If you have something to say...
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If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
How we treat people at the end of life is the mark of our society and we only get one chance to get it right. It is time to forget about taboos, to find out what people's end of life wishes are and to act now to improve the system so that these can be respected. If we don't, people will continue to die alone in hospital unnecessarily.
As doctors start voting from today on whether to strike in the UK, what's the likely impact of withdrawing medical care on the health of the nation? The doctor's union, the British Medical Association, seems to be gambling that the government doesn't want to alarm the electorate.
Apparently us Brits are in the grip of 'deafness denial' as four million of us refuse to admit that we're losing our hearing, despite the symptoms being loud and clear.
The public sector, in my opinion is the most important of all the job areas in the UK, for they are the people employed to maintain some sense of order and safety amongst all us everyday loons who fart about on a daily basis landing ourselves in all sorts of mishaps.
The extended Rosie maternity hospital at the Addenbrooke's site in Cambridge is something that I have mentioned before, and whilst there is undoubtedly a huge buzz in the area around its opening towards the end of June, the sad fact is, that for many couples, the chances of them ever welcoming in their own child there are quite small.
The General Medical Council has reported that one in six people on prescription medication are given incorrect doses during consultations with their GP. Common errors found include insufficient or incomplete information on the prescription along with dose and the timing of doses, calling for immediate review and monitoring of the current system.
If Scotland becomes independent would I still be able to be referred to hospitals in England? I can't take any chances, and at the moment while I would prefer to stay put in Edinburgh, I'm looking to relocate to the vicinity of the hospital that is willing and able to treat me, in London.
We are in an age of austerity, of course. But the government often boasts that the NHS budget has been protected, and surely if there is any group that should be shielded from the brunt of any cuts it is newborn babies.
There seems to be a split in opinion amongst people over recent changes to fundamental rights. Some people seem to accept changes to our society that to others are sinister and unacceptable.
So as this spectre of anti-smoking haunts our great nation, I encourage all who believe in the cause of freedom to stop this militant prohibition against those of us who enjoy our vices, and we must never been made to apologize to anyone for doing so.
I got sent an email yesterday. Woo yeah, big man huh? Getting an email like a flashy show off yeah? Yes, I realise its a mute first sentence, as I get emails everyday (more showing off) and the large majority of them have little to no relevance to your lives, let alone mine.
Labour lost 16 million votes in the 2010 general election. There are local elections in just under one month's time. This is Labour's opportunity to show people that we are on their side, that we share their struggles and their fears. Too many people feel ignored by the political class.
The British Government spends an estimated £800 million a year on what it calls "addiction treatment" but less than 2% of this is used to fund people to go into residential rehab. Most of the budget is spent on "revolving door" treatments such as home detoxes, community interventions and replacement drugs such as methadone.
In November of 2010, Cameron took a little visit to China. During that visit he spoke to them about human rights and made a lovely talk about how impo...
Few events in the political calendar underline quite so graphically the power of the government and the impotence of the opposition as much as the Queen's speech. Backed by all the pomp and finery the British state can muster, the Gracious Address, to give it its proper title, affords the government the opportunity to draw a line under past difficulties, and turn a somewhat dry recitation of its legislative programme into a demonstration of its political priorities. The shadow cabinet should seize on this year's Queen's speech to provide its own 'shadow Queen's speech' as a way of demonstrating how Britain could be different under Labour.
Over the past 10 years or so, the Addenbrooke's hospital site just south of Cambridge, has been expanding; improving existing buildings and birthing some altogether brand new facilities.
