Thought that I would put this link on my blog as the web site is a cracker.
It does seem for once that the UK government has had an idea which does not involve taking large amounts of ill gotten gains from my pocket.
Essentially they are asking people for ideas which will use existing web based data collected from around the UK to create new and different uses of that data.
Well worth a look.
It's called Show Us A Better Way
Thursday 3 July 2008
Thursday 24 April 2008
States of Mind
What is it in our minds which makes us happy or sad?
Much research has been carried out over many years in mental institutions to determine the way in which the physical process of our state of mind operates. How much is down to chemical imbalance and how much is a reflection on the state of our lives at any given time?
It appears that we have progressed somewhat over the years and no longer appear to treat the mentally ill person with an automatic straight jacket and electric shock treatment, but are the drugs used to replace and re-balance the imbalances of the brain simply replacements for these old fashioned and barbaric treatments? I don't know enough to give an answer.
From my own limited experience it does appear that we are more knowledgeable now about the way in which the chemical and electrical way in which the brain operates, and one would therefore assume that the treatments offered to those suffering from mental illnesses are improving.
In the UK in recent years there has been a change in attitude towards the treatment of mental illness. Now there is a much more apparently 'patient centered' approach, but maybe this has gone too far towards caring for the person's rights instead giving them the proper levels of treatment.
A mental health practitioner, having diagnosed a patient with a problem can institute a regime of treatment which could include prescription of drugs to alleviate the symptoms of the problem - provided that the patient takes them. The patient is deemed to be capable of making a decision as to whether or not they take those drugs and so alleviate the problems associated with the illness. But how much of this is true?
If someone is suffering from a severe mental illness then one of the problems they might face is the inability to make what we would consider to be a rational judgment - on taking the drugs. The result could be that they do not take the drugs from time to time and that their condition worsens, yet the practitioner is not able to force them to take the medication. This decision is left entirely up to the patient.
Let us paint the scenario where someone suffering from a serious mental health problem decided not to take the medication they have been prescribed. Over a period of time their condition deteriorates to such an extent that they brought once again to the notice of the authorities, who place them once more into secure accommodation in a hospital ward from when they originally were released into the community.
On the face of it this system appears to place the welfare and rights of the patient uppermost. But does it?
Over a period of years, perhaps, this patient might be re-introduced to hospital several times without any real improvement in their overall condition. They are merely treated for a period of weeks in a hospital ward then released once more into the outside world, where they begin the cycle again.
A revolving door for the patient and indeed for the hospital.
So, why does this happen? Is it because in the UK we have a system of hospital funding for mentally ill people which gives the hospital a certain amount of funding each time a patient is admitted to a ward?
I suggest that this is exactly what is behind it.
To keep someone in a ward for a long period of time is expensive and each time a patient is admitted the hospital receives a large sum of money for their upkeep. This is whether they stay for weeks or a year. So it is in the financial interest of the hospital to keep someone coming back every few months or so for a period of stay lasting a few weeks. The money keeps coming in. Cynical? - Maybe.
In certain parts of the UK the waiting time to see a psychologist or psychiatrist is measured in months or years. Yet all this time mentally ill people are not being given the level of treatment they should be receiving. No diagnosis means no treatment, means vulnerable and fragile people are having to cope with a terrifying and debilitating illness alone.
If you wish to read more then go to this link.
Much research has been carried out over many years in mental institutions to determine the way in which the physical process of our state of mind operates. How much is down to chemical imbalance and how much is a reflection on the state of our lives at any given time?
It appears that we have progressed somewhat over the years and no longer appear to treat the mentally ill person with an automatic straight jacket and electric shock treatment, but are the drugs used to replace and re-balance the imbalances of the brain simply replacements for these old fashioned and barbaric treatments? I don't know enough to give an answer.
From my own limited experience it does appear that we are more knowledgeable now about the way in which the chemical and electrical way in which the brain operates, and one would therefore assume that the treatments offered to those suffering from mental illnesses are improving.
In the UK in recent years there has been a change in attitude towards the treatment of mental illness. Now there is a much more apparently 'patient centered' approach, but maybe this has gone too far towards caring for the person's rights instead giving them the proper levels of treatment.
A mental health practitioner, having diagnosed a patient with a problem can institute a regime of treatment which could include prescription of drugs to alleviate the symptoms of the problem - provided that the patient takes them. The patient is deemed to be capable of making a decision as to whether or not they take those drugs and so alleviate the problems associated with the illness. But how much of this is true?
If someone is suffering from a severe mental illness then one of the problems they might face is the inability to make what we would consider to be a rational judgment - on taking the drugs. The result could be that they do not take the drugs from time to time and that their condition worsens, yet the practitioner is not able to force them to take the medication. This decision is left entirely up to the patient.
Let us paint the scenario where someone suffering from a serious mental health problem decided not to take the medication they have been prescribed. Over a period of time their condition deteriorates to such an extent that they brought once again to the notice of the authorities, who place them once more into secure accommodation in a hospital ward from when they originally were released into the community.
On the face of it this system appears to place the welfare and rights of the patient uppermost. But does it?
Over a period of years, perhaps, this patient might be re-introduced to hospital several times without any real improvement in their overall condition. They are merely treated for a period of weeks in a hospital ward then released once more into the outside world, where they begin the cycle again.
A revolving door for the patient and indeed for the hospital.
So, why does this happen? Is it because in the UK we have a system of hospital funding for mentally ill people which gives the hospital a certain amount of funding each time a patient is admitted to a ward?
I suggest that this is exactly what is behind it.
To keep someone in a ward for a long period of time is expensive and each time a patient is admitted the hospital receives a large sum of money for their upkeep. This is whether they stay for weeks or a year. So it is in the financial interest of the hospital to keep someone coming back every few months or so for a period of stay lasting a few weeks. The money keeps coming in. Cynical? - Maybe.
In certain parts of the UK the waiting time to see a psychologist or psychiatrist is measured in months or years. Yet all this time mentally ill people are not being given the level of treatment they should be receiving. No diagnosis means no treatment, means vulnerable and fragile people are having to cope with a terrifying and debilitating illness alone.
If you wish to read more then go to this link.
Saturday 19 April 2008
How Long!!
It seems an awful long time since I wrote anything on this thing, so thought that as it was a fairly dull Saturday night and there being nothing much on the 900 + channels on Sky TV, I would get the laptop out and add something here.
Though in all honesty I cannot think of anything much to put on here, maybe it's time to have a rant at something or somebody. After all, having reached the grand old age of 60 and a bit, I think maybe I am entitled to sound off, having spent most of my life being ignored by everyone and his dog.
I was watching something a short time ago on BBC Four, The Book Quiz, and was quite startled to find that I was able to answer one of the questions put to the teams on the quiz. It was a quote by Ernest Hemingway about living in Paris. He said that once you had been there the memory of the place would always stay with you and that you were able to enjoy it even though you were somewhere else at the time. He called it a 'moveable feast' and I felt that it was an accurate and very apt description.
Paris is a wonderful place and somewhere I have been to on many occasions, mainly because in my 30's I worked for a couple of French companies and had to go to the country every six weeks or so. Hard work, but someone had to do it. I'm talking almost 30 years ago now and then the place used to annoy me intensely due to the Parisian habit of allowing their dogs to crap all over the pavements. It really was horrendous at the time. You were constantly skidding on little bits of French dog turds and having to scrape you shoes on the side of the gutter. Now though they have changed somewhat. Not sure where the dogs do it now, but they do have an army of little green people rushing around with green electric carts and brushes and shit scrapers to clean up the mess. Big improvement.
I think the reason I got onto the subject of France because one of the really nice things which came from the time I spent working for those companies in France was the fact that I met and became friends with two wonderful people. Jean-Michel and Anne are now married, but at the time I met them they were still to undergo the ceremony. I was invited to their wedding and the baptism of their first son, and have kept in touch over the years. They have stayed with me and the various wives I have managed to acquire and I have stayed with them in the various houses and apartments they have lived in.
It really is good to know that after all these years we still keep in touch.
The relationship Jean-Michel and I have is a bit strange. We can go two or three years and not see each other then when we do eventually get to meet up again we start to talk again in the usual mixture of French and English as though we have only just stepped out of the room for five minutes. A wonderful relationship, and one I hope will continue for always.
Sometimes the break of a long silence of not writing will be an e mail informing me that they have once again moved. which is always a good ice breaker!!
They are coming to the UK next month, and with a small amount of luck I will get to see them, though I think they are going to be a bit busy - heavily involved with their towns twinning arrangements.
So, after a break of several months, I am back. Hope to write more on here soon.
Though in all honesty I cannot think of anything much to put on here, maybe it's time to have a rant at something or somebody. After all, having reached the grand old age of 60 and a bit, I think maybe I am entitled to sound off, having spent most of my life being ignored by everyone and his dog.
I was watching something a short time ago on BBC Four, The Book Quiz, and was quite startled to find that I was able to answer one of the questions put to the teams on the quiz. It was a quote by Ernest Hemingway about living in Paris. He said that once you had been there the memory of the place would always stay with you and that you were able to enjoy it even though you were somewhere else at the time. He called it a 'moveable feast' and I felt that it was an accurate and very apt description.
Paris is a wonderful place and somewhere I have been to on many occasions, mainly because in my 30's I worked for a couple of French companies and had to go to the country every six weeks or so. Hard work, but someone had to do it. I'm talking almost 30 years ago now and then the place used to annoy me intensely due to the Parisian habit of allowing their dogs to crap all over the pavements. It really was horrendous at the time. You were constantly skidding on little bits of French dog turds and having to scrape you shoes on the side of the gutter. Now though they have changed somewhat. Not sure where the dogs do it now, but they do have an army of little green people rushing around with green electric carts and brushes and shit scrapers to clean up the mess. Big improvement.
I think the reason I got onto the subject of France because one of the really nice things which came from the time I spent working for those companies in France was the fact that I met and became friends with two wonderful people. Jean-Michel and Anne are now married, but at the time I met them they were still to undergo the ceremony. I was invited to their wedding and the baptism of their first son, and have kept in touch over the years. They have stayed with me and the various wives I have managed to acquire and I have stayed with them in the various houses and apartments they have lived in.
It really is good to know that after all these years we still keep in touch.
The relationship Jean-Michel and I have is a bit strange. We can go two or three years and not see each other then when we do eventually get to meet up again we start to talk again in the usual mixture of French and English as though we have only just stepped out of the room for five minutes. A wonderful relationship, and one I hope will continue for always.
Sometimes the break of a long silence of not writing will be an e mail informing me that they have once again moved. which is always a good ice breaker!!
They are coming to the UK next month, and with a small amount of luck I will get to see them, though I think they are going to be a bit busy - heavily involved with their towns twinning arrangements.
So, after a break of several months, I am back. Hope to write more on here soon.
Monday 25 June 2007
14 T F Cunningham
Sadly, I have to report, that Frank died during the last week. Death is a sad time, but in this instance I really do feel that despite the tremendous loss felt by his family, it eventually came as a blessing. No one should have to suffer the ways he and his family have done over the past months.
Wednesday 20 June 2007
13 T F Cunningham
I thought by this day I would be writing to tell you that Frank has died. Unbelievably, seven days later, he is still hanging on. I find it hard to believe the spirit of a human being who can hold onto life when so much is wrong.
My latest information is that he is deteriorating, and that today could be his last.
I will update you from time to time.
My latest information is that he is deteriorating, and that today could be his last.
I will update you from time to time.
Wednesday 13 June 2007
12 A man to remember - T F Cunningham
Today I had an experience which I have never had before in my life. I said goodbye to a friend who I know will never see again. He is dying, and he knows it. His time left is short, perhaps only a few days.
He is the Godfather of my landlady and I met him and his wife just over two years ago. They are both now in their mid 70's, and when I first met them he had been suffering for some years with Diabetes and had recently started to receive Dialysis treatment for other complications. He also suffered from time to time - since his early forties - from a serious heart condition.
Three weeks ago his family informed my landlady that he was to go into hospital for treatment for his heart condition. During his time there he had further heart attacks and a bypass operation was carried out, but was unsuccessful. The operation was carried out under local anaesthetic as his kidney problem would not allow a full general anaesthetic.
A couple of days later he had one of his legs amputated above the knee. This devastated him, but within a couple of days was making light of it and had set himself a goal of seeing Rome. He was indefatigable, in public anyway, but like all of us had a private side which was sometimes depressed. And who could fault him for this?
On Monday of this week I went to see him with my landlady, he looked ill and was a little quieter than normal. On the way home his wife expressed her concerns about his worsening condition. What can one say in the circumstances? It appeared obvious that he would have to have his other leg removed.
On Tuesday he had another heart attack, and very quickly the surgeon and his team came to see him. After a long consultation the surgeon told him that he had decided that there was nothing more to be done for him and that it was his decision to withdraw medical treatment.
Today he should have gone for dialysis but in view of his blood sugar levels and blood pressure this could not happen.
We received a phone call about mid morning to tell us the news. By midday we were at his bedside. He looked very well, talkative and in full command of all his faculties.
In a very businesslike and yet rueful way he told us all that had happened and that he was only going to fool The Grim Reaper by not going through the door which had been indicated. He knew that he was dying, and that he had only a short time to live. Yet his attitude was fairly matter of fact, and yet underneath he was also sad.
After some time sat with him and his wife, who had been at the hospital overnight, he suddenly looked tired and lost a little of the colour from his cheeks. I suggested that it was time we left him. "Yes," he said, looking up at me, "I do feel a little tired."
Then came the hardest part, saying our final farewells. My landlady was in tears as she hugged him despite trying to keep her eyes clear. I held his hand and tried to say something, but he beat me to it. "It's been a pleasure to know you David", he said. I felt the tears coming to my eyes. I don't remember what I said.
We left the hospital and sat in the car for a time.
How can anyone be so considerate for the feelings of others in such a situation? He did though. He might last a few days from this posting, or a few hours.
I have known him only a couple of years, but know why his family hold him in such affection. He is a man of incredible intellect and humour, of consideration and tact, yet never afraid to say the right words where they were needed.
He will be missed by not only his family but a very wide circle of friends from the earlies part of his life to the very end of it.
Good night dear friend.
He is the Godfather of my landlady and I met him and his wife just over two years ago. They are both now in their mid 70's, and when I first met them he had been suffering for some years with Diabetes and had recently started to receive Dialysis treatment for other complications. He also suffered from time to time - since his early forties - from a serious heart condition.
Three weeks ago his family informed my landlady that he was to go into hospital for treatment for his heart condition. During his time there he had further heart attacks and a bypass operation was carried out, but was unsuccessful. The operation was carried out under local anaesthetic as his kidney problem would not allow a full general anaesthetic.
A couple of days later he had one of his legs amputated above the knee. This devastated him, but within a couple of days was making light of it and had set himself a goal of seeing Rome. He was indefatigable, in public anyway, but like all of us had a private side which was sometimes depressed. And who could fault him for this?
On Monday of this week I went to see him with my landlady, he looked ill and was a little quieter than normal. On the way home his wife expressed her concerns about his worsening condition. What can one say in the circumstances? It appeared obvious that he would have to have his other leg removed.
On Tuesday he had another heart attack, and very quickly the surgeon and his team came to see him. After a long consultation the surgeon told him that he had decided that there was nothing more to be done for him and that it was his decision to withdraw medical treatment.
Today he should have gone for dialysis but in view of his blood sugar levels and blood pressure this could not happen.
We received a phone call about mid morning to tell us the news. By midday we were at his bedside. He looked very well, talkative and in full command of all his faculties.
In a very businesslike and yet rueful way he told us all that had happened and that he was only going to fool The Grim Reaper by not going through the door which had been indicated. He knew that he was dying, and that he had only a short time to live. Yet his attitude was fairly matter of fact, and yet underneath he was also sad.
After some time sat with him and his wife, who had been at the hospital overnight, he suddenly looked tired and lost a little of the colour from his cheeks. I suggested that it was time we left him. "Yes," he said, looking up at me, "I do feel a little tired."
Then came the hardest part, saying our final farewells. My landlady was in tears as she hugged him despite trying to keep her eyes clear. I held his hand and tried to say something, but he beat me to it. "It's been a pleasure to know you David", he said. I felt the tears coming to my eyes. I don't remember what I said.
We left the hospital and sat in the car for a time.
How can anyone be so considerate for the feelings of others in such a situation? He did though. He might last a few days from this posting, or a few hours.
I have known him only a couple of years, but know why his family hold him in such affection. He is a man of incredible intellect and humour, of consideration and tact, yet never afraid to say the right words where they were needed.
He will be missed by not only his family but a very wide circle of friends from the earlies part of his life to the very end of it.
Good night dear friend.
Saturday 9 June 2007
11 Me and Bailley
I have been asked to put a photograph of myself on the blog, so that the people coming to visit from Belarus will have some idea of what I look like.
So as not to frighten people too much I decided to include the youngest member of the household in the photo as a well. This is Bailley who is about six months old. Sometimes he is a kitten, and sometimes thinks he is Tiger. As this was being taken he decided that he would be a kitten. Thank goodness! His claws are very sharp when he goes into Tiger mode.
So as not to frighten people too much I decided to include the youngest member of the household in the photo as a well. This is Bailley who is about six months old. Sometimes he is a kitten, and sometimes thinks he is Tiger. As this was being taken he decided that he would be a kitten. Thank goodness! His claws are very sharp when he goes into Tiger mode.
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