Apparently, as a GP, I'm very rich. The BBC investigative team have discovered the scandal that some GPs (less than 5%) are earning over £250,000 a year, after expenses.
Well, most aren't. I'm not. Wish I was...
Apparently "Experts have said the contract was ill devised and is partly responsible for current NHS deficits."
Not quite sure who these experts are, of course, that's not stated. And why are us GPs being pilloried for the NHS deficit when the Government negotiated our contract? It was NEGOTIATED!! We're now being paid for things we were already doing. Our pay had fallen behind comparable professions, and its almost caught up, thank you very much.
As far as the guys earning a quarter mill are concerned, good on them. They will be managing businesses (as do I) to the best of their ability, to get maximum bang for buck, and in the process taking a profit. I wonder if there would be so much fuss if it was some private company making a profit from the NHS, perhaps from following an American model of some sort (which Our Glorious Leader seems to want to emulate).
Well, wake up BBC: GPs are private companies. If you think you're not getting value for money, start comparing us to other countries, see how much we spend per head of population on GPs and the services they provide.
Idiots.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Monday, April 03, 2006
Orwell eat your heart out...
Well, when George Orwell wrote 1984, I'm sure he didn't think that we really would end up with a totalitarian regime. And so far, we haven't got one. But that could change.
Our Glorious Leader has done a fair amount to erode our freedoms in this country, usually under the guise of ensuring our safety, protecting us from terrorists and the like.
The main thing is of course Identity Cards. These will apparently "keep us safe". Yeah, right. They really would have stopped the Tube bombings by British subjects, wouldn't they? They'll really stop people getting into the country we don't want, won't they?
A google search of "Identity cards UK" immediately pulls up several websites who are basically against them. they summarise nicely what is wrong with the scheme as is suggested by Tone and cronies. NO2ID are a pressure group whose news letter provides updates on where the legislation is at. After the recent Lords climbdown and "compromise" over the compulsory nature of the scheme (and make no mistake, it is compulsory), we will all over the next 10 or 20 years have to have a card. Then, the police will be able to insist on seeing it on demand. In other words, in a fundamental shift, British citizens will have to answer to the State about their identity.
WHY SHOULD WE?
And now we have more concrete plans for SOCA. This Agency, going "live" very soon, will be a rough equivalent to a combination of the American FBI, DEA, Justice Department and Customs. This one I have less of a problem with.
BUT. What happens if in 20 years we end up with a government led by some sort of megalomaniac, possibly a right wing xenophobe? It could happen, all it would take is a few more terrorist attacks, a whipping up of the populace by the likes of the BNP, an exageration and a playing on of peoples' fears. All of a sudden, we could be in a position of having to carry the cards to prove we are who we say we are when the SOCA officers stop and search you. If we can't, we'd be dragged off to chokey until, well, until who knows when.
The Nazi's insisted on ID cards. Especially for Jews. I don't want to live in that sort of world. I don't want my children growing up in that sort of world. But currently we are being "managed" by a Government more concerned with leaving something for posterity than in the actual well-being of us, the Great British Public. Think about that at the next General Election.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Despair
The latest in demotivational accessories for your company. Just click on the Thread title to go to the web page.
Despair, Inc. are based in the US. They do, however, ship worldwide. With regard to international shipping, their website says the following:
"Despair ships to most international locations. Most orders to most international locations are delivered within 1 week, however- larger-sized orders often can take 4 to 6 weeks (and in a few cases, even longer) to deliver. For faster shipping, we recommend moving to the United States."
The rest of the website, and indeed the whole company ethos, is centred around the principle of demotivation, in juxtaposition to the huge market there is for motivational literature and products.
But I personally recommend the video podcasts, available through the website or iTunes Music Store.
Despair, Inc. are based in the US. They do, however, ship worldwide. With regard to international shipping, their website says the following:
"Despair ships to most international locations. Most orders to most international locations are delivered within 1 week, however- larger-sized orders often can take 4 to 6 weeks (and in a few cases, even longer) to deliver. For faster shipping, we recommend moving to the United States."
The rest of the website, and indeed the whole company ethos, is centred around the principle of demotivation, in juxtaposition to the huge market there is for motivational literature and products.
But I personally recommend the video podcasts, available through the website or iTunes Music Store.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Flame of the week
The Register has published a "how to" for flaming the ultimate flame.
Wonderfully apt, given some of the flamings I've read over the years, and I'm surprised I didn't come across this before.
Mind you, I only really started browsing the Register a few months back, and then fairly intermittently.
So a competition for anyone reading my blog: flame me.
Best flame wins a prize, though I haven't decided what yet.
Wonderfully apt, given some of the flamings I've read over the years, and I'm surprised I didn't come across this before.
Mind you, I only really started browsing the Register a few months back, and then fairly intermittently.
So a competition for anyone reading my blog: flame me.
Best flame wins a prize, though I haven't decided what yet.
What kind of coffee are you?
| You Are a Frappacino |
 At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low |
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Flickr sorted
Not sure what they did, but I can now access my account. Received an email telling me how to log in (which was what I was doing) and all seems fine.
Mind you, haven't added any more pictures to it as yet...
Mind you, haven't added any more pictures to it as yet...
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Problems with Flickr
Getting lots of problems when I try to log into my Flickr account from work. It keeps telling me that my Yahoo id is already associated with a Flickr account, and I need to merge the acounts.
Fine. So I follow the links and instructions, only to be told that the email address I supply is linked to a Yahoo account and I need to log in there.
Fine. So I log into my Yahoo account and then try to access my Flickr acount, only to be told that I need to merge the accounts.
Guess what happens next?
I've emailed Flickr support, but I guess they'll be on US time, so I will have a bit of a wait.
I've tried to resolve the issue using both Firefox and Internet Explorer, no joy and consequently not many pictures as yet. The funny thing is I can access the account without any problems from home using both safari and Firefox.
It's very fustrating.
Fine. So I follow the links and instructions, only to be told that the email address I supply is linked to a Yahoo account and I need to log in there.
Fine. So I log into my Yahoo account and then try to access my Flickr acount, only to be told that I need to merge the accounts.
Guess what happens next?
I've emailed Flickr support, but I guess they'll be on US time, so I will have a bit of a wait.
I've tried to resolve the issue using both Firefox and Internet Explorer, no joy and consequently not many pictures as yet. The funny thing is I can access the account without any problems from home using both safari and Firefox.
It's very fustrating.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Global Warming
Following on from my last post, and by a strange quirk of coincidence, the Sustainable Development Commision, chaired by Jonathon Porrit and reporting directly to Our Glorious Leader, have released a report into whether the UK should invest in nuclear energy.
And the answer is: No!
Surprise, surprise.
A press release is available here.
We all need to reduce, reuse and recycle much more than we are at the moment. That is well known. Developing countries carbon output will inevitably go up over time, so we need to lead by example. If you haven't got a compost bin or water butt, why not? Go and buy one next weekend, or start a wormery. If you need a new boiler (unlikely, granted) get a condensing boiler. Use the car less, walk or cycle more.
Mind you, renewable energy has a long way to go before it can hope to provide us with the energy we need. Wind farms are unpopular, solar water heating is one thing, but photovoltaic solar panels are not as cost effective as they need to be to generate a mass market. It can take many years to recoup your investment.
But, and its a big but, the current Government are only interested in votes, especially those from Middle England. If Colonel Bluster (rtd) from Greater Whinging in Surrey says "No!"*, the politico's wobble and rethink. Sound bites are all. They have to start paying attention to the long term needs of the country. Of course TB says he is. But if that is the case, why is the nuclear option being considered with such alacrity?
Personally, I think the Government should move away from a centralised energy grid towards a more flexible, locally delivered system concentrating both on big power stations and small microgenerating schemes (such as solar energy, small wind turbines on everybody's roof next to the TV aerial/satellite dish). Grants are already available in the UK to help get your roof insulated, even to get solar panels of one sort or another put up. But the Government needs to improve the structure of these mechanisms, making it easier for householders to have the work done, and easier for planning authorities to ensure that developers build in a more sustainable fashion. Why not insist that all the new houses that are being built in the south east of England have either solar water heating, or photovoltaics, or both? Build in water capturing technology to reduce the amount of rain water that goes into the drains, there to the sewers and so to waste. It can't be that hard.
So come on, people. Have a think. And this weekend, do something green.
*Col Bluster is fictional and any relationship to any figure in life or imagination is unintentional and your own problem.
And the answer is: No!
Surprise, surprise.
A press release is available here.
We all need to reduce, reuse and recycle much more than we are at the moment. That is well known. Developing countries carbon output will inevitably go up over time, so we need to lead by example. If you haven't got a compost bin or water butt, why not? Go and buy one next weekend, or start a wormery. If you need a new boiler (unlikely, granted) get a condensing boiler. Use the car less, walk or cycle more.
Mind you, renewable energy has a long way to go before it can hope to provide us with the energy we need. Wind farms are unpopular, solar water heating is one thing, but photovoltaic solar panels are not as cost effective as they need to be to generate a mass market. It can take many years to recoup your investment.
But, and its a big but, the current Government are only interested in votes, especially those from Middle England. If Colonel Bluster (rtd) from Greater Whinging in Surrey says "No!"*, the politico's wobble and rethink. Sound bites are all. They have to start paying attention to the long term needs of the country. Of course TB says he is. But if that is the case, why is the nuclear option being considered with such alacrity?
Personally, I think the Government should move away from a centralised energy grid towards a more flexible, locally delivered system concentrating both on big power stations and small microgenerating schemes (such as solar energy, small wind turbines on everybody's roof next to the TV aerial/satellite dish). Grants are already available in the UK to help get your roof insulated, even to get solar panels of one sort or another put up. But the Government needs to improve the structure of these mechanisms, making it easier for householders to have the work done, and easier for planning authorities to ensure that developers build in a more sustainable fashion. Why not insist that all the new houses that are being built in the south east of England have either solar water heating, or photovoltaics, or both? Build in water capturing technology to reduce the amount of rain water that goes into the drains, there to the sewers and so to waste. It can't be that hard.
So come on, people. Have a think. And this weekend, do something green.
*Col Bluster is fictional and any relationship to any figure in life or imagination is unintentional and your own problem.
Planet Earth
There's no getting away from it: Sir David Attenborough has done it again!
The first episode was aired last night and already you can see that the show will be a tour de force in the genre.
Stunning landscapes, beautiful animals and state-of-the-art videography and filming have become de rigeur in wildlife filming but, in my humble opinion, there is no organisation who bring it together as well as the BBC.
That it also makes people more aware of the damage we are doing to our home can only be to the good. This post is not the place, however, to go on about global warming. I'll do that at a later date...
The first episode was aired last night and already you can see that the show will be a tour de force in the genre.
Stunning landscapes, beautiful animals and state-of-the-art videography and filming have become de rigeur in wildlife filming but, in my humble opinion, there is no organisation who bring it together as well as the BBC.
That it also makes people more aware of the damage we are doing to our home can only be to the good. This post is not the place, however, to go on about global warming. I'll do that at a later date...
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Doomed!! We're all doomed!!
It never ceases to amaze me how the media affects people. Bird flu is a case in point.
This morning a patient contacted me to say she had seen a dead duck the day before yesterday. Now she is feeling unwell. She is worried she has contracted bird flu. I take a deep breath, explain that she hasn't got it, and give the usual advice on how to deal with the symptoms of the common cold. But I don't blame her for being worried. How was she to know?
Only recently have the press started being less sensationalist about bird flu and its possible effects on humans. However, somewhat over-egged stories can still be seen in numerous tabloids such as this story in my favorite paper. The BBC has generally been more circumspect, providing a more balanced view of things.
For myself, I am more sanguine: bird flu will inevitably reach the uk. This is not the disaster people think. It is part of the natural order of things. At some point, this virus or another will make the transition to human from whatever it's current host is and we will see another global pandemic.
But there is no need to panic. Admittedly they started slowly, but worldwide, governments are finally starting to take the threat seriously. There have been moves afoot to develop a vaccine for some time, but only recently have governments started to take an interest.
So what can you do to stop yourself getting bird flu? Not much to be honest. But don't worry. At the moment you are significantly more likely to die as a result of an asteroid strike on the Earth.
Normal flu on the other hand is doing the rounds. Advice on flu and managing the symptoms can be found here.
Next patient please...
This morning a patient contacted me to say she had seen a dead duck the day before yesterday. Now she is feeling unwell. She is worried she has contracted bird flu. I take a deep breath, explain that she hasn't got it, and give the usual advice on how to deal with the symptoms of the common cold. But I don't blame her for being worried. How was she to know?
Only recently have the press started being less sensationalist about bird flu and its possible effects on humans. However, somewhat over-egged stories can still be seen in numerous tabloids such as this story in my favorite paper. The BBC has generally been more circumspect, providing a more balanced view of things.
For myself, I am more sanguine: bird flu will inevitably reach the uk. This is not the disaster people think. It is part of the natural order of things. At some point, this virus or another will make the transition to human from whatever it's current host is and we will see another global pandemic.
But there is no need to panic. Admittedly they started slowly, but worldwide, governments are finally starting to take the threat seriously. There have been moves afoot to develop a vaccine for some time, but only recently have governments started to take an interest.
So what can you do to stop yourself getting bird flu? Not much to be honest. But don't worry. At the moment you are significantly more likely to die as a result of an asteroid strike on the Earth.
Normal flu on the other hand is doing the rounds. Advice on flu and managing the symptoms can be found here.
Next patient please...
Monday, February 27, 2006
NHS blog Doctor
I've just discovered this blog.
Very funny, and I commend it to you, one and all.
I only wish I'd got my act together sooner and thought of this first. I could have made a mint from the advertising...
Very funny, and I commend it to you, one and all.
I only wish I'd got my act together sooner and thought of this first. I could have made a mint from the advertising...
Sunday, February 26, 2006
I've just discovered that Safari (the web browser on my iMac) doesn't have as many options on the compose bar when composing posts for the blog. :-(
This means I can't do some of the formatting automatically, which is another reason for me to get to grips with html tags sooner rather than later.
Oh well, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And I can run Firefox (which does support the extra formatting options) along side anyway!
You should probably be prepared for odd posts occasionally, as I don't think its fair to keep all my elementary html errors from certain of my viewers. (Pete, you could probably do with a laugh, am I right?)
More posts at a later date...
This means I can't do some of the formatting automatically, which is another reason for me to get to grips with html tags sooner rather than later.
Oh well, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And I can run Firefox (which does support the extra formatting options) along side anyway!
You should probably be prepared for odd posts occasionally, as I don't think its fair to keep all my elementary html errors from certain of my viewers. (Pete, you could probably do with a laugh, am I right?)
More posts at a later date...
Friday, February 24, 2006
Wedding DVD
Well, finally got round to sorting out Nick's video so we can create a DVD of our wedding.
If anyone wants a copy, mail me and I'll send one to you in the post.
We've even figured out how to print out the innards of the |DVD case (though we haven't managed to get hold of printable DVD labels yet through sheer can't-be-bothered-ness).
Its been great fun learning how to do it all, using our iMac to copy the film into iMovie, then creating a DVD movie, then finally ripping it.
In between times, I've started learning a bit about html tags, but unfortunately none of you will be able to see as you're not doctors as I've been practising on my profile entry for DNUK, which you can't access unless you're a GMC registered doctor!
Unless of course you've come here from my profile in DNUK, in which case you've already seen it!
Next blog posting will hopefully incorporate some images. Once I get some on flickr of course.
If anyone wants a copy, mail me and I'll send one to you in the post.
We've even figured out how to print out the innards of the |DVD case (though we haven't managed to get hold of printable DVD labels yet through sheer can't-be-bothered-ness).
Its been great fun learning how to do it all, using our iMac to copy the film into iMovie, then creating a DVD movie, then finally ripping it.
In between times, I've started learning a bit about html tags, but unfortunately none of you will be able to see as you're not doctors as I've been practising on my profile entry for DNUK, which you can't access unless you're a GMC registered doctor!
Unless of course you've come here from my profile in DNUK, in which case you've already seen it!
Next blog posting will hopefully incorporate some images. Once I get some on flickr of course.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Welcome to The Brown Stuff!
Hello!
I thought I should finally get a blog going for all those little thoughts that I want to share with the world.
I've been reading my mate Pete's blog for ages (http://peterwright.blogspot.com/), and from his I've navigated to other blogs of people all over the world.
So if you've already found the blog, watch this space, you never know how many pearls of wisdom you might find here.
Or, of course, not!
I thought I should finally get a blog going for all those little thoughts that I want to share with the world.
I've been reading my mate Pete's blog for ages (http://peterwright.blogspot.com/), and from his I've navigated to other blogs of people all over the world.
So if you've already found the blog, watch this space, you never know how many pearls of wisdom you might find here.
Or, of course, not!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)