Saturday 27 April 2013

Privileges... Do you think about them???

Privileges... Freedom of speech, education, health care, freedom of religion and cultural believes... Voting rights... Right to information, correct, unbiased and up-to-date...

I hold them all very dear but I don't think about them on a daily basis; I don't have to, I live in the UK... Had I lived in Sudan or Iran, Eritrea or Libya that would have been different... There, my live could depend on whether or not I think about it... But I don't and my live does not depend on it... Or, at least, it didn't...

Recently I have changed... Not because I moved to a country like Zimbabwe or North Korea but because of 'our' own current government in the UK... My privileges are slowly being taken away from me... And from everyone I know...

I can see the cogs turning while you read this... You are wondering how for instance my freedom of speech is being taken away, or my right to information... Let me tell you a story so that you can make up your own mind.

Modern technology lets you share information with one click of a button. Whether you share to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or any of the other popular social media sites. It lets you share news, photo's, your latest thought bubble, rant or cry for help. And it doesn't matter if its just one sentence or the size of a decent book... Until recently you could do so freely, without more than just the one click of a button... Now you have to type in a 'captcha' when you want to share something to Facebook that could be conceived of as critical of 'our' government or 'our' media... In some countries, we would label this as censorship...

Most media is currently publishing information on the NHS, based on data known to be 'flawed', 'assumptions' and 'incorrect'... They are force-feeding the nation government's desire to break the NHS down, sell it bit-by-bit to the highest bidder, by purposefully damaging the name and brand of our beloved institute. If you believe all the drivel that is being printed and broadcast, thousands of people, all over the country, are dying needlessly and without the slightest compassion from hospital staff. (People are dying - needlessly - left, right and centre??? An absolute carnage in each and every ward, department, hospital up and down the country??? The church bells would be tolling every hour... They don't do here. What about where you live?) Where is the data that supports this? Nowhere... The numbers are projections and estimates based on opinion, best scenario-worst scenario arguments and grossly inexpert coding. Have a look here https://indicators.ic.nhs.uk/webview/ and make up your own mind...

And so, slowly but surely, my privileges are being taken away... And those of my friends and family... And those of you and yours...


As long as I have a voice, I will speak up and out... Once I lose my voice, I will keep on typing and sharing (with or without captcha's)... Please, help spread the word...

Thursday 25 April 2013

Molly Case put to words the feelings that are rife in NHS staff

Molly Case, a young nurse in training, put her thoughts and feelings about the current onslaught into a wonderful poem.

You can find the poem on YouTube (here) but here is a transcript of the poem:

A woman comes in
Too young to bear this
She’s got a disease that will make her miss
Her daughter’s wedding day
Her first grandchild being born
How would that feel to have all that torn away from you
I can’t answer that question
It’s not my place to say
But I can tell you what we did for her
How we helped her get through the day
A cup of tea there and one for all her family
As they came throughout the night
What a sight there were loads of them
To help her fight the awful pain of it
Paying last visits we wouldn’t let them miss it
Farewell from a brother
Last kisses with their mother
Holiest love
Love like no other
Maybe there’s bad ones no doubt that there are
But for this list I’m writing we don’t want the same tar brush
Crushing our careers before they’ve even started
How could you say this about people so big hearted
Who would have thought we’d be having to defend
We don’t do this for our families
We don’t do this for our friends
But for strangers because this is our vocation
And we’re sick and tired of being told we don’t do enough for this Nation
So listen to us
Hear us goddamn roar
You say that we’re not doing enough then we promise we’ll do more
This time
Next time
There’s nothing we can’t handle
Even if you bring us down
Show a scandal scandal scandal
You remember that man covered in burns head to toe
I don’t think you do
Because you’re on that TV show
Lip gloss kissed women on daytime TV
Come into our world
See things that we see
One lady passing had no relatives to stay
We sang her to sleep let angels carry her away
Were you there that day when we held her hand
Told her nothing would harm her that there was a higher plan
Saw her face as she remembered a face she once held
Saw her breath in the room as she finally exhaled
Why don’t you meet us come shake our hands
Try to fit it in between having tea with your friends
Your hands are so soft and mine are cracked
Why don’t you let us on air
Let us air the facts

We’ve washed and shrouded people that we’ve never known
Pinned flowers to the sheets and told them they are still not alone
Shown families to the faith room and watched them mourn their dead
Then got back to work bathed patients made beds
Hindus, Muslims, Jews and Sikhs
Buddhists and Christians and just people off the street
We’ve cared for them all and we love what we do
We don’t want to meddle we just want to show you
So listen to us
Hear us goddamn roar
You say we’re not doing enough
Then we promise we’ll do more

Saturday 20 April 2013

First post, so let's see how it goes...

Okay, so I've started my own blog because I think I have something to say... Don't we all? I will be talking about what keeps my mind busy and you can read it, bin it, share it, comment on it... or whatever else it is that you can do to/with blogs...

So, what's on my mind today? The march in Stafford to save Stafford Hospital. Not heard about it? +Support Stafford Hospital (on Facebook, pay them a visit if you like) have organised a march to voice their opinion on the fact that the hospital has been put into administration... Yes, it's not just football clubs that this happens to... But the march... 

The organisers are expecting around 40000 people to join the march from Market Square to the Hospital, they have started a thunderclap and are trying to get as many people involved in saving the hospital as possible.
This is not just to save Stafford Hospital but all hospitals in the Mid Staffs area such as, for instance, Cannock Hospital.


If Stafford Hospital were to close, and let's hope it doesn't, the impact on patients could be devastating; just think about the distance people would have to travel to attend appointments or A&E (where every second counts...) Living in the UK, you are probably aware as to why there is talk about the hospital closing. If you are not aware, here is a quick overview:

Due to under-staffing on wards, the hospital hit the news with what was considered to be a very high mortality rate and neglect of patients. Several reports on this have been written, most recently by Sir Robert Francis, and measures have been advised to deal with the issues. Government could not be bothered to address one of the most vital issues (according to the report); under-staffing. But, cleverer people than me have already addressed this and I would like to focus on the positive aspect of all this.

Positive aspect??? Yes!!! An entire community is coming together today at 2 pm to make themselves heard in a country that is currently trying a modern version of a witch hunt...

I am:

And so, this is the end of my first blog... Have a nice day (the sun is shining brightly) and, if you happen to be in Stafford at 2 pm today, join the march... I will be marching in head and heart...