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jeanmark's latest comments
ViewDate:
6th Feb 2025
jeanmark commented on:
Would you support the ban of cat ownership in some parts of Scotland?Wilf, the Scottish Government has no intention of banning cats, it was animal experts who suggested there should be restrictions on their movements (cats not the government) to protect wildlife. I think neutering of cats not needed for breeding should be compulsory as some people are not aware a cat can become pregnant as young as 4 months, neutering can help reduce the increase in feral cats.ViewDate:
5th Feb 2025 jeanmark commented on:
Would you support the ban of cat ownership in some parts of Scotland?I agree Wilf and also ensure all are neutered.ViewDate:
2nd Jan 2025 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?Yes. Wilf we are encouraged to strive to own our house or flat, then, as an old cynic, when we become old it can be taken from us and used to pay for care we paid into for many years. I loved my work and our NHS and it does need protecting but people like Farage want to take it away. Friends I trained with did gain experience in America but never got use to sending seriously ill people away as they had no insurance, or see someone unable to afford their insulin or other life saving medicines. But I think America is possibly a bad example, however it is one to look at if Reform UK take over, a frightening possibility with the way things are at the moment.ViewDate:
1st Jan 2025 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?Wilf, Hong Kong is sensible in recognising the need for socialisation and many of their high rises have a designated community area on the ground floor and outside that caters for all ages. They encourage residents to meet and socialise. As to the NHS, one of the biggest employers in the world, yes governments have ploughed money into it but have you ever tried to break that money down for how much each and every NHS health care provider receives. The cost ti a hospital when government introduced such things as privatisation of specific serves such as catering and portering and in 1992 introducing PFI’s and, despite being cancelled in 2012 as it lacked transparency and was weighted in favour of the private sector, NHS premises still pay about 2% of its annual budget on PFI charges. Then there is the increase in the cost of staff and medicines along with the increase in people require care and treatment, many expecting new and wonderful new treatments regardless of cost for each individual. Add to this all the costs any household has to pay and we all know they increase each year. People then worry about how much money is being ploughed into the service and it still has problems… There is no comparison with the NHS I entered and the one I left 47 years later. I can understand why, once trained, some people may want to move abroad for better working conditions that allow them to do the work they wanted and gain valuable experience they can bring back.ViewDate:
31st Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?I agree about the housing Market and Brexit didn't help as we lost many skilled builders, electricians etc. as to building up, well Hong Kong managed very well and efficiently but I have no idea how it would work here. As to the NHS, yes I was a registered nurse and worked full time in the NHS for 47 years and it doesn't matter how efficient you want to be, if you do not have the resources it becomes difficult. Also contrary to belief there are not to many senior managers, I was both a senior clinical nurse and senior manager working at all levels, and as the NHS is a very large organisation how many other large organisations have only a few managers, each player has their part to play. There is certainly a shortage of clinical staff for a number of reasons, a registered nurse takes three years to graduate and other registered staff such as pharmacist and doctor take even longer. Yes it gobbles upon money but they, like other organisations, have rising cost each year but are not in a position to charge uses of the service to off set this or to only provide a specific service. But answering your actual question, if the resources are there then they can be more efficient but this relies on a government providing the financial resource.ViewDate:
30th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?Wilf it will certainly be interesting and I agree it doesn't help those who are not as fortunate. as others. The housing market certainly needs to be addressed, in my village we have already had about 1000 houses built meaning we are a stones throw from the nearest villages either end and they are still building. There are very few 'starter homes' and even fewer social housing with the average price for a 3 bedroom of £750,000 I have no idea what the 7 bedroom houses are priced at! As to the NHS, there are always problems when governments decide they will make changes and always expect it to be run as a business. Many years ago we had to do a time and motions study on wards and I was asked why some of my nurses had taken about 15 minutes with one patient when the average should be 5 so were they using their time efficiently! Changes are needed but how can things improve when staffing levels are reduced but patient levels increased. I hope Wes Streeting does the right thing for the service.ViewDate:
29th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?I agree we all expected a little more from Starmer after the useless lot we had before, but so far he has proved not as advertised on the box, he had promised to help the poor and tax the rich, but appear top be doing exactly the opposite. However, I doubt Farage would get expert in to help as he is like Trump, he believes no one is as intelligent as he is, remember he was adamant the Budget from Truss was the best conservative budget he had ever seen!ViewDate:
28th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?Wilf, there is no way Reform UK would actually get anything done for the country with Farage at the helm. The only thing Farage wants is money and power and he has the first. He has been on BBC Question Time 36 times, more than any other single politician, and is getting all the attention he craves making him potentially a very dangerous man with only racial rhetoric and no policies, he is following Trump to a tee and helped by Musk. He truly believes in an Oligarchy form of government in which power rests with a small number of (rich) people. During the election debates he stated clearly that once in power he would get rid of the NHS and introduce an American form of insurance based health care and also consider changing other public services. He is not person we want leading our country, ask his Clacton constituents who did vote for him!ViewDate:
27th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?Wilf I remember Jeremy Hunt as Health Secretary, a memory best forgotten. As to Reform UK people moving that way would be wise to note that: Reform members can not influence party policies as these are decided by Farage, vote in leader elections as there are no leader elections as Farage is the majority shareholder or attend free Reform/Farage rallies and/or gatherings as they are always paid ticket events to control “undesirable people”, like certain journalists, from attending. I'm afraid if they get voted in the we will be run by an Oligarchy.ViewDate:
26th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?I agree Wilf but I'm mot sure I can agree with Boris being dealt a bad hand as a result of COVID -19, the finding from Exercise Cygnus in 2016, highlighted what was needed but the Tories who ignored recommendations from this previous planning exercises that would have ensured we were better prepared to respond and on the basis it would. be too expensive. Labour won with a very large majority but with such a large black hole they appear to be unfocused on addressing issues the people are focused on. I fear they will leave the door open for Reform UK which is not even a political party but a business with Farage as its major shareholder, well he owns 6 of the 15 shares with there remainder being held between two others. That's assuming he does not handcuff himself to Trump...ViewDate:
25th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?Wilf, I hope you have had an enjoyable Christmas. Yes, banter on Silversurfers can help keep the old brain cells working.ViewDate:
25th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?Wilf it must be remembered it was the Tories who advanced the date when it would kick in but they did not communicate it effectively. I can recall Labour showed their support but I am not aware they stated they would compensate women affected and it certainly wasn't in their manifesto. I feel very sorry for those women being put in the position they have been put in but it does appear rather unfair for many to blame the whole situation on Labour, they have already inherited enough problems. They have been in power for 6 months and have had so many pressing problems to deal with, all of which have been urgent ones, and still they get bad press, how easily memories have faded about the last 14 years of Tory disasters, one after the other.ViewDate:
24th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Should Waspi women be entitled to compensation?Wilf, my sister-in-law knew 15 years ago and has moaned about it ever since. It was certainly in all the papers. The problem was many women may not have working been work at the time and only those working and paying NI were informed. No government could have been aware of women who were not working for what ever reason so they could not have been informed. I am can remember that at the time it was announced some my staff who were informed said they would look into it sometime but it was too far away for them to worry about!ViewDate:
5th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Will public control of the railways get them back on track?As we have a motorhome and toured Europe, we always found good, efficient and cheap public transport regardless of country. We also found the Far East public transport was clean, efficient and cheap. Hopefully, once under public control they will be able to develop it, but it will take time and there are always going to be those who are critical because they haven't managed it overnight.ViewDate:
4th Dec 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Will public control of the railways get them back on track?I agree Wilf, privatisation hasn't worked, well only for shareholders, so putting it back in public control couldn't be worse. Very few European countries privatise public transport recognising that it is vital for people to be able move easily and cheaply for a healthy economy.ViewDate:
30th Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Do you support the farmers' protest regarding the government’s proposed tax changes?Wilf I agree and I have no idea what their aim is but appears they are happy to hit the poor rather than try and tackle the rich.ViewDate:
30th Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Do you support the farmers' protest regarding the government’s proposed tax changes?Lionel your knowledge is better than mine but valuing farms does not include the dwelling I just hav e difficulty understanding why farmers are special and thus pay less than any other business and over a longer time when many other businesses will be family run for generations and their total could be high but they have to pay at 40%, over a shorter time and they also work their socks off.ViewDate:
28th Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Do you support the farmers' protest regarding the government’s proposed tax changes?Wilf most farms will not fall into the category of £3.5 million and therefore will. to be hit with inheritance tax and as noted this will only apply to approximately 500 farms across the UK. It is other influences that are making it increasingly difficult for farms to survive, such as Brexit which has been proven to have a negative effect on farms, but apparently 60% of farmers voted for it and backed by the NFU, climate change which is effecting farming because of problems that. can be caused by the weather. I agree we need farmers to be producing food and I support them as much as anyone else, but they have been struggling well before Labour made a changed to the inheritance tax and the coverage makes me wonder why farmers so special that they should be excluded. As to politicians, I have no evidence that they are all only city dwellers and thus have no knowledge of farming and its problems.ViewDate:
28th Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Do you support the farmers' protest regarding the government’s proposed tax changes?The inheritance tax relates to those farms that are valued at more than 3 million pounds, the actual dwelling is not included as part of the total value. Also it will be at 20% rather than everyone else who has to pay 40% It is believed the average farm in England is 88 Hectares (217 acres) but in over half the country, farming owns 20 Hectares or just under 50 acres. The Average costs of farms owned by farming families is £11,000.00. that's amounts to £2,387,000.00 so the Average family farm won't get taxed. They only get taxed on anything over £3 million pounds. So if a farm costs £3.5 million they'll get taxed on £500,000 plus small farms who hit this threshold get 10 years to pay it off at no interest. It is estimated only 500 about farms are worth over 3 million and include people like Jeremy Clarkson, who wrote in the Times newspaper in 2012 that he only bought to avoid inheritance tax the reason for calling the farm 'Diddly Squat', Jame Dyson and also Vinnie Jones pushing up the price of farm land leading to why some farmers will be hit with the tax who would not previously have been. It is these 'fake' farmers who this tax is aimed at not the hard working farmer scrapping a living.ViewDate:
18th Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
What the budget means for you - is it better or worse than you thought it would be?Billy how boring the world would be if we all agreed on everything but I do fully agree with your last post.ViewDate:
17th Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
What the budget means for you - is it better or worse than you thought it would be?Billy, I respect your views and being controversial is often necessary, but I doubt if we can agree on certain things. I do agree with healing for the sick and caring for the dying, saving lives when possible and the education of all those responsible for health care regardless of role. Where we differ is who decides on what is important, should it be the finance manager who will be held to account for ensuring financial balance, or should it be a professional. How is the term ‘the sick’ defined, for example many believe voluntary abortion should not be on the NHS as the person is not actually sick, but that implies a rape victim does not qualify, even the 10 year old raped by her father as she isn’t physically sick or does a child differ from an adult. Gender appears to be a big issue for many but few actually understand the issue, also I worked in the field of HIV for 15 years, should we have only treated those people having contract3ed the disease who were ‘innocent’, in which case how do you define ‘innocent’. A big problem is health care and diseases management has progressed, the NHS I started in was nothing like the NHS I left 47 years later. Progress is right but with progress comes an increase in peoples expectations. I understand the problems all too well but I have no answer, but to assume it is simply only treating those who we consider qualify is something I can’t understand, I have a strong concern for human welfare and dignity and believe all have the right to health care as necessary. I do agree with trying to ensure the next generation inherit something worthwhile, but each generation also have a part to play in maintaining personal health and well being when possible.ViewDate:
15th Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
What the budget means for you - is it better or worse than you thought it would be?Billy, I would not defend an incompetent manager but would assess why they appeared incompetent, the same as I would never defend an incompetent nurse or doctor, and certainly not as a way of them using their position for purely political or career opportunities. A title is a funny thing and can be misunderstood, for example, diversity and inclusivity are important issues and require someone to oversee it but is usually tagged on to a post. Unfortunately it still required education for people to understand the actual meaning. I spent 15 years in the field of Infectious Diseases and HIV, both specialities attracted negative attitudes by many, including medical and nurse staff. I was happy to be involved in the education for understanding of Diversity and Inclusivity as the concept is one of various characteristics that includes race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability status etc. I had a number of titles in one post, I was a ward sister, senior nurse, clinical specialties, Unit manager and held and was responsible for a large budget for two specialist units and was expected to be competed and held to account for each role while still being involved with patiebt care. I was not unusual. Each area has their own budget and separate from other areas, I had mine and it would have included all expenditure from drugs to staffing, the latter may require agency staff if there was no other option, because patient still require care and sickness in staff cannot always be predicted. Even maternity leave could be difficult to juggle resources. I agree reform is needed but we need to get basics first, starting with essential staff and that will include managers. I'm not sure what you mean by 'back to basics'? The NHS is a victim of its own success, when Bevan introduced it health care was so, so different, even when I started it was a completely different ball game and while health care advances and peoples expectations increase there will never be sufficient funding to meet all needs. How do you decide who gets what? The NHS was created to ensure all people requiring health care were treated equally and not dependant on ability to pay. The point is the NHS is a very large organisation and I don't know of any other organisation that does not have different layers of managers to ensure objectives are met at each level and in my experience managers have been held to account. But NHS costs rise as in other organisations, but others may not have had governments introducing privatisation of certain services with the proviso that these services must be put out to tender with the cheapest contract to be accepted. They do not provide a service that is free at the point of delivery and is non profit making. You may be surprised at the number of people who believe it is their right to have what they want as a patient. I, like many, have been physically threatened when a discharge patient is told they could get their paracetamol cheaper at the supermarket instead of us prescribing it. I have no answer while health care continues to progress and governments hold the purse strings, do not appear to be held to account, are dependant on the public to support and with freedom of speech things are not always accurately stated with facts being secondary to many messages! Okay Billy lecture over...ViewDate:
14th Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
What the budget means for you - is it better or worse than you thought it would be?Lionel, the NHS does need reform but once again a league table will be introduced and a manager risks being sacked if these are not met. FACT: during the pandemic the government refused to allow 10,000 extra beds to allow the NHS to cope with their daily work as well as the pandemic, instead Boris Johnson opened 'Nightingale Hospitals' but where never used because of staffing issues. FACT: there is a nurse vacancy rate of 7.5% (31,294 vacancies) (31 March 2024) within the Registered Nursing staff group (which includes midwives and health visitors) a decrease from the same period the previous year when the vacancy rate was 9.9% (40,096 vacancies). FACT: in England in June 2024, there were 10,745 medical vacancies, amounting to 6.9% of all medical posts. These are just doctor and nurse vacancies, the NHS is made up of many other professionals. So how does Wes Streeting think managers (many of who may also be practicing doctors and nurse), will be able to meet league tables? I still have friends, and a nieces, who work in the NHS and tell me they spend most of their day running round like headless chickens fighting fires only to be told they are under achieving and could be sacked. Talk about motivating someone. The NHS is a victim of its own success and there are always problems when the government meddles with it believing it can be run as a business. I will never forget when I was instructed to carry out a time and motion study and my nurses were criticised for spend too long with some patients as the record said their condition stated they only needed 3 minutes for care!ViewDate:
2nd Nov 2024 jeanmark commented on:
What the budget means for you - is it better or worse than you thought it would be?AzRuby there will be problems with the standard of imports as once again Labour has had to suspend the phytosanitary/veterinarian border checks. These have not been fully introduced properly since Brexit (do to lack of space and staffing). The problem has been inherited from the disorderly Tory management of Brexit, in particular Boris Johnson who refused to introduce this in a timely manner because it would have exposed some of the truths costs of Brexit .ViewDate:
28th Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Will you be opening your door to trick-or-treaters this Halloween?I'm fortunate in my village, if there is no pumpkin at the front door then no trick and treats at that house. It works well.ViewDate:
21st Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Is there really such a thing as man flu?Lionel, of coursed it would be kosher and particularly heavy on the garlic, the only real cure for man-flu.ViewDate:
21st Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Is there really such a thing as man flu?Well if my husband ever gets man-flu, I'll wipe his fevered brow and feed him chicken soup...ViewDate:
20th Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Is there really such a thing as man flu?Oh dear Wilf, your wife dragging herself to the shops on her knees doesn't mean your flu is worse, she just knows you both have to eat and is too worried to send you to the shops...ViewDate:
20th Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Would you have weight-loss jabs if you were offered them on the NHS?Lionel I agree but studies have shown we are not and never have been able to grow all that we need. At least Lidl and Aldi sell good nutritious food at reasonable prices, but not everyone has these shops within a reasonable distance. I just find it difficult to understand why there are many people who are very quick to be critical of obese people and often making assumptions about their life styles, accusing them of just being lazy without even knowing their history. Obesity can be a complex issue and not purely someone being lazy and just overeating because they can. Just giving someone an injection is not the answer and will certainly not solve the problem.ViewDate:
16th Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Would you have weight-loss jabs if you were offered them on the NHS?Lionel, I agree and when will some people understand that a good diet can cost, just as an example fresh fruit and vegetables are not the cheapest of products even those in season. Many people assume obesity is always related to over eating and the shame is it can be cheaper to take you children to places like McDonalds, than buy fresh produce and cook at home, even you can afford to use your electric or gas cooker and/or you actually have the energy after working two jobs.ViewDate:
1st Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Do you own an air fryer?Well I have a husband who is a great cook and enjoys it so why would I deprive him of the joy - but I can cook if pushed.ViewDate:
1st Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Do you own an air fryer?That's okay Wilf, I'm not allowed to use ours for the same reason!!ViewDate:
1st Oct 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Do you own an air fryer?We have a small air fryer and a Remoska and as a result rarely use our main oven and have therefore saved ourselves both money and cooking time.ViewDate:
27th Sep 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Are you happy that Artificial Intelligence could be used to influence your shopping choices?Oh dear Lionel, all I saw was Centre for Disease Control!ViewDate:
21st Sep 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Are you happy that Artificial Intelligence could be used to influence your shopping choices?Oh dear Bob, whilst your opinion is just that, a comment based on your perspective and understanding it does not mean someone else's opinion, when it differs from yours, is any less valid. I interpret the term 'Nanny State' as being used when it is the government being regarded as overprotective or as interfering unduly with personal choice. The question being asked was about a supermarket and I based my response on that. I had not appreciated you would be so sensitive at someone else's opinion.ViewDate:
20th Sep 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Are you happy that Artificial Intelligence could be used to influence your shopping choices?Bob Walton is has nothing to did with a nanny state and more to do with a large supermarket hoping to influence their customers to spend more on their 'healthy' products, many of which are more expensive.ViewDate:
17th Sep 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Would you support the law change to permit assisted dying?I assume they are registered nurse, pharmacists or doctors. Midazolam is used in a number of areas and anxiety can be one, but having work in the NHS for 47 years years I never witnessed deliberate ending of a non consenting patients life and that includes palliative care, elderly care and HIV, the latter for 15 years when at times we were asked by some patients to end their life. Canada is a good example of introducing something without have sound policies and procedure place, Switzerland has it right. I have reservations and also wonder how professionals will feel if they are expect to carry out the ending of a life, all those I met during my career would not nave been happy. But an individual should also be able to control their life when it becomes obvious they are terminally ill. Psychiatric issues are different to physical illnesses.ViewDate:
15th Sep 2024 jeanmark commented on:
Would you support the law change to permit assisted dying?What evidence are you using for the Midazolam claim? Canada is not a good example as Switzerland has sound processes in place that are followed.
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