Actually, being a rather ugly Old Git of 67, I now quite appreciate being called 'lovely, darling, etc.', especially as the shop ladies who use these terms are usually much younger (and better-looking) than I.
Whether they mean them or not is beside the point!
On a more Hellish note, TICTH the powers-that-be who wish to close the GP surgery based at the Community Centre near Our Place.
This would mean 7500 patients thrown onto two already overburdened practices elsewhere in the town, whilst ours serves two of the most deprived urban C of E parishes in the country (Our Place, and Next-Door Place).
The closure of the GP practice would have a major impact on the Community Centre (run by a charitable trust), as they would lose significant income, and are struggling to survive anyway.
I just wish the effing Polly Titians and their lickspittles had to live - on 'benefits' (Ha!) - in our area....
TICTH the effing weather - yes, the crops/gardens/reservoirs need the r**n, but this week seems to be exactly replicating the August 2004 week in which My Old Ma met her end (gas explosion, severe burns, toxaemia - you get the picture).
I recall vividly to-ing and fro-ing the Burns Unit at East Grinstead, followed by visits to the morgue, the Coroner's Office, the Registrar, the undertaker, the solicitor....
....and all on my own, with no-one to help or support, except one lovely Christian couple from the Church Of My Yoof.
TICTH the powers-that-be who wish to close the GP surgery based at the Community Centre near Our Place.
This would mean 7500 patients thrown onto two already overburdened practices elsewhere in the town, whilst ours serves two of the most deprived urban C of E parishes in the country (Our Place, and Next-Door Place).
We are currently fighting a similar situation here.
Well, best of luck, then, IYSWIM. The cynical part of me says 'Why bother? TPTB have decided, so let the heavens fall'.
OTOH, it may just be that common sense will prevail.....
IJ
Many years ago we were registered at a practice run by a single GP. It was a pretty mixed area by income and ethnicity and when the doctor retired they couldn't find a replacement, so it closed. It will surprise no one to learn that the doctor was from India and had come over in the 1950's. Now it looks like "home grown" doctors don't fancy GP and especially single practices in downbeat aareas. Can't say I blame them. What's your GP surgery like?
Four GPs, I think, plus some practice nurses. I don't know for certain, but I think most of the GPs are of Asian origin, as is usual hereabouts.
This is a busy practice using the premises of a Community Centre run by a charitable trust, the head of which is a much-respected Labour councillor. Local opinion is that the Tory-led Council simply wants the lower classes to die off quicker, so as not to be a problem. Let the reader understand.
If it were Dr. X, on his own, and wanting to retire, I could understand it, but such is not the case.
I suspect we're about to lose our GP too. It started as a joint practice, but first one then another of the original 3 GPs has dropped out leaving it as a sole practice with locums, who are not great. It has just been found inadequate on all but one measure.
Karl may I add doctor waiting rooms to that. Music and even worse TV's played where I am forced to hear them when I really do not feel well and would like some quiet while I am waiting.
Many years ago I was rushed to the emergency room at a local hospital for a severe gallbladder attack. As I lay in the e.r. bed and vomited every half hour or so, a TV was blaring above my head. What channel was it stuck on? The Food Network! I had to listen to a nearly endless block of giggly, high-pitched shouts from bubbly cooking show personalities as they cooked barbecue chicken and made celebratory legs of lamb and Paula Deen drawled that she needed more butter, y'all! It was dreadful. After three hours of this, I managed to snag a janitor and begged him to shut off the TV.
Last week, I was treated to repeated public service announcements on end of life planning and taking responsibility to get screened for colorectal cancer. Just what I needed to listen to as I deal with this within my family. I wonder why they can't just have the tv screens play something without sound so that a person could ignore them.
One medical practice I visit once a year has no television -- they have a very large aquarium in the center of the room with a variety of fish swimming around in it.
The doctor's surgery here used to have a fish tank. Sadly now, it has a TV screen showing health infomercials interrupted by the names of who is next.
There is a beautiful fish tank in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital's main ground floor lobby, full of blue and orange fish, positioned above a staircase so you can see, and it has light coming through, from all directions.
Several years ago I gave a friend a ride to her doctor. I was dreading the ubiquitous television, and was relieved when we arrived that there wasn't one. Oh no, she was much too new-agey for that. There was soft tinkly music to drive me mad, and a waterfall that made me want to run to the women's room every ten minutes. (Worst of all, my friend had to wait for over an hour for a very brief appointment. And then was pressured to buy some new-agey remedies. Aaarrgghh!)
The doctor's surgery here used to have a fish tank. Sadly now, it has a TV screen showing health infomercials interrupted by the names of who is next.
Why not show a continuous screening of ... fish swimming around in a tank!
There is a beautiful fish tank in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital's main ground floor lobby, full of blue and orange fish, positioned above a staircase so you can see, and it has light coming through, from all directions.
I was once visiting there and was surprised to hear a very good Baroque orchestra playing in the lobby!
The doctor surgery I go to has neither a fishtank nor a TV, but there is a screen that has various rotating info on it - a list of the receptionist’s names, info about giving up smoking, and then info about chlamydia, seem to be the most frequent features. There is a radio playing too. And a repeating beep whenever anyone’s name flashes on the screen, over the top of the smoking/chlamydia info, to tell them which room to go to.
You all seem to have much more electrified surgeries than mine. It has a large student clientele, so there is a wall of posters warning against Drink and Drugs and Stuff You Can Catch Abroad.
When a TV was installed in the library in which I worked I was the only grumpy member of staff who objected. Thankfully for most of the time the sound was muted. I could see no point.
You all seem to have much more electrified surgeries than mine. It has a large student clientele, so there is a wall of posters warning against Drink and Drugs and Stuff You Can Catch Abroad.
When I had kidney stones I was sent to a urologist. His office didn't seem accustomed to female patients (though I was not the only one there). The walls of the waiting room had posters of cross-sections and diagrams of body parts that I don't possess. A television would almost have been welcome.
When a TV was installed in the library in which I worked I was the only grumpy member of staff who objected. Thankfully for most of the time the sound was muted. I could see no point.
FWIW I can't imagine why you'd have a telly in a library either.
I'm not sure what to consign to hell out of this situation, but here it is: My daughter was bitten last night by a cat running loose, with no collar or tags. It was probably someones pet, she said it was very friendly and only playfully bit. But either it's bite or scratch broke skin and caused bleeding, and that means only one thing. Unless you can be sure the animal is rabies-free, you need to start treatment. So last night she went to the emergency room and got a shot of human immune globulin, and three shots of rabies vaccine, and a shot of antibiotic. All of which was just as expensive as it sounds. Today she feels achy from all the injections, and has to go back for the next injection of vaccine on Monday. Plus two more after that. So I consign rabies to hell, I suppose.
street part with Country & Western music blaring out. I turned up the volume of the Proms concert to drown it out until it poured with rain and they went home.
Comments
Whether they mean them or not is beside the point!
IJ
This would mean 7500 patients thrown onto two already overburdened practices elsewhere in the town, whilst ours serves two of the most deprived urban C of E parishes in the country (Our Place, and Next-Door Place).
The closure of the GP practice would have a major impact on the Community Centre (run by a charitable trust), as they would lose significant income, and are struggling to survive anyway.
I just wish the effing Polly Titians and their lickspittles had to live - on 'benefits' (Ha!) - in our area....
IJ
I have noticed with age this happens more often. Even in the doctor's office by medical assistant. Grrrr
Farmers doing it bloody tough. I hope they are getting the support, mental and economic, they need.
Funny town name near here, but some of the good work being done.
I recall vividly to-ing and fro-ing the Burns Unit at East Grinstead, followed by visits to the morgue, the Coroner's Office, the Registrar, the undertaker, the solicitor....
....and all on my own, with no-one to help or support, except one lovely Christian couple from the Church Of My Yoof.
Effing August. You can effing keep it.
IJ
OTOH, it may just be that common sense will prevail.....
IJ
Many years ago we were registered at a practice run by a single GP. It was a pretty mixed area by income and ethnicity and when the doctor retired they couldn't find a replacement, so it closed. It will surprise no one to learn that the doctor was from India and had come over in the 1950's. Now it looks like "home grown" doctors don't fancy GP and especially single practices in downbeat aareas. Can't say I blame them. What's your GP surgery like?
This is a busy practice using the premises of a Community Centre run by a charitable trust, the head of which is a much-respected Labour councillor. Local opinion is that the Tory-led Council simply wants the lower classes to die off quicker, so as not to be a problem. Let the reader understand.
If it were Dr. X, on his own, and wanting to retire, I could understand it, but such is not the case.
IJ
IJ
Many years ago I was rushed to the emergency room at a local hospital for a severe gallbladder attack. As I lay in the e.r. bed and vomited every half hour or so, a TV was blaring above my head. What channel was it stuck on? The Food Network! I had to listen to a nearly endless block of giggly, high-pitched shouts from bubbly cooking show personalities as they cooked barbecue chicken and made celebratory legs of lamb and Paula Deen drawled that she needed more butter, y'all! It was dreadful. After three hours of this, I managed to snag a janitor and begged him to shut off the TV.
Just the blissful quiet of the waiting room (albeit interrupted by churchyard coffing now and then...).
And, sometimes, cheerful chat and banter amongst the assembled punters.
IJ
IJ
Full marks to the originator of that idea....
IJ
Calming for the adults and fascinating to small children.
IJ
There is a beautiful fish tank in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital's main ground floor lobby, full of blue and orange fish, positioned above a staircase so you can see, and it has light coming through, from all directions.
I was once visiting there and was surprised to hear a very good Baroque orchestra playing in the lobby!
Political discourse too, in general. It's going backwards.
I'm thinking of rescheduling my colonoscopy; it will be less painful.
(I am not criticising those who love Lego, of any age; I am not kinaesthetic...I'd rather write a poem. But I would not suggest it.)