Priorities
I’ve got a friend with depression. Not a hugely severe depression but serious and debilitating enough to have made a huge impact on their quality of life and relationships. Very recently, finally at the end of their tether, they bit the bullet and went to see their doctor. The doctor told them they’d have to wait over twelve months to see a counsellor on the NHS for reasons ‘financial’ and wranglings ‘political’. ‘Self-help’ websites and Prozac were proffered and reluctantly accepted.
Yesterday, my partner’s mother was admitted to hospital with a serious infection, a result of the surgery she had a month or so ago. But, it being Sunday and people not usually getting ill on a Sunday (obviously), only a skeleton staff was available. My partner’s mother waited seven hours to receive treatment.
So, you know, fuck the Cutty Sark.
Posted on May 21st, 2007 at 5:24 pm
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Filed under Evil of banality |
As always with the NHS, it most likely comes straight down to the availability in the area where they live. When I had a breakdown four years ago, I was seen within a couple of weeks by a psychiatrist, and before that had also been seen by another psychiatrist at the local hospital within an hour of going to A&E. I can’t speak highly enough of the mental health trust in my local area, it’s just all down to postcodes.
As Jon points out in his post about Alan Johnston and the BBC reporting, just because more important matters are not reported onm a given day, it does not necessarily mean that we, them, or indeed the politicians have forgotten about them.
I take your point, Robert. What shot my goat is the hand-wringing and the begging for cash for a sodding boat.
Depression is something noone needs. I’ve found gym-going, running, cycling, etc. to be a huge help, and that’s my stock suggestion for anyone who’s been bitten.
Two partners, two separations, two nervous breakdowns,,,,,,,, that will be written on my gravestone,,,,,, I know the NHS is the model for the HSE, the Irish healthcare system.
When you are in the throes of a breakdown you will go to the gym and convince your friends you are ok. But what you talk about Charlie is recovery, not the train crash waiting to happen.
Cutty Sark, been there twice. A sad loss of a ship made to plunder for the empire.
[...] Sometimes it isn’t too difficult to imagine that a one minute silence would be held the next time Prince Philip followed through. Or how about a minute silence for the Cutty Sark? [...]
I also watched a documentary earlier about Veterans and how they’re treated when they return home injured.
What happened to the social contract?
Tell your friend to go back to their GP and ask them to mark the case high priority, also ask them look at the waiting lists at other hospitals other than the local one, as there may be another places nearby which are better, they should be able to do under the choose and book system.
My Dad was on an 18 month waiting list for a hearing aid test, but by being persistent and getting to know a bit how the system works and using it to his advantage he has only had to wait 2 months.
As with all large bureaucracies it’s a question of being able to best manipulate the system and not taking no for an answer, not the best situation for vulnerable people but probably unavoidable.
And exercise is supposed to be a big help. Just getting out and going for a walk, particularly in the sunshine, is supposed to produce lots of endorphins and seratonin.
I guess we should probably also stop subsidising the study of humanities and literature, since they don’t cure diseases or add to GDP. And convert the museums to homeless shelters while we’re at it.
A slight misrepresentation, John.
No I think John is right on this one. You can’t assume that the cash that is spent on the boat would go straight toward providing a counsellor or another doctor. More likely outcome is no boat and no doctor. I think I wrote about this once .. oh yeh
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/daniel_davies/2006/04/the_nhs_is_not_god.html
You can’t assume that the cash that is spent on the boat would go straight toward providing a counsellor or another doctor.
No, of course not. While I sincerely find it immensely flattering that you chaps stop by occasionally and assume of me intellectual chops, this was really just a post about me being fucked off that I have two friends in pain for lack of resources and they’re talking about splashing cash about on what I regard as ‘just a fucking boat’.
Justin - I understand what you’re saying, but perhaps I can give you an equally personal view? I’ve suffered from depression for much of my adult life and indeed, seven years ago this month, it nearly killed me. I’m completely aware of how hard it is to obtain help with mental health problems on the NHS (in fact, my experience was rather worse than the one you describe).
But I can’t see the link to the Cutty Sark and when I read about the fire I took more notice of it than I do of most news stories from home. Why? I don’t know really. Because I went round it as a kid (and again a couple of years ago) and because I’m not just interested in history but convinced of its importance. To me it’s not just a boat, it’s something important and irreplaceable. Neither as important nor as irreplaceable as a living human being, of course, but important nonetheless.
I don’t want to disrespect your feelings and please delete this posting if you want, I’ll not be offended. But I don’t see the link.
No that’s fair enough, Justin and I wouldn’t delete your comment, sympathising as I do. And of course, you’re right.
This was just an angry throwaway post - trying to be the Pig Dog Fucker without the laser-guided precision.
I think you have a point Justin. The SS Great Britain here in Bristol gets millions, literally millions of pounds to fund a really rather shoddy refurbishment effort and crap museum. Meanwhile next door, my dad is trying to run an actual live boatbuilders and compete etc, and does he see any support? No, they’re too busy doing bullshit ‘culture’ crap.