll be lucky to get out of the Group stages.....
If Spain had scored in the first ten minutes, what was Plan B ?
"Only lose 1-0" presumably.
And then we beat Sweden. Now it may be nice to finally do it after 40 odd years, but that just confirms that we are slightly less crap now, than in recent times......
We'll be lucky to get out of the Group stages.....
Day Ten
Just to lighten it all up.
Our contestants are asked to provide their own letters of the week, that demonstrate the fatuous nonsense perpetrated by either patients or our own services. Examples of collusion are particularly welcome.
Sicky's favourite in the past seven days, is this gem from our Out of hours service.
"Patient rang (at 23:00) 24 weeks pregnant. Complaining of lump in abdomen....."
I'm sure my colleagues will have their own.
Our contestants are asked to provide their own letters of the week, that demonstrate the fatuous nonsense perpetrated by either patients or our own services. Examples of collusion are particularly welcome.
Sicky's favourite in the past seven days, is this gem from our Out of hours service.
"Patient rang (at 23:00) 24 weeks pregnant. Complaining of lump in abdomen....."
I'm sure my colleagues will have their own.
Day Nine
Today we recognise just how good it is out there in Primary Care.
Task today.
Try to rustle up any enthusiasm...whatever.
That's it. It should take contestants most of the day, and most are expected to fail.
Task today.
Try to rustle up any enthusiasm...whatever.
That's it. It should take contestants most of the day, and most are expected to fail.
Day Eight
Day Eight.
We'll be calling this day's activity Freaky Friday
We will be paying homage to a systemic failure to realise that 5:58 pm on a Friday is not the best time to ask Primary Care for asssistance.
Task One.
Take the phone call from the SHO in Psychiatry who would like you to drop everything and dash over to the local Unit this very moment (of your afternoon surgery) to reassess one of your patients who they'd very much like to keep in hospital under section. The SHO will struggle to understand, but contestants must take time to point out the bleeding obvious.
1) Ten minutes notice to do anything is not actually reasonable in any walk of life, let alone that of a busy clinician.
2) The date on the original section paper will be evident and everyone, yes, everyone, could have predicted to the actual minute (during the past three months) when the section would expire, so why did you wait until the very last second...DO YOU HAVE AN EFFIN DIARY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT ?
3) You have section approved Drs who can do this, I'm too busy, so get real, sod off, and give me a couple of days notice next time......now take some medication and blend back in with the inmates.
Task Two.
Deal with the local drug addict, who thinks that arriving at 5:59 on a Friday, saying he's run out his usual pick n mix of street acquired and prescription items, and urgently needs some for the weekend ahead. Points are awarded at the discretion of the judges, but judicious use of swear words and inappropriate laughter are often considered acceptable in this particular scenario (In fact discussions with on-call SHO's in surgery are routinely the only other situation when this is considered acceptable, although the hilarious option of calling the Police, isn't)
Task Three.
Handle forcibly, but politely, the request from the duty social worker to go round to see an elderly couple who they are worried about. Points will be awarded for eliciting the essential information to allow you to poor scorn on their request.
1) Discover that Social Work teams have been visiting three times a week for a month, since the husband was discharged after a chest infection.
2) Gasp, as you're told that, perhaps, neither has eaten any of the nutritious meals on wheels food delivered for the past three days
3) Sound incredulous as he tells you that there is no heating in the house (and its minus four outside)
4) Snort as he explains it's the first time he's actually seen the couple, and the case was handed over to him yesterday by a nameless colleague....(although if you can come up with some suitable names, extra points are available)
5) Roll your eyes as he suggests that maybe they both need to be in hospital whilst suitable accomodation is found....
6) Look to the sky as he apologises for ringing at this time on the Friday before a Bank Holiday.....
Task Four
Go home and have a lot to drink
We'll be calling this day's activity Freaky Friday
We will be paying homage to a systemic failure to realise that 5:58 pm on a Friday is not the best time to ask Primary Care for asssistance.
Task One.
Take the phone call from the SHO in Psychiatry who would like you to drop everything and dash over to the local Unit this very moment (of your afternoon surgery) to reassess one of your patients who they'd very much like to keep in hospital under section. The SHO will struggle to understand, but contestants must take time to point out the bleeding obvious.
1) Ten minutes notice to do anything is not actually reasonable in any walk of life, let alone that of a busy clinician.
2) The date on the original section paper will be evident and everyone, yes, everyone, could have predicted to the actual minute (during the past three months) when the section would expire, so why did you wait until the very last second...DO YOU HAVE AN EFFIN DIARY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT ?
3) You have section approved Drs who can do this, I'm too busy, so get real, sod off, and give me a couple of days notice next time......now take some medication and blend back in with the inmates.
Task Two.
Deal with the local drug addict, who thinks that arriving at 5:59 on a Friday, saying he's run out his usual pick n mix of street acquired and prescription items, and urgently needs some for the weekend ahead. Points are awarded at the discretion of the judges, but judicious use of swear words and inappropriate laughter are often considered acceptable in this particular scenario (In fact discussions with on-call SHO's in surgery are routinely the only other situation when this is considered acceptable, although the hilarious option of calling the Police, isn't)
Task Three.
Handle forcibly, but politely, the request from the duty social worker to go round to see an elderly couple who they are worried about. Points will be awarded for eliciting the essential information to allow you to poor scorn on their request.
1) Discover that Social Work teams have been visiting three times a week for a month, since the husband was discharged after a chest infection.
2) Gasp, as you're told that, perhaps, neither has eaten any of the nutritious meals on wheels food delivered for the past three days
3) Sound incredulous as he tells you that there is no heating in the house (and its minus four outside)
4) Snort as he explains it's the first time he's actually seen the couple, and the case was handed over to him yesterday by a nameless colleague....(although if you can come up with some suitable names, extra points are available)
5) Roll your eyes as he suggests that maybe they both need to be in hospital whilst suitable accomodation is found....
6) Look to the sky as he apologises for ringing at this time on the Friday before a Bank Holiday.....
Task Four
Go home and have a lot to drink
Day Seven
The misery for our luckless contestants continues.
Morning session.
Today we play Family Fortunes NHS style
We asked 100 GPs what they thought of the Health Secretary.
Contestants have to find the most popular replies..
Clue. Most will only have four letters
Afternoon Session.
Task One
Formulate a response to the Governments proposal to remove GP practice boundaries.
Points will be awarded for any inclusion of the following phrases. "Ill-conceived", "half-baked", "what moron thought...", "how the hell do we cover and provide services across PCT boundaries", "how do I visit someone in Barnsley when I work in Stockport you prat", "unworkable bollocks", "even this pig's arse of an idea won't get you re-elected".
Task Two
Write a nice letter to Professor Steve Field, pointing out that being a former (pretty unimpressive) President of the Royal College Of General Practitioners, does not actually make him an acceptable default voice for the Profession. Replies will be expected to point out that a) he wasn't asked to do it by any of us b) He's talking total rubbish c) he's not helping at all, and d) if he's doing all this to ensure he appears in the honours list, it will be for services to the Conservative Party, not services to medicine.
Morning session.
Today we play Family Fortunes NHS style
We asked 100 GPs what they thought of the Health Secretary.
Contestants have to find the most popular replies..
Clue. Most will only have four letters
Afternoon Session.
Task One
Formulate a response to the Governments proposal to remove GP practice boundaries.
Points will be awarded for any inclusion of the following phrases. "Ill-conceived", "half-baked", "what moron thought...", "how the hell do we cover and provide services across PCT boundaries", "how do I visit someone in Barnsley when I work in Stockport you prat", "unworkable bollocks", "even this pig's arse of an idea won't get you re-elected".
Task Two
Write a nice letter to Professor Steve Field, pointing out that being a former (pretty unimpressive) President of the Royal College Of General Practitioners, does not actually make him an acceptable default voice for the Profession. Replies will be expected to point out that a) he wasn't asked to do it by any of us b) He's talking total rubbish c) he's not helping at all, and d) if he's doing all this to ensure he appears in the honours list, it will be for services to the Conservative Party, not services to medicine.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
What did our Health Secretary do before the current job ?
So, now you know. Explains a lot doesn't it. Feckin eejit.
Day Six
Today we ask our contestants to get slightly philosophical.
Task One.
Get someone, anyone, somewhere or anywhere to explain who, in 2013, is going to own and run all the Primary Care buildings and maintain all the IM+T infrastructure. Points will be awarded if you manage to get any reply beyond. "Can we get back to you on that"
Task Two.
See if you can find someone, anyone, somewhere or anywhere, who thought that Darzi centres were a good idea anywhere outside London....if anyone can now get the Vascular Surgeon who was asked to design that Primary Care "strategy" to explain why it was a total balls up, mega points will be awarded...in fact we may actually let them out.
Task Three.
Elicit, if possible, whether "Father Ted" actually understands how General Practice works outside the rural bits of Southern England, which is apparently where his ex wife practices and upon which sometimes, he seems to have based his total understanding.
According to his web page "Andrew frequently visits hospitals and GPs across the country, listening to clinicians and NHS professionals and is well respected across the medical profession for his knowledge fo the NHS."......fascinating, because we don't seem to be hearing that from the BMA, the RCN, The MPU or the RCGP. They seem to think he's lost the plot.
Task Four.
Come up with a compelling reason why any GP over the age of 55 should not retire, right now. (Excluding of course, child support and alimony)
Task One.
Get someone, anyone, somewhere or anywhere to explain who, in 2013, is going to own and run all the Primary Care buildings and maintain all the IM+T infrastructure. Points will be awarded if you manage to get any reply beyond. "Can we get back to you on that"
Task Two.
See if you can find someone, anyone, somewhere or anywhere, who thought that Darzi centres were a good idea anywhere outside London....if anyone can now get the Vascular Surgeon who was asked to design that Primary Care "strategy" to explain why it was a total balls up, mega points will be awarded...in fact we may actually let them out.
Task Three.
Elicit, if possible, whether "Father Ted" actually understands how General Practice works outside the rural bits of Southern England, which is apparently where his ex wife practices and upon which sometimes, he seems to have based his total understanding.
According to his web page "Andrew frequently visits hospitals and GPs across the country, listening to clinicians and NHS professionals and is well respected across the medical profession for his knowledge fo the NHS."......fascinating, because we don't seem to be hearing that from the BMA, the RCN, The MPU or the RCGP. They seem to think he's lost the plot.
Task Four.
Come up with a compelling reason why any GP over the age of 55 should not retire, right now. (Excluding of course, child support and alimony)
Day Five
As we all know the General Public are absolutely fascinated by Hospital drama. We pay homage to that today with our Casualty special.
Task 1. Write a letter to your local A+E Consultant asking for a few bits of clarification. Case in point. Why did the 24 year old with right sided chest pain, which came on as he pulled a heavy wardrobe, was worse for movement and when the source of said pain could easily be located by prodding his chest with a finger, need a) Blood tests b) an ECG C) a six hour admission whilst the pillock who ordered them waited for the perfectly normal results.
Points will be used for including the following phrases. 1 ) Laughable 2) Risk averse bollocks 3) Waste of bleeding money and 4) For Christ's sake man, grow a pair.
Task 2. Compose a short letter asking for slightly more detail, following receipt of the following brief standard discharge note from your local center of excellence.. "Self referral. Arrived by car. Amputation both heads. Discharged"
Task 3. Write a courteous letter to the SHO who kindly suggested that you should follow up the pointless investigations she ordered on your patient, who as evidenced by them sitting opposite you, looking perfectly normal, did not need any fecking investigations yesterday morning. Extra points will be awarded for including the phrase.."I'm not your bleeding houseman, I know where I sit in the pecking order sunshine, and it's a lot of rungs above you, you little gopher.
Task 4. Dear Mrs Triage Nurse, why did you let Mrs Grotte, and her Zakk her walking menagerie, past your reception desk with his head lice at two o'clock this morning. What the hell in the description above your door in 2 foot letters do you not understand.
Task 1. Write a letter to your local A+E Consultant asking for a few bits of clarification. Case in point. Why did the 24 year old with right sided chest pain, which came on as he pulled a heavy wardrobe, was worse for movement and when the source of said pain could easily be located by prodding his chest with a finger, need a) Blood tests b) an ECG C) a six hour admission whilst the pillock who ordered them waited for the perfectly normal results.
Points will be used for including the following phrases. 1 ) Laughable 2) Risk averse bollocks 3) Waste of bleeding money and 4) For Christ's sake man, grow a pair.
Task 2. Compose a short letter asking for slightly more detail, following receipt of the following brief standard discharge note from your local center of excellence.. "Self referral. Arrived by car. Amputation both heads. Discharged"
Task 3. Write a courteous letter to the SHO who kindly suggested that you should follow up the pointless investigations she ordered on your patient, who as evidenced by them sitting opposite you, looking perfectly normal, did not need any fecking investigations yesterday morning. Extra points will be awarded for including the phrase.."I'm not your bleeding houseman, I know where I sit in the pecking order sunshine, and it's a lot of rungs above you, you little gopher.
Task 4. Dear Mrs Triage Nurse, why did you let Mrs Grotte, and her Zakk her walking menagerie, past your reception desk with his head lice at two o'clock this morning. What the hell in the description above your door in 2 foot letters do you not understand.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
When you plan to redesign Primary Care...
..it helps if you sepnd a couple of moments thinking about the absolute basics.
Now, most GPs are pretty adaptable, we have to be, with these pilocks in charge, but there are two things that are absolutely vital to our day to day performance.
1) We need a building to work from
2) We can no longer function for more than 24 hrs without computers
Readers will be delighted to hear therefore, that whenever we ask a) who will maintain, support and fund the Computing systems in Primary Care, and b) who will take over the running and maintenance of Primary Care estates, no-one seems to know. And it all kicks off in 2013.
Does anyone in the DOH know anyone who can actually distinguish between an elbow and an arsehole
Reassuring ain't it.
Now, most GPs are pretty adaptable, we have to be, with these pilocks in charge, but there are two things that are absolutely vital to our day to day performance.
1) We need a building to work from
2) We can no longer function for more than 24 hrs without computers
Readers will be delighted to hear therefore, that whenever we ask a) who will maintain, support and fund the Computing systems in Primary Care, and b) who will take over the running and maintenance of Primary Care estates, no-one seems to know. And it all kicks off in 2013.
Does anyone in the DOH know anyone who can actually distinguish between an elbow and an arsehole
Reassuring ain't it.
Day Two
Day Two
The day starts with the need to explain to an insomniac 80 year old that 7:30 commuter slots are for people who work, and then signing an urgent sicknote for the person with back pain so bad that they were able to hightail it down to the surgery and stand and wait outside for the 15 minutes in the cold just to get it done. This must be done without coffee, because the sodding milk hasn't been delivered yet.
The morning's main task will be three consecutive appointments with Chronic pain patients who will require yet another explanation as to why a) you won't refer them again b) you won't give them any more drugs and c) you'd like them to stop expecting a cure. A "Dave" bonus can be awarded if you give them a big hug at the end. Points will be lost if you offer any further intervention, or if at any point you use the phrase "I sympathise, but...", because you don't.
Lunchtime requires you to sit through an hour long seminar on handwashing from a Nurse, who seems to not grasp the concept that every single one of you will have done a minimum of six months surgery and are fully conversant with how to wash your hands. She also will totally fail to understand that, a bit like the Highway Code, knowing what to do, doesn't mean you'll do it, and sitting through her boring little diatribe, isn't going to ensure any of this. Extra points are awarded for picking your nose through the presentation.
At this point anyone who hasn't tried to jump out of a third floor window, gets a point deducted simply for being stupid.
The day concludes with filling in a questionnaire on Controlled drugs, identical to the one you have filled in for the past 14 quarters. There will be no box that says "No change since last return", and you will have to fill in all the same details again. This will be sent to an email address and you will never hear anything about it all. Points are awarded for entering spurious comments (such as, "Yes I do use the Morphine returned by patients, for various personal projects" ) just to see if anything happens.
The day starts with the need to explain to an insomniac 80 year old that 7:30 commuter slots are for people who work, and then signing an urgent sicknote for the person with back pain so bad that they were able to hightail it down to the surgery and stand and wait outside for the 15 minutes in the cold just to get it done. This must be done without coffee, because the sodding milk hasn't been delivered yet.
The morning's main task will be three consecutive appointments with Chronic pain patients who will require yet another explanation as to why a) you won't refer them again b) you won't give them any more drugs and c) you'd like them to stop expecting a cure. A "Dave" bonus can be awarded if you give them a big hug at the end. Points will be lost if you offer any further intervention, or if at any point you use the phrase "I sympathise, but...", because you don't.
Lunchtime requires you to sit through an hour long seminar on handwashing from a Nurse, who seems to not grasp the concept that every single one of you will have done a minimum of six months surgery and are fully conversant with how to wash your hands. She also will totally fail to understand that, a bit like the Highway Code, knowing what to do, doesn't mean you'll do it, and sitting through her boring little diatribe, isn't going to ensure any of this. Extra points are awarded for picking your nose through the presentation.
At this point anyone who hasn't tried to jump out of a third floor window, gets a point deducted simply for being stupid.
The day concludes with filling in a questionnaire on Controlled drugs, identical to the one you have filled in for the past 14 quarters. There will be no box that says "No change since last return", and you will have to fill in all the same details again. This will be sent to an email address and you will never hear anything about it all. Points are awarded for entering spurious comments (such as, "Yes I do use the Morphine returned by patients, for various personal projects" ) just to see if anything happens.
Day Four
A series of tricky tasks today.
1) Try to get a madwife to understand the concept of haemodilution in pregnancy, as you receive yet another inappropriate request for a prescription for Iron tablets.
As an extra piece of work, and there are big bonus points here, write a short discussion paper about how it can be, that Midwives, who are "practitioners in their own right", and have taken away all the antenatal care that GPs used to provide, still ring us back up again as soon as the slightest problem arises. And if they're so suitable for taking sole charge of the whole antenatal show, WTF can't they be trusted to write their own bleedin' prescriptions for iron....a product that a patient can buy from the Pharmacy.
2) See if you can get Rapid Response to respond.
3) Find the on-call Surgeon.
4) Finally explain to Mrs Panic stricken, that Kylie has not contracted Ebola Virus, and "Yes, you can be too careful"
1) Try to get a madwife to understand the concept of haemodilution in pregnancy, as you receive yet another inappropriate request for a prescription for Iron tablets.
As an extra piece of work, and there are big bonus points here, write a short discussion paper about how it can be, that Midwives, who are "practitioners in their own right", and have taken away all the antenatal care that GPs used to provide, still ring us back up again as soon as the slightest problem arises. And if they're so suitable for taking sole charge of the whole antenatal show, WTF can't they be trusted to write their own bleedin' prescriptions for iron....a product that a patient can buy from the Pharmacy.
2) See if you can get Rapid Response to respond.
3) Find the on-call Surgeon.
4) Finally explain to Mrs Panic stricken, that Kylie has not contracted Ebola Virus, and "Yes, you can be too careful"
Day Three in the Primary Care jungle
Day Three. Tasks today are designed to show the contestants negotiating skills, and demonstrate an understanding of the Choice agenda beloved of the show's controllers.
Task 1) Convince an irate Granny that the fact that's she's waiting for a washing machine to be delivered this morning, and will be out having her hair done in the afternoon, is not an acceptable reason for a home visit to discuss her ingrowing toenail..and no, you couldn't just do a flu jab at the same time
Task 2) Explain to the nice young man at the Department of Work and Pensions that just because I happen to be the patient's GP, does not necessarily mean that I know whether the workshy, drug using little gobshite, he has in his office, is capable of managing his own cooking and cleaning, and frankly how that is relevant to whether he's entitled to benefit is beyond me, because he's currently of no fixed abode.
Task 3) Describe using only appropriate hand gestures, to Wayne, that having a tendency to get bored when sitting around for any length of time, is not an adequate explanation to put in a letter asking for exemption from jury service....especially as that very activity appears to have been his sole profession for the past seven years
Task 4) Engage in a long discussion with Mrs Entitled from the posher end of your Practice area, and explain that nothing fantastic that she has read about in The Daily Mail in the last six months is going to get prescribed for her in the current political climate and that the Health correspondants on the Daily Mail are to a man (and woman) a bunch of medical illiterates, who hate GPs and are clearly paid to write articles by Drug companies.
Task 1) Convince an irate Granny that the fact that's she's waiting for a washing machine to be delivered this morning, and will be out having her hair done in the afternoon, is not an acceptable reason for a home visit to discuss her ingrowing toenail..and no, you couldn't just do a flu jab at the same time
Task 2) Explain to the nice young man at the Department of Work and Pensions that just because I happen to be the patient's GP, does not necessarily mean that I know whether the workshy, drug using little gobshite, he has in his office, is capable of managing his own cooking and cleaning, and frankly how that is relevant to whether he's entitled to benefit is beyond me, because he's currently of no fixed abode.
Task 3) Describe using only appropriate hand gestures, to Wayne, that having a tendency to get bored when sitting around for any length of time, is not an adequate explanation to put in a letter asking for exemption from jury service....especially as that very activity appears to have been his sole profession for the past seven years
Task 4) Engage in a long discussion with Mrs Entitled from the posher end of your Practice area, and explain that nothing fantastic that she has read about in The Daily Mail in the last six months is going to get prescribed for her in the current political climate and that the Health correspondants on the Daily Mail are to a man (and woman) a bunch of medical illiterates, who hate GPs and are clearly paid to write articles by Drug companies.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Day One
The poor incarcerated victims will be expected to spend an entire morning consulting in a small poorly ventilated room, after spending fifteen minutes with a patient, who will have rampant halitosis and body odour suggestive of something that rolled in a dead sheep. Extra points will be awarded for not gagging at any time. For an extra Cleggy bonus the competitor must have a conversation with his receptionist about booking the patient in last, not first, without using any swear words, or the phrase "you daft cow." Lunchtime entertainment will be provided by trying to find any medical reason whatsoever that Portia could not take part in TV filming. A letter will need to be provided for a TV Director, who wants reassurance that she's fit to be filmed. Points will be awarded for actually finding a reason she can't do it, and for composing a reply that includes the phrase "you moronic timewaster" Points will be lost for not attaching an invoice for at least £30. In the evening the rest period will be spent writing a report about commisioning that no-one will actually read. 2 hours must be spent doing it, clear and strict instructions will be given as to the format. The competitors will only be told it's not actually for anything useful after they've finished it.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
I'm an NHS GP, FFS let me out of here
In association with our sister page, we announce the new game show for our times. "I'm an NHS GP, let me out of here". Over a few weeks we'll be watching the progress of hapless GPs coping with the trials and tribulations thrown at them by two smarmy idiots who'd last about three seconds on the front line. In a wicked twist, the contenders will actually be trying to get off the programme, but of course the real evil genius of the concept is that the poor buggers can't. You'll squirm as they deal with insufferable challenges, dreadful sights and smells, and the bushtucker challenge will be actually finding any time to sit down and eat something. Enjoy
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Winter is coming.
No, I've not suddenly come over all Eddard Stark (Game of Thrones, if you're lost), it's just that we are getting dire warnings of snow to come. In the same week as plastic conifers erupt all over our retail outlets, and ITV suddenly starts telling us about crappy plastic toys and aftershaves, we are now seeing the annual appearance of bags of rock salt in the service station.
So there you have it, the new seasonal guide from Shell. Summer starts when the charcoal arrives, Winter starts when the rock salt comes in...and when British Gas announce another unavoidable price rise in gas.
Suffice to say in a week or so, should the Met Office be believed (some reason for doubt, then) we'll see our suburban streets blocked by Mercs and BMWs, labouring in two inches of snow with their rear wheel drives. Of course the massive SUVs would finally come in handy...but they won't be needed for the school run, because they'll close all the schools, Public service workers will be being given work from home advice, as temperatures plummet to minus two, and everyone else will be told not to go out in case they slide, crash or fall on a surface that might make someone liable for litigation. Welcome to the UK of 2011. No common sense, no backbone and no hope.
If as some experts tell us global climate change will result in better springs, wet summers and bloody cold winters, we really had better get a grip of this now. Can you imagine what the average resident of Maine in the USA makes of all this bollocks (Well, if he had any notion of anything going on beyond Portland that is)
Pathetic
So there you have it, the new seasonal guide from Shell. Summer starts when the charcoal arrives, Winter starts when the rock salt comes in...and when British Gas announce another unavoidable price rise in gas.
Suffice to say in a week or so, should the Met Office be believed (some reason for doubt, then) we'll see our suburban streets blocked by Mercs and BMWs, labouring in two inches of snow with their rear wheel drives. Of course the massive SUVs would finally come in handy...but they won't be needed for the school run, because they'll close all the schools, Public service workers will be being given work from home advice, as temperatures plummet to minus two, and everyone else will be told not to go out in case they slide, crash or fall on a surface that might make someone liable for litigation. Welcome to the UK of 2011. No common sense, no backbone and no hope.
If as some experts tell us global climate change will result in better springs, wet summers and bloody cold winters, we really had better get a grip of this now. Can you imagine what the average resident of Maine in the USA makes of all this bollocks (Well, if he had any notion of anything going on beyond Portland that is)
Pathetic
For God's sake Lansley, what the hell are you doing
It really does go from bad to worse. I'd have been back on here earlier, but my life is now spent producing piles and piles of reports telling my fledgling Commissioning Group the same stuff I told them last quarter, and the four quarters before that. Now I'm quite busy enough looking after my flock, without stating the bleeding obvious about the care they need and receive.
A few observations, just for a change. I thought I'd share them with a wider audience, because they don't seem to a) understand what I'm saying or b) want to do anything with the information, they keep asking for.
1) Hospitals now exist to make profit. This is a bad thing because it incentivises them to do unnecessary things to my patients, and also to make up scandalous codes to earn more money
2) If all my budget is spent making Trusts profitable and building more glass buildings on Hospital sites, (so they can make more profit), less money stays in Primary Care and so my surgery falls down for lack of maintenance budgets
3) How do I influence Nursing and community provision when some f**kwit at the DOH made us hand all our Community staff over to the Hospital Trust
4) When GPs were involved in antenatal care, our patients saw us first, and we decided if they needed assessment. Now they ring a duty midwife who admits every single one to the Hospital for assessment ."Ching" goes the Trust cash register
5) Competition is a good thing, but not if the competition is entirely over the easy, most profitable sectors leaving the difficult non-profitable stuff done by small "failing" hospitals or shunted out to over-stretched Primary Care. That is what will happen, there is nothing in this half baked bill that recognises or allows for it, because these jokers don't know what they're doing.
6) Every GP I know above the age of 55 is going to leave the profession. My generation will certainly not stick around beyond 60. The new Doctors will be stuck with working to 65+ or their pension will be worth bugger all.
7) GP recruitment and training is falling, experienced GPs (The ones they want to run all this Commissioning) are leaving in droves, leaving what in their place. A disillusioned workforce that will be forced to become salaried. When some bozo at the DOH then works out that you need 3 salaried GPs to cover the basic work of two Principals, and then have to pay someone to manage them, they'll discover the service costs more, and it will be crap. (See Out of hours provision since 2004)
8) No-one actually has a clue who is supposed to take over ownership of the estates in Primary Care, so I work in a building that will have to be sold once the PCT is dissolved in 2013.
9) Computing..not historically a strength of NHS procurement. The whole of primary Care IM+T is currently owned and maintained by PCT's. Again, no-one quite knows who's going to pick that up. The local branch of PC World perhaps !!
So there you are, buildings and computers. The two absolutely essential components of providing GP services, and no-one has a bleeding clue (with 18 months to go) who will run and maintain it all.
Surely only a total moron could get us into this sort of a mess
Don't get old in the UK boys and girls
A few observations, just for a change. I thought I'd share them with a wider audience, because they don't seem to a) understand what I'm saying or b) want to do anything with the information, they keep asking for.
1) Hospitals now exist to make profit. This is a bad thing because it incentivises them to do unnecessary things to my patients, and also to make up scandalous codes to earn more money
2) If all my budget is spent making Trusts profitable and building more glass buildings on Hospital sites, (so they can make more profit), less money stays in Primary Care and so my surgery falls down for lack of maintenance budgets
3) How do I influence Nursing and community provision when some f**kwit at the DOH made us hand all our Community staff over to the Hospital Trust
4) When GPs were involved in antenatal care, our patients saw us first, and we decided if they needed assessment. Now they ring a duty midwife who admits every single one to the Hospital for assessment ."Ching" goes the Trust cash register
5) Competition is a good thing, but not if the competition is entirely over the easy, most profitable sectors leaving the difficult non-profitable stuff done by small "failing" hospitals or shunted out to over-stretched Primary Care. That is what will happen, there is nothing in this half baked bill that recognises or allows for it, because these jokers don't know what they're doing.
6) Every GP I know above the age of 55 is going to leave the profession. My generation will certainly not stick around beyond 60. The new Doctors will be stuck with working to 65+ or their pension will be worth bugger all.
7) GP recruitment and training is falling, experienced GPs (The ones they want to run all this Commissioning) are leaving in droves, leaving what in their place. A disillusioned workforce that will be forced to become salaried. When some bozo at the DOH then works out that you need 3 salaried GPs to cover the basic work of two Principals, and then have to pay someone to manage them, they'll discover the service costs more, and it will be crap. (See Out of hours provision since 2004)
8) No-one actually has a clue who is supposed to take over ownership of the estates in Primary Care, so I work in a building that will have to be sold once the PCT is dissolved in 2013.
9) Computing..not historically a strength of NHS procurement. The whole of primary Care IM+T is currently owned and maintained by PCT's. Again, no-one quite knows who's going to pick that up. The local branch of PC World perhaps !!
So there you are, buildings and computers. The two absolutely essential components of providing GP services, and no-one has a bleeding clue (with 18 months to go) who will run and maintain it all.
Surely only a total moron could get us into this sort of a mess
Don't get old in the UK boys and girls
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
...through clenched teeth
..and I guess on the basis of "If you can't take it, don't dish it out"..congratulations to Man U for making sure that the graceless git, that is John Terry, doesn't lift the Premiership.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Have we forgotten Libya
Now it may be a slow news week, for sure Tripoli doesn't look as nice as Westminster Abbey, and I guess old Osama being fed to the sharks is kinda important, but have we forgotten that the Libyans are still blowing the crap out of each other...thought so.
Bye bye Scotland
Joy of joys, the eejit that is Salmond, has managed to get himself a majority
No longer can he sit making fool remarks about Scotish independence without the authority to do something about it.
Now, just like the Lib Dems, he's got power and he'll have to put his hare brained ideas of independence, to the whole of Scotland, (i.e. a population of thoughful, pretty balanced people, who know the union is a good thing) not just convince a room full of pissed Braveheart sympathisers.
After the pros and cons are debated, I'm afraid, they'll vote no, thus messing up our opportunity to get all those free prescription and university places off our (English) national debt, and to stop Scottish elected MPs voting on English law, without affording us the opportunity to do the same to them. Bring it on, Alex. Dare you.
No longer can he sit making fool remarks about Scotish independence without the authority to do something about it.
Now, just like the Lib Dems, he's got power and he'll have to put his hare brained ideas of independence, to the whole of Scotland, (i.e. a population of thoughful, pretty balanced people, who know the union is a good thing) not just convince a room full of pissed Braveheart sympathisers.
After the pros and cons are debated, I'm afraid, they'll vote no, thus messing up our opportunity to get all those free prescription and university places off our (English) national debt, and to stop Scottish elected MPs voting on English law, without affording us the opportunity to do the same to them. Bring it on, Alex. Dare you.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
We're not helping, honest.
Hmm, more mealy mouthed nonsense from our Demcons
1. We're going to listen to people and slow down health reforms.
Too late you idiots, most PCTs are now fatally deficient in high level staff and there are more leaving every day. Car crash is coming. Well done. Enjoy the aftermath
PS. NHS waits have just hit a nine year high, and it won't stop now.
Start practising using that "Rationing" word, Dave
2. We're only sending some troops in as advisers, to help the rebels.
In what way is that being impartial ?. I'm afraid I don't buy the arguement that it's protecting civilians. Not when the rebels strat shelling Tripoli it won't be. Mr Hague said last night that it was in keeping with the UN resolution....interesting interpretation.
1. We're going to listen to people and slow down health reforms.
Too late you idiots, most PCTs are now fatally deficient in high level staff and there are more leaving every day. Car crash is coming. Well done. Enjoy the aftermath
PS. NHS waits have just hit a nine year high, and it won't stop now.
Start practising using that "Rationing" word, Dave
2. We're only sending some troops in as advisers, to help the rebels.
In what way is that being impartial ?. I'm afraid I don't buy the arguement that it's protecting civilians. Not when the rebels strat shelling Tripoli it won't be. Mr Hague said last night that it was in keeping with the UN resolution....interesting interpretation.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Are we waking up, Dave ?
Well, bu**er me. It seems that once anyone with half a brain in the government finally sat down, read the critique, actually listened to those who know something, and then bothedred to read Lansley's proposals, they came to the same conclusion..
"Jesus, it's a sodding disaster waiting to happen !"
Nice one, guys. Well done. Better late than never I guess. (See previous posts)
Now get on with doing something about it, damned quick, before PCTs haemorrhage so many good staff that they're doomed anyway.
Idiots, playing games with things they think are simple, largely because they have no bloody idea.
Just cos Lansley was married to a GP in Norfolk, he thinks he understands GP.
Andrew, Norfolk is not really like most of Britain.
I don't think fishing injuries, orf and hayfever really worry us too much in the urban conurbations where most of our work is done.
What a pillock.
"Jesus, it's a sodding disaster waiting to happen !"
Nice one, guys. Well done. Better late than never I guess. (See previous posts)
Now get on with doing something about it, damned quick, before PCTs haemorrhage so many good staff that they're doomed anyway.
Idiots, playing games with things they think are simple, largely because they have no bloody idea.
Just cos Lansley was married to a GP in Norfolk, he thinks he understands GP.
Andrew, Norfolk is not really like most of Britain.
I don't think fishing injuries, orf and hayfever really worry us too much in the urban conurbations where most of our work is done.
What a pillock.
Monday, 28 March 2011
What are we doing exactly ?
Errm, I'm not sure that blowing the living c**p out of any armoured vehicle that might belong to Colonel Gadaffiis is exactly enforcing a no fly zone and protecting civilians.
Forgive me, but it looks like providing air support to one side in a civil war.
As previously stated, I have no problem with a rapid change of leadership in fuedal Libya, but is that actually what the UN told us to do.
Can't see the Russians or a good number of Arabian countries seeing it like that.
Should be interesting.
Forgive me, but it looks like providing air support to one side in a civil war.
As previously stated, I have no problem with a rapid change of leadership in fuedal Libya, but is that actually what the UN told us to do.
Can't see the Russians or a good number of Arabian countries seeing it like that.
Should be interesting.
England Captain
Ferdinand (Ugly, injured and probably thick), Terry (Graceless, arrogant, womanising tosser), Gerrard (Past his best, unintelligable, possibly has a skeleton in his closet)
Frankly, do we really give a s**t which one has the armband ?
Thought not.
Frankly, do we really give a s**t which one has the armband ?
Thought not.
Friday, 25 February 2011
The libyan Mad Dog
Whilst it's clear that old MG is as mad as a box of frogs and considerably more dangerous, I do wish people would hurry along his demise. At this rate, the regimes of the middle east are going to be toppling like dominoes and probably not before time. However the political uncertainty that will follow, alluded to previously, is not particularly welcome.
Umpteen new fledgling regimes trying to sort out their own infrastructures and also figure out how to relate to new neighbouring governments (previously hostile in some cases) is going to be a little volatile...
Now this may be exciting, but it's driving up the cost of my motoring and frankly that's unacceptable.
So, I've said it before, I'll say it again..let's go nuclear, and I mean big time.
Sure build some wind farms to kill golden eagles and rig up all sorts of crap across rivers and tidal surges, but get me nuclear power, lots of it and fast.
Then I can stop relying on overpriced Russian gas to cook and heat, and I can plug my electric car in to get to work.
At which point, we can tell the nations of the Middle East to bloody well get on with it, make up, and become a trading block based on co-operation, not cow-towing to who's got the most oil and therefore all the US/British guns,........ or alternatively........... blow yourselves to crap and end up living in tents.....we won't care.
In addition, once the US and western nations stop interfering, (which is almost always to do with oil, although they never admit it) Islamic fundamentalists will no longer have need to blow us up, and their own citizens can decide what religion they choose to follow, and how to follow it.
Now, after that, if only we could get them to grow more oranges instead of opium !!
Umpteen new fledgling regimes trying to sort out their own infrastructures and also figure out how to relate to new neighbouring governments (previously hostile in some cases) is going to be a little volatile...
Now this may be exciting, but it's driving up the cost of my motoring and frankly that's unacceptable.
So, I've said it before, I'll say it again..let's go nuclear, and I mean big time.
Sure build some wind farms to kill golden eagles and rig up all sorts of crap across rivers and tidal surges, but get me nuclear power, lots of it and fast.
Then I can stop relying on overpriced Russian gas to cook and heat, and I can plug my electric car in to get to work.
At which point, we can tell the nations of the Middle East to bloody well get on with it, make up, and become a trading block based on co-operation, not cow-towing to who's got the most oil and therefore all the US/British guns,........ or alternatively........... blow yourselves to crap and end up living in tents.....we won't care.
In addition, once the US and western nations stop interfering, (which is almost always to do with oil, although they never admit it) Islamic fundamentalists will no longer have need to blow us up, and their own citizens can decide what religion they choose to follow, and how to follow it.
Now, after that, if only we could get them to grow more oranges instead of opium !!
Monday, 21 February 2011
What's the difference...
..between Tevez and Rooney ?
Well apart from a predeliction for old prostitutes.
The difference is as perfectly demonstarted over the past two months.
Rooney contract negotiations... Sulk a lot, go on strike, play like a pillock, and apart from a shinned overhead kick, continue to play well below par..
Tevez contract negotiations. Ask for what you want, say why, and that you'd like to leave really..(prob cos Manchester's cold and wet)..otherwise continue to put every drop of effort and sweat you can into every minute you step on the pitch.
Rooney versus Crawley......Crawley win
Tevez versus Notts County.....County wiped out.
Nuff said.
One of very few mistakes old red nose has made as a manager.
Well apart from a predeliction for old prostitutes.
The difference is as perfectly demonstarted over the past two months.
Rooney contract negotiations... Sulk a lot, go on strike, play like a pillock, and apart from a shinned overhead kick, continue to play well below par..
Tevez contract negotiations. Ask for what you want, say why, and that you'd like to leave really..(prob cos Manchester's cold and wet)..otherwise continue to put every drop of effort and sweat you can into every minute you step on the pitch.
Rooney versus Crawley......Crawley win
Tevez versus Notts County.....County wiped out.
Nuff said.
One of very few mistakes old red nose has made as a manager.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Egypt...bloody hell !
What an eventful few weeks we have seen. Despot and "hereditary" regimes all over the Middle East being made to sit up, and, considering the regimes involved, remarkably little bloodshed.
What will this mean for the future. Well, it seems unlikely that the populace of such countries will be looking to radical Islamic governments, so that concern is massively overstated, but it is almost certain that they will not be overly "Israel friendly" either, and it would be reasonable to assume that most sane thinking Arabs do not accept the current situation in Palestine. What right thinking person would.
So, will the US sit up, and having championed all this free speech and "new democratic will", will they actually stop supporting the Israeli intransigence and force the issue.
It's pretty simple, without significant US back up, they will all have to sit down and get on with it.
It seems that the world forgets why the original "state of Israel" ceased to exist.....it was surrounded by neighbours it refused to get on with, and was scattered to the winds...It has survived to date due to the indomitable spirit of its people, and a hell of a lot of US support/weaponry.....perhaps it should learn the lesson of history. A peaceful middle east will be an affluent middle east for all its nations, and it could become a massive economic power, and not only driven by oil...the place is beautiful, and full of very stubborn, driven people. Think what they'd achieve together....
What will this mean for the future. Well, it seems unlikely that the populace of such countries will be looking to radical Islamic governments, so that concern is massively overstated, but it is almost certain that they will not be overly "Israel friendly" either, and it would be reasonable to assume that most sane thinking Arabs do not accept the current situation in Palestine. What right thinking person would.
So, will the US sit up, and having championed all this free speech and "new democratic will", will they actually stop supporting the Israeli intransigence and force the issue.
It's pretty simple, without significant US back up, they will all have to sit down and get on with it.
It seems that the world forgets why the original "state of Israel" ceased to exist.....it was surrounded by neighbours it refused to get on with, and was scattered to the winds...It has survived to date due to the indomitable spirit of its people, and a hell of a lot of US support/weaponry.....perhaps it should learn the lesson of history. A peaceful middle east will be an affluent middle east for all its nations, and it could become a massive economic power, and not only driven by oil...the place is beautiful, and full of very stubborn, driven people. Think what they'd achieve together....
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Swine Flu
Christ, am I sick of this sodding condition. Frankly it would be a lot better if they'd stuck to calling it Flu. H1N1, or H2N12, who actually gives a monkeys. The bottom line is simple. If you get flu, you get flu, and any strain can give you anything from the sniffles right through to ITU and death. It happens every year, and just because this one happens to be a bit nastier to youngsters and pregnant ladies, did we need a national crisis. No we didn't. The last thing we need to do, bearing in mind our political masters have spent twenty years convincing our healthier than ever population, that every disease is lethal and they should see a Dr immediately (in fact preferably even before they're ill, just to be safe) is create a new super bug that sends them all hysterical. If you've got bad flu, you can't get in to see me, you're very poorly and even blinking hurts. I saw three of those all winter and all needed admitting. (Two had swine flu as it happens) My surgery however was even fuller than normal with the usual sniffles and mild aches and pains that warranted nothing more than a "there, there" and a LemSip.
"Is it swine flu, Doc?"
"Listen, chum, I don't know and care even less, take some paracetamol and bugger off"
"Don't I need antibiotic, you know you can't be too careful"
"No you don't, and yes you can, so will you now please bugger off"
"I was a bit worried about that Clostridia Difficile too, what are the symptoms......."
"Is it swine flu, Doc?"
"Listen, chum, I don't know and care even less, take some paracetamol and bugger off"
"Don't I need antibiotic, you know you can't be too careful"
"No you don't, and yes you can, so will you now please bugger off"
"I was a bit worried about that Clostridia Difficile too, what are the symptoms......."
Are we going mad ?
So, not content with demolishing our NHS, the Lib-Con party would now like to sell off all our trees. What a spiffing idea. Is there really a belief that that will in someway improve our forestry. No, what it will do is ensure that just like our own water, we end up paying some rich multinational to walk in our own nation's woodland, and private landowners will slap up do not trespass signs over even more of what's left of our countryside.
Not acceptable at all. If we hear politicians complain about us becoming less and less active as a nation, shouldn't we be asking why. Our playing fields are sold off, any recreational land we used to see as kids has houses or Tescos on it, our streets aren't safe to play on, and now you have to pay to see the countryside.
The alternative is to spend a fortune in private gyms.
Well at least companies selling drugs for treating diabetes will do well, but none of them are British.
Not acceptable at all. If we hear politicians complain about us becoming less and less active as a nation, shouldn't we be asking why. Our playing fields are sold off, any recreational land we used to see as kids has houses or Tescos on it, our streets aren't safe to play on, and now you have to pay to see the countryside.
The alternative is to spend a fortune in private gyms.
Well at least companies selling drugs for treating diabetes will do well, but none of them are British.
Friday, 28 January 2011
Does Mr Lansley know what he's doing ?
Imagine, sitting in a room and deciding you don't like the internal combustion engine, and would like something shiny, new and more efficient...oh and twenty percent cheaper to run.
Would you :
a) Design it, test it and then, when happy, fit it to new vehicles, or
b) Announce that all internal combustion engines would be scrapped in three year's time, and when asked what they were being replaced with, state enigmatically "That's not been completely decided yet, we're still thinking it through"
Coalition Health policy in a nutshell.
I thank you.
Would you :
a) Design it, test it and then, when happy, fit it to new vehicles, or
b) Announce that all internal combustion engines would be scrapped in three year's time, and when asked what they were being replaced with, state enigmatically "That's not been completely decided yet, we're still thinking it through"
Coalition Health policy in a nutshell.
I thank you.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Oh dear, Andy
Well, hasn't he created a fuss.
It would appear that Andy Gray thinks that women don't understand the off-side rule, and that is enough apparently to get him the sack.
Hmm, frankly not before time, but largely because I'm sick to death of his self satisfied, up his own ass view of himself. It would appear, if you believe the press, that he's been a misogynistic git for years.......well who would have guessed ?
Yep, he can talk about football, but I can get plenty of semi-coherent blokes to do that, and don't have to pay them £2 million quid a year to wax lyrical.
He's right, a lot of women don't understand the off-side rule, but that's because they find it about as interesting as the workings of an SU carburettor, i.e. not at all.
I play football with a centre forward who, in his mid-fifties, clearly still doesn't understand it. The constant sound of a referee's whistle and a raised flag confirm that week in week out.
So, ladies, wallow happily in the knowledge that knowing an archaic bit of football related crap won't improve your life, and blokes, let's hope they give Andy's slot to a lady.
It would appear that Andy Gray thinks that women don't understand the off-side rule, and that is enough apparently to get him the sack.
Hmm, frankly not before time, but largely because I'm sick to death of his self satisfied, up his own ass view of himself. It would appear, if you believe the press, that he's been a misogynistic git for years.......well who would have guessed ?
Yep, he can talk about football, but I can get plenty of semi-coherent blokes to do that, and don't have to pay them £2 million quid a year to wax lyrical.
He's right, a lot of women don't understand the off-side rule, but that's because they find it about as interesting as the workings of an SU carburettor, i.e. not at all.
I play football with a centre forward who, in his mid-fifties, clearly still doesn't understand it. The constant sound of a referee's whistle and a raised flag confirm that week in week out.
So, ladies, wallow happily in the knowledge that knowing an archaic bit of football related crap won't improve your life, and blokes, let's hope they give Andy's slot to a lady.
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