New offence of causing death by dangerous cycling leads for call to reform all road traffic laws

 

THE new offence of causing death by dangerous cycling, announced last week, will result in cyclists facing the same penalties as drivers and motorcyclists.

There is concern that this new traffic law, however necessary, replacing as it does outdated 19th century legislation, will create the perception that cyclists  are more dangerous than the facts reveal. 

Chris Boardman, Active Travel Commissioner for England, put it neatly into context by stating far more people are injured by cows or killed in lightning strikes than by cyclists!

"30,000 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads every year, less than three involving a cyclist": Chris Boardman.

The new law makes it an offence to cause death or serious injury by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling.

This new offence is not “anti-cycling” insists the Conservative MP Duncan Smith, who made reference to the death of Kim Briggs in 2016.

She died after Charlie Alliston collided with her in London, riding a fixed-gear bike which illegally had no front brake.

The tragedy had the legal profession scratching around to find the most appropriate legislation to deal with this crime.

In the end Allison was convicted of causing bodily harm by “wanton and furious driving”, an offence under a 19^th century legislation.

This drew criticism that this old law clearly did not cover circumstances such as that which led to the death of Briggs.

Cycling groups issued a collective sigh at the announcement of the new legislation because this did not address wider concerns about road safety.

Cycling UK’s head of campaigns Duncan Dollimore was quoted in The Guardian saying it was clear work needs to be done to make the roads safer for everyone, “but tinkering at the edges of reform will be adding new offences to existing road traffic laws which already aren’t working.”

He said what was needed was an in-depth review of road traffic laws and penalties promised 10 years ago.

“It’s time the government answered our consistent call for a full review,” said Dollimore.

 Now here’s a thing.

Duncan Smith, who backed this amendment to the criminal justice bill, is a curious bedfellow when it comes to upholding the law.

It wasn’t so long ago that Smith was encouraging people to commit criminal damage by attacking ULEV cameras in London.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDS and the shame of our health service

 

MILLIONS of people world-wide are let down by health services continuing to dispute well-grounded international scientific research into the serious genetic disorder,*Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD).

*EDS refers to a group of inherited connective tissue disorders that affect various organ systems.

                                                 The zebra symbolizes the rarity and uniqueness of EDS and HSD,

                                and it serves as a reminder to consider less common diagnoses 

                                                                 when evaluating symptoms. 

“No other condition in the history of modern medicine has been neglected in such a way as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome” – Professor Rodney Grahame, Rheumatologist.

Professor Grahame advocates for a holistic approach to managing EDS. This includes addressing not only physical symptoms but also considering the impact on mental health, quality of life, and overall well-being.

He encourages doctors to listen to their patients, validate their experiences, and provide comprehensive care.

I’ve written about this condition in this column before – concerning our daughter who is afflicted by EDS and associated chronic illnesses including POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) as well as with Autism.

This time I am prompted to do so during EDS Awareness Month, which opened with a major gathering of researchers attending the recent HEDGE (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Genetic Evaluation) Study Update held in April in New York, USA.

The  concern is that most doctors continue to 1: misdiagnose; 2:dismiss the science, telling patients it’s all in their head or; 3: and, this is perhaps worst of all, know something about the condition and yet won’t get off their backsides to learn more and so help those afflicted.  This is leading to serious mental health consequences.

It is an acute problem in Britain where one of the leading advisors is Jeanie Le Bon, an internationally recognised Movement Therapist specialising in Hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Chronic Pain.   (jeanniedibon.com)

She, too, is a chronic pain sufferer who has a lifelong lung condition called bronchiectasis, as a result of three episodes of pneumonia.

She also has EDS and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), *Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

*POTS: when slightest movement causes adrenalin rush sending heart rate sky high while blood pressure drops alarmingly low, leaving you feint and giddy.

 

 

Le Bon highlights the work of Professor Rodney Grahame in Britain, who is

contributing much to research, clinical practice and education.  Professor Grahame is a distinguished rheumatologist with extensive expertise in hypermobility disorders who is striving for greater understanding in the wider NHS.

What does it mean to those who come face to face with doctors who are unable or simply refuse those to help those ill with these horrible conditions.

Here is an extract from Charlotte Twinley’s story on t

; the diversity and ability blog.

https://diversityandability.com/blog

“I was told it was in my head”: Life with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

by Charlotte Twinley

 “It can take over 10 years to be diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

I was diagnosed after about 5 years by pure luck.

When I was 10 years old, I started to have the odd stomach pain. After various doctors’ appointments and tests, nothing was found. It was suggested I tried going gluten and dairy free on odd occasions, which helped – sort of.

At 12, I started to injure myself a lot more whilst playing netball or hockey at school. Everyone just assumed I was ‘getting too into it’ (which I was, but that’s beside the point!).

Two years later, the stomach pains became worse. More appointments, referrals and tests still showed nothing. I had an endoscopy (where a tube with a small camera on the end is inserted down the throat to look at the inside of my stomach), which came back clear.

A couple of days after an intense hockey training session, I woke up and couldn’t move my legs. My dad carried me to different doctors and I had an MRI which, again, showed nothing. The doctors had no idea. They gave me a pair of crutches to drag myself around with, hoping that it might improve as I could still feel my legs. A week later, I managed to wiggle my toes and gradually – literally step by step – I started to walk again.”

 

Eventually, a consultant found out she was hypermobile (extra bendy) and often injured playing sports at school. He then referred her to a specialist in London.

Many more examinations followed and eventually they led to a diagnosis.

However, there is no cure for EDS and management of the condition is essential – and yet physiotherapists with the right skills are few.

 

In my family’s case, our local surgery was asked by the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital to source a specialist physio for our daughter. This was because they judged her too weak to take part in the Hospital’s rehabilitation program, until she had improved.  Our local medical team failed to respond.

That was 12 years ago.

 Similarly, the consultant at Kings College Hospital who diagnosed her with POTS and also requested our local doctors keep an eye on her. They have failed to do so…unless specifically requested to make a house visit for a “normal” illness, perhaps requiring antibiotics.

To cap the neglect, Surrey mental health services have also denied her psychiatric support because they don’t do Autism!!!!

 

Some facts for you.

EDS leaves you with weak connective tissue which can affect every organ in the body – causing bendy limbs which cannot support you. Or dislocation in some cases.

There are variations:

Classical EDS includes a skin condition – 1 in 20,000 people.

Hypermobile EDS: weak connective tissue, resulting in bendy limbs, and risk of dislocation in some cases. 10 to 30 per cent of the population.

Vascular EDS, the most serious, leads to weakened blood vessels and is estimated to effect 1 in 90,000.

 

 

 

 

Labour to nationalise rail network

 

ENCOURAGING to see that Labour “pledges to nationalise rail network within five years”, taking back the system  from private ownership created by the Conservatives  nearly three decades ago promising cheaper tickets!  Instead, it  led to spiraling ticket prices.

Of course this depends upon Labour winning the upcoming General Election, which everyone expects them to do.  

This is a distinct possibility after Labour's huge victory in Local Elections, which for the Conservatives should be re-named the Bye Bye Elections.

And we must hope that the outgoing Conservatives do not throw all their toys out of the pram and completely trash the economy as a going away present.

We really do need for these deadbeats to be shunted into the sidings, thence into the breakers yard.

If Labour succeeds, can we hope they will do what successive governments have failed to do, and provide the investment necessary to make the railways fit for purpose?

Labour's challenge is to create a successful 
economic model for the future of rail

The system has always lacked decent government investment.  It never recovered from being run down during the Second World War, after railways played a vital role shifting soldiers and supplies.

The system was further damaged by the infamous Beeching Report in the 1960s, which resulted in the controversial decision to shut thousands of miles of routes and stations on the basis they were unprofitable.

There were those who thought Beeching’s report was used to “injure” the railways, knock them back, in favour of encouraging the expansion of the road transport industry!

This was a controversial period if ever there was one with one key player at the centre of it.

This was tax dodger Ernest Marples – although we wouldn’t know about that until he had left his job as Minister of Transport.  Marples later did a runner, left the country in a rush, to avoid prosecution for tax fraud.

As Minister of Transport he oversaw major road construction and also the closure of a huge tract of the rail network given the death sentence by Beeching.

He clearly had conflict of interest, for he had been managing director of construction company Marples Ridgway and even when he gave up that post it was rumoured he still enjoyed a nice not-so-little earner.

Shortly after he was elevated to the peerage, the golden boy of the Tory party scarpered to avoid the police at his door. 

He rushed for  a night train for the Continent – fortunately for him it was one of the lines not closed under Beeching.

In the meantime, the Beeching story fed the British public was that a new slimmed down rail network would enable them to concentrate on improving the main trunk rail routes. Except this ignored the role many of the closed lines played in feeding people and goods to the main lines.

The cuts had gone too far. And over the following three decades the railways continued to suffer from lack of proper investment.

France, as I understand it took a different view of their railways worth.  The railways role was to enable the country to function, contributing to the wider economy by transporting people and goods. And therefore, while it must remain accountable, it would never be denied the investment to do that.

In Britain, meanwhile, the drama took  another twist. Enter, stage right, the Conservatives who made the ill-fated decision to privatise in 1997. It was probably just another opportunity for their mates in business, to make a buck or several.

Basically, the move failed the litmus test because the government’s promise that privatisation would take the cost of running the railways out of the public purse was wildly over optimistic. 

For at the point of sale there was not enough revenue in the rail system to meet the new operator’s costs, capital investment and claims of shareholders.

Low and behold, they were soon subsidised to the tune of several £bn of public money and a tidy sum of that would be go into shareholders pockets! More public money than ever was being poured into our rail system. But this time, we, the tax payers, were also funding shareholders and rich businessmen!

Bizarre.

I’m no expert, but here are a few of the pros and cons of that privatisation, gleaned from articles covering the subject in depth.

The Conservatives promised that privatisation would lead to better and cheaper services and also reduce the public subsidy.

Well, passenger numbers did increase as more services were provided.

But on the down side punctuality suffered and fares sky rocketed by 24 per cent, making rail travel in Britain the most expensive in Europe, if not the world. So, failure.

Transport journalist Christian Wolmar, in one of his many stories about this sorry episode, said it was clear that the new management would attempt to boost profits by restricting spending.

And therein lies the single biggest flaw in the privatisation of public utilities, as we can see with the current Thames Water crisis. The company has been pouring so much raw sewage into our rivers fish are dying and human health is threatened.  They are accused of prioritising paying shareholder dividends over investment and they are now £15bn in debt!

Or the country is, because the tax payer may pick up the tab.

Same story with the railways.

The new rail management under privatisation got rid of experienced engineers and as the numbers of trains increased, track maintenance suffered and there was an increase in broken rails, which led to the terrible crash at Hatfield.

Costs soared across the network and there was no longer the expertise to identify which other tracks were at risk of catastrophic failure.

After Hatfield, Railtrack, the company formed to maintain the rail infrastructure, was accused of not being up to the task and responsibility was transferred to quasi-public corporation – Network Rail.

One reason why the whole shambolic exercise failed was because privatisation put shareholders’ interests over that of rail passengers.

One a lighter note, the one thing the privately run railway did excel at -  for besotted train spotters at least – was the introduction of so many different colour schemes representing the different rail companies.

So if your train was cancelled and you waited in hope for the next one, you could at least gaze in wonder at jazzed up diesel and electric locos as they rumbled through.  Some of them became works of art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The government needs to recognise the difference between "mild" and "clinical" depression.... Mental Health Research

 

The Conservative party’s claim that many people with mental health issues are well enough to work is “stigmatising and inaccurate”,  said  Mental Health Research this week.

They hope that their statement, reproduced in full here,  will help Prime Minister Sunak better understand that serious mental health issues afflicting thousands are anything but “mild conditions” and that if untreated can only get worse.

 

Mental Health Research say:

 

Last week, the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to review the fit note system for people who aren’t well enough to work, with a focus on mental health. His speech given on 19 April 2024 continued a rhetoric from the Conservative party regarding mental health that is concerningly stigmatising and inaccurate.

In a speech given in central London on Friday, Mr Sunak said he would target Personal Independence Payments (PIP) if he won the next election, claiming the rising number of people signed off from work due to “mild conditions” such as anxiety and depression was “not sustainable”.

FACT: While some people experience milder cases of anxiety and depression, these conditions can also be severe, rapidly escalating to become debilitating. Anxiety and depression can also be combined with other physical conditions causing a person to not be able to work. There is a difference between feeling sad and clinical depression and a difference between feeling anxious and anxiety disorder. However anxiety and depression left untreated can be a cause of further physical illness and worsening mental illness. It is also very common for someone who has a mental health condition to also have at least one other coexisting physical health condition, if not more. Examples include, a link between hypermobility and anxiety discovered by MQ researchers or a link between Cardio-vascular disease and depression.

 

The five-point plan Mr Sunak announced included removing responsibility for issuing sick notes from GPs, instead handing the duty to so-called specialist work and health professionals in a bid to end the “sick note culture”.

FACT: Mr Sunak’s statements come at a time when 1.9 million people are on waiting lists for mental health support in the UK. And while the overall budget for the NHS has increased, spending on mental health care has remained comparatively unchanged. 

 

Mr Sunak said his stance was part of a “moral mission” to get people back to work as his government would “significantly reform and control welfare”.

FACT: From 2021 to 2022 the rate of adults being signed off work due to sickness or injury increased by 2.6% according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The rate of sickness absence from work is now at the highest level since 2004. Universal Credit claimants (or those classified as unable to work) are more likely to list a mental or behavioural disorder as one of the reasons. However, when a person is assessed as being unfit for work, mental health is usually only one of many reasons recorded. In fact, comorbidities along with suicide are reasons why people with severe mental illness die 10-20 years earlier than other people.

 

Among the Conservatives’ planned changes was a consultation on a “more objective and rigorous approach” in the benefits system. This includes benefits stopping if someone does not comply with conditions set by a work coach. Another was a promise to “tighten” the work capability assessment (WCA).

FACT: While being in work can be good for mental health, and there is more the workplace can do to improve the mental health of employees, in some cases being signed off work can be beneficial and can prevent worsening mental health and subsequent physical health conditions developing, which in turn leads to further costs to the economy.

 

Mr Sunak also pledged for new legislation to prevent “fraudsters” from exploiting “the natural compassion and generosity of the British people”.

FACT: mental illness and mental health distress is neither made up nor a fraud. Research continues to show evidence of genetic and biological differences. Using the word “fraud” when discussing mental health further demonises at risk and vulnerable groups already marginalised and lacking support when suicide rates are increasing.  Isolation and shame is known to contribute to the risk of suicide. The suicide rate in England is currently the highest in a quarter of a century. Last year there were 5,579 recorded suicides in England (ONS), the most since 1999 and a 5.5 per cent increase on the 5,284 in 2022.

 

Mr Sunak highlighted the growing number of people struggling with anxiety and depression, saying new cases have doubled since 2019 and “We need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life.”

FACT: Something that Mr Sunak’s comments omit are the clear link between COVID-19, procedures taken during the pandemic and mental health statistics. For example, people who were hospitalised with COVID-19 are more likely to have a diagnosis of depression or an anxiety disorder than others. Anxiety and depression levels continued to rise in 2022 and cases amongst young people rose during the pandemic. It’s only through research and funding for research that we can reach better understanding of causes, preventions and treatments (such as this groundbreaking MQ study) for anxiety and depression.

 

“Rishi Sunak is saying that mental illness is not serious and debilitating. Parity of esteem is dead.” James Downs, MQ ambassador

 

Mr Sunak’s statement follows comments from members of his party including the Secretary for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, who last month said in an interview with The Telegraph Newspaper, that “mental health culture has gone too far” and “we are labelling the normal ups and downs of human life as medical conditions which then actually serve to hold people back and, ultimately, drive up the benefit bill.”

FACT: Last year the UK Government scrapped the 10-year mental health plan. Following this, MQ and other mental health experts called on the Government to reinstate the cancelled 10-year Mental Health Strategy after a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG): The Major Conditions Strategy: A 10-year failure for Mental Health. In a letter hand-delivered to 10 Downing Street on Thursday 20th July last year,

 

Mr Stride’s comments, like Mr Sunak’s focused on fit notes and the NHS. Mr Stride also said “If {people} go to the doctor and say ‘I’m feeling rather down and bluesy’, the doctor will give them on average about seven minutes and then, on 94 per cent of occasions, they will be signed off as not fit to carry out any work whatsoever.” 

FACT: Demand for services has rapidly escalated with mental health care providers overwhelmed. Referrals to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has risen by 353% since 2016 and regardless of age, many people in need of support are waiting too long for desperately needed treatment from NHS staff who are overworked and reduced. 

 

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting responded to Mr Sunak’s comments saying the Conservatives are “attempting to make mental ill health another front for their culture wars”. Mr Streeting called this “not just tone deaf, it’s shameless and irresponsible.”

The opposition’s plans for mental health, Mr Streeting says, differ: “Instead of attempting to cover up the scale of the problem, the next Labour government will give people the support they desperately need.”

FACT: Over 30 mental health organisations, including MQ Mental Health Research joined together last year to call on all political parties to make a commitment to mental health in their election manifestos. This was outlined in a Mentally Healthier Nation report. We, along with the other signatories in this report, believe that a long-term comprehensive cross-government plan is essential to protect and promote the whole of the UK's mental health.

 

HOW TO RUN THE COUNTRY

 

 

Time to bring you up to date on the Conservative’s latest tactics to secure votes at the next General Election.

 

You will recall their attack on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) and other “anti-motorist” schemes? Well, they won’t let this matter rest, insisting that Local Authorities examine the criteria for proving need for LTNs. 

 

For despite acknowledging that LTNs have been successful in improving safety by reducing traffic and making roads safer for cycling and walking in small areas, the government is insisting that the needs of what many call the “noisy minority” have been overlooked. i.e. the loss of what they consider is the right to drive anywhere.

 

 

The Cons do not deny that LTNs have reduced pollution. But nevertheless they are championing the right to drive into these areas, drive up pollution.

 

The opposing view is that the Cons are simply out to attract votes by stirring up imaginary problems to lay at the door of Labour – many low traffic neighbourhoods are Labour controlled.

 

Now, to another matter. The UK's "sick note" culture. The Cons want to reduce benefits for the 2.8-million people who remain out of work, many with mental health issues. Stopping their benefits is seen as incentive to motivate them to get cured and get out there.

How should they get cured?

Apparently they need to engage with the overburdened mental health services.

Not that simple, given there are 1.9 million people on the waiting list.

And secondly, many medical conditions are not treated by the NHS because doctors do not accept they are real. The Cons think the patient just needs to get a grip when very often the reason for their mental health problems in the first place stem from years of neglect by the NHS, poor living conditions and the cost of living crisis.

 

Scientific research into many serious conditions is  routinely ignored by doctors.   These conditions include EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) which leads to weak connective tissue and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia), when movement causes a surge in adrenalin as if in a 100-metre sprint, and at the same time a drop in blood pressure causing dizziness and feinting. This is something written about before in this column.

 

Denying these ill people a “sick note” and denying them benefits will be cruel and devastating act leading to greater anxiety. 

Many  already have so little money and lead such a poor quality of life they must either  rely on charity food banks or their aging parent/carers to provide for them.

 

Next. This is a story of the Conservatives own making,  the call to re-nationalise Thames Water which will land the State with £15bn debt.  This will fall to next government to sort out.

 

Thames Water £15bn in debt

You will have read how water companies, privatised under the Iron Lady – Margaret Thatcher - in 1989, have been pouring tons of sewage into streams and rivers. It is being claimed the water company’s priorities have placed the need to pay their shareholders dividends over that of the cost of improving sewage treatment works.  When the water companies were privatised by Thatcher 34 years ago, they had zero debt!

 

 FOOTNOTE: Has the government considered that instead of pouring sewage into our rivers human waste could be used as fertiliser on the land, which has been the practice in some countries for thousands of years. 

 

Human excrement is full of natural richness and far better for the land than artificial fertilisers which are harmful to the environment. But with vested interests at stake in the wealthy artificial fertiliser business what chance is there of this happening? Once again we are reminded how greed stands in the way of progress. Nothing new.

 

Brings to mind Nikola Tesla’s idea to provide free electricity in the early 1900s. Tesla was appalled at the pollution caused by coal-fired power stations. 

 

Tesla was the inventor of the alternating current motor and electric car pioneer in the late 19th century. He had a vision of pulling electricity out of the air and transmitting it free from huge towers (Only one was built, the Wharncliffe Tower near New York) across the landscape generating immense low-frequency electrical waves. 

 

His idea never got past the experimental stage before his backer, the businessman JP Morgan got wind of it and pulled funding. Morgan was a big investor in copper essential to electric power stations and thought, well; Tesla's gone too far this time.

 

ON THE BENCH

 

The chronically ill and their carers fondly recall the days when they could relax. They get to hear so much about how the lucky ones go out: a café stop on a long drive; relaxing with friends in a pub; being waited on in a restaurant; riding a train through magnificent landscape; on the beach, and oh, what a beautiful sunset; or a to show, to a museum, to an art gallery, whiling away the hours, uninterrupted!…and so on.

Well...Bollocks!

They don't seem to understand how miserable hearing of others having such good times makes us feel.  We just wish they could dial back a bit on the lurid detail.

Bitter, eh?

Yeah….I know I’ve run similar stories before, but far fewer that the countless reminders from OTHERS all over Facebook, for instance, who live the good life, all that shite.

They're not to know, of course. 

As it is, all we can talk about - reluctantly - is our miserable life. So we don't, generally.

Lovely corner of our patio - opposite the bench.

But now and again, like now, it bubbles over. Got to let it out.

The daily routine of the room bound patient confined to home… forever?

Well, we don’t know…certainly half a life so far.

For our very intelligent, clever girl. University degree with the World at her feet.

Instead, she has lain still in bed for years. Sensory issues rule out contact with anyone, even friends.

 No radio, no TV, no longer reads. Occasionally listens to quiet, meditative music. Will smile sometimes, if I can get away with daft antics.

 Why so ill? Well, there’s a faulty gene at work, yet to be identified. There are many terrible conditions and they are not all life-threatening. But nevertheless, you may as well be serving life. 

Take this lot, for instance.

Medical condition: EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) results in bendy limbs, weak connective tissue – movement causes pain.

POTS: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia – (movement results in adrenalin rush, and corresponding drop in blood pressure – light headed, dizziness, risk of feinting.

Autistic –meaning you are neuro diverse which sets you at odds with the ways of the world, in particular the accepted norms of social behaviour which are absolute foreign to an autistic person.

To cope they will mask their feelings, they will act, copy others to fit in. But there are no Oscars for this performance which comes with a heavy price and leads to intense fatigue.

And there are the sensory issues effecting hearing - everything is too loud; sight- everything is too bright); and extreme anxiety is way beyond the norm and which effectively cannot be countenanced by “feeling the fear and doing it anyway,” as one doctor who knew nothing opined. Not surprising that this leads to mental health issues the so-called mental health professionals dispute.

What else?  PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) means avoiding doing anything at all;    

OCD (Obsessive Compulsion Disorder) compelled to have tasks done in a very particular way).

Hypo-glycaemia ..When body sugar levels drop alarmingly, resulting in hallucinations – corrected by immediate intake of food.

To the few doctors who have helped, thank you.

To the many more, some we have had the misfortune to engage with and the many more we have heard about, who deny EDS and POTS exist. I would risk a custodial sentence if you ever cross my path.

And so, instead of going out, of living, sufferers can expect to spend their life “on the bench” – with little chance of getting to play - while their carers remain confined to living in an open prison.

Try this sequence, running 24 hours a day 365 days a year, including public holidays. It should provide a taste.

Our cared for daughter spends her waking hours in bed, as do many thousands of others in similar horrible circumstances, unseen, in rooms in homes around the world.

Ignored by your local surgery despite everything being on record. Unless you have cause to request a consultation for a run of the mill infection in need of anti-biotics, for instance.

The day begins with text message requests for service of one essential thing or another,   which will run at intervals of between 10 minutes up to an hour, transmitted to carers on standby below.

Start can begin any time from between 9.30am through to 1pm thro to and run to 1 or 2am next morning.

Here we go……..

Carrot juice, vitamins; curtains drawn on larger of two windows.

Upstairs and downstairs…. (For the carers).

Buttered Toast

Upstairs and down

Complan, and tray.

*Bucket (empty commode), turn the radiator down.

Up and down the stairs

Boxes (small boxes wrapped in cling film), used to wrap around wrists – response to allergies when using the toile.

Up and down stairs

Top-up two humidifiers

Up and down stairs

More Evian bottled water

Curtains drawn on larger of two windows

Blind half-way up one window

Upstairs, downstairs.

Baked potato in (means put in oven)

Up and down stairs

Blind all the way up

Curtains drawn on other window

Up and down stairs

Baked potato and homemade chicken and vegetable soup served

Up and down stairs

Wedge – to raise legs to aid circulation while lying on bed

Up and down stairs

Wraps (wraps for neck, heated in microwave)

Up and down stairs

Tea with sugar

Blind up, all the way up on the other window

Up stairs and down stairs

Complan

Upstairs and downstairs

Next, it’s Berries

Ice, bag full of ice for face massage

Upstairs and down again

Chicken juice

Empty the Bucket – the commode.

Upstairs and down

Boxes

Upstairs and down

Porridge

Up and down

Bottled water

Muffins

Up and down stairs

Top up humidifiers

Up and down stairs

Blinds down

Curtains drawn

Up and down stairs

Final wraps.

1am. Goodnight.

I had hoped to finish this beast of a piece in 666 words, but have overrun that.