What if the first tribe has enough water for themselves, their cattle, and adequate to wash their clothes.
Category Archives: Humanism
Health, VO2, The Freemasons, and my blog
Rod reveals the secret. Are you ready? Are you in a position of preparedness?
Bereavement. A week?
Mostly death, or dying, is about the person who is leaving, that is, until they lose awareness, and then, it is about the family or the friends.
Breastfeeding and a general party political rant.
(One death, a tragedy, 300,000, a statistic, (to paraphrase Stalin) – he would delight in the Tory achievements).
Why are male landowners in South Yorkshire such bastards? (Yes, this blog contains swear words. Don’t read if you are sensitive) (or a farmer).
All I was trying to do was get a bit of exercise, enjoy the outdoors. Who owns the land?
Masking / existential cover-up (Chris Packham & the autistic spectrum)
You see, we are all individuals, unique unto ourselves.
Greed is good & striking doctors.
the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and we all fall down.
Two Distant Strangers
What became of Jeter?
The art (Tao) of doctoring without doctoring
Doctoring without doctoring, a state of being, non-being. I am therefore I might be.
Heightened index of distractibility & surviving the Nazis.
A similar activity in 2023 would get you locked-up or sectioned.
The last lecture
I flashed-forward a decade and imagined them strutting around a hospital wards, missing the point as they seemed to miss it now.
Person-centred care and self-love
I, as a doctor might know all about diabetes or asthma, you as the person with the condition know all about you. What you know about you is always far more than I can know about the dry technicalities of disease, even with a lifetime of experience.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Whether I call them
Mr Cohen
Or Albert
Mrs Shleperstein
Or Gloria.
Satori in the quicksand, the dimishing returns of a hospital admission
Thus, one doctor might say ‘chest infection’ another ‘bronchitis’ another ‘pneumonia’ and a fourth, ‘chest clear, probable urine infection.’
I write with no agenda, let’s see what happens. Epstein, Maxwell & Gasprom effects on Yoda the tortoise.
I worry I shouldn’t have fed him (hibernation begins on an empty stomach) and yet, he appeared hungry.
Dickens speaks to Marx who is in discussion with Harry Leslie Smith. They reach a compromise.
Yes, the NHS and the Tory.
Sure, the Tory has never liked the NHS, it is too leftie, too socialist, democratic, and yet, it is central to UK political debate; it is locked-in to our psyche.
Why did granny die? They killed Gran. After Priestley. (A redo, 26/11/22)
The last time Elsie was in hospital was 50 years before when her son was born.
Squeeze the capsule and empty the contents on to their sugar puffs. The 21st century balm.
If you open the capsule and sprinkle, everything will be ok.
Funereal wave. Suspension of belief.
Is this it?
You ask,
Is this the call?
the empty bed & the red dahlia
blink and you will miss it.
Crisis, alert, no beds!
Many are unaware of the pain and sometimes indignity facing the patients (as Old Adam waits on that stretcher, in hospital gown, bottom or testicle peeking-out, he needs the toilet, ‘Just go in your pad,’ he is told.)
I am a Tory! (& the trouble with memes)
You can say, ‘Molly, you are 95, your mum is dead, you have dementia, you live in a care home, sit down.’
Anxious Jew Redux, Professor Ian Robertson & Blindboy
Doctors are great at diagnosing or assigning diagnoses. It is something that makes many of them very happy. It provides the doctor with certainty, a finite box in which to insert their patient and to focus treatment – antibiotics, pain killers or anti-depressants. (I am sure there is a dopamine release every time a doctor signs a prescription).
Cognitive dissonance, the NHS, Virtual Wards, and the rest of the shit that is going down
I even recently read in a patient’s notes the following:
‘Called patient for telephone appointment. There was no answer. Patient has not attended the appointment. See again in six months.’
Bullying techniques, the lost photography of Vivian Meier, Jew-bugs & etc.
…the bullies themselves are becoming more cunning, the subtlety of the interaction can skew the response…
Today is the day of Elizabeth’s funeral. A rethink.
I keep thinking Land Rovers.
I think Dutchy Organics.
Purveyors of fine foods to HRH.
It’s a jumble.
The 3 R’s, My American Wife & Jesus.
Stop moaning about the Norwegians or the Norway Fisheries folk and reduce your carbon footprint.
Elephants, walruses, and forlorn carpenters
Freya probably spent her days swimming between Shetland, Norway, and Holland because of Global Warming; another shitstorm caused by us, people.
Healthy ego
The pressures, whether overt or not, the unreasonable demands, the pushing, pulling, bullying and intimidation inherent in many workplaces or the uncertainty of tomorrow, the zero-hours tightrope, all make us human, fragile.
Not all bad news is the same, new discoveries, deviation into politics and SUMMERTIME.
Why is it not black and white? We, that is humans don’t seem to have the same problem with gravity or air…
The heat, boiling frogs and rampaging Cossacks
And yet, it is very hot.
Well, not as hot as in Yorkshire.
And the irony?
Killer whales, the menopause and my colleague A.
There may be women in the Tory party, it is however a sexist juggernaut.
I was taken aback yesterday (Human Factors, Elaine Bromiley & your local medical school)
Yesterday, Friday, I was out and about visiting some of our patients. We have an odd or you might say unusual model of healthcare provision in the surgery, I, as a geriatrician, not a GP don’t see a significant number of the ‘regular’ patients, instead I focus on those who are older or living withContinue reading “I was taken aback yesterday (Human Factors, Elaine Bromiley & your local medical school)”
The carers took my independence
Originally posted on Dr Rod’s Odd Blog (almondemotion):
Carers in the health and social care sector are a frequent soft-target for complaint. You can blame them for anything, and they often are the butt of the frustrations of those they support. You rarely hear complaints about the people running the agencies that employ the…
Person-Centred Teams & People
Originally posted on Dr Rod’s Odd Blog (almondemotion):
Before I say anything, I’d like to begin by thanking the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme for starting me along this journey, and, Helen Sanderson for making it meaningful. If anyone is interested in reading more, please check-out Helen’s books or Helen Sanderson Associates’ website. I have written…
Doctoring, fast and slow.
Originally posted on Dr Rod’s Odd Blog (almondemotion):
In my experience I have found three types of doctors; Those who work very fast, very slow or somewhere in the middle. This is obvious and logical as human behaviour is divided on the basis of a normal distribution, with most being average. In life, there…
Every time I stand up I fall over.
Originally posted on Dr Rod’s Odd Blog (almondemotion):
This is potentially a tricky one as it will blend medicine with an overall philosophical interpretation of what is wrong with some aspects of doctoring. Where to begin? I’ll start with the straightforward – a lesson in physiology. I will not go into the details as…
Florence Nightingale, Florence Synagogue, Dali and palpitations
‘Diagnosis – Florence Syndrome’
‘Treatment – avoid visiting Florence and/or trips to art galleries. Watch more TV’
Analogy
To me it means ‘oy vey’ and ‘there you go’.
The Waterboys, Gene Kelly & Worm Moon 2022.
I thought of the residents of my care home,
Was it disturbing their mental continence?
Would it influence me?
Black-belt medicine
For me, the difference between the two belts and their equivalents in medicine can be described as transactional and transformational care.
My mum – for International Women’s Day 8 March 2022
My mum Would pass thread through the eye of a tiny needle and perform what she called invisible stitches. It was what all the ladies wanted. The middle-aged women would call-in at our house Requesting alterations to aid their spread, their girth expansion from the time in-between diets. Mum would sit at her Singer sewingContinue reading “My mum – for International Women’s Day 8 March 2022”
Drowning in data, in war.
We fear crazy men who remain in power for too long, who climb to the top ensuring multiple mutually assured mechanisms of destruction for anyone who might threaten them.
The cost of loneliness (Roubles, dollars or robots?)
One patient recently attempted to resuscitate her (toy) baby when the batteries ran-out.
Ukraine and Ubuntu
I guess if he is great, Trump is great and, great is not so great.
Safety netting – to net or not?
Sure, some readers will think, ‘Honestly, this isn’t nannyworld, people have some responsibility, they should use their common sense.’
Desperately seeking Sheffield’s spirit
Poor old Sheffield.
Lots of students but a shrinking soul.
Boxing day reflection
Death – tradition – Jewishness – family – education – self-consciousness
It’s worse than it’s ever been. Just kidding… Not.
‘When will I receive my Covid booster?’ Asks patient Annie, 98, unable to leave her house for the past three years.
‘We are working-our way round,’ Says the doctor.
Woman vs Land Rover
I have just watched a short video clip of a woman driving a big black land rover over a woman protesting in the street. It was one of the worst things I’ve seen. The woman whose face was blurred had long fingernails. Like a witch. I don’t remember much else about her although I amContinue reading “Woman vs Land Rover”
Caveat emptor – learner beware.
That doctors and nurses aren’t working hard enough, that the poor are poor from choice, and, that good things come to those who deserve it or who were born lucky.
The offer of a natural death.
Occasionally the nurse in attendance might advise the paramedics or the doctors, ‘He was 100 years old, he was very unwell,’
A Grand Unified Theory of Nowt
I popped into Tesco yesterday; there was no pasta on the shelves (no petrol in the pump either).
Shady Towers, Social Care, Nora and Whitey on the Moon.
The PM announced a rise in NI tax this week. I understand this is to offset some of the damage they have done to the NHS over the past decade. Fantastic. (And yes, Whitey is still on the moon).
To stop or not? (Jerzy Kosinski, Oliver Sacks & other ideas)
If you watch the Robin Williams / Oliver Sacks movie/book Awakenings you will see what dopamine can and cannot do to the brain.
You get what you pay for. (this is not a happy one)
No, not the climate, not the uncollected bins, the zero hours, no, not the Shitty White Men travelling on purpose-built spaceships that fly over the filth and poverty of a world falling apart, all of it together.
If I told you I’m good, you would probably say I’m boasting & Teamworking
We want to be associated with the best – the best team, country, organisation.
Others don’t really care.
Some see the whole of the moon.
Others Brigadoon.
Two worlds
If their lack of safety is 10 times greater than your perception of safety, are they safe? Are you?
Four pounds
‘Think of it as an internship.’
‘I don’t want to be a waiter,’ he says.
‘I know, you are gaining life-skills and, well… Experience.’
He doesn’t answer.
To what extent has Covid damaged medicine?
the back wings
of the
hospital where
nothing
will grow…
Roundabout discovery of a great French composer.
Facts can be convoluted or linear.
They can be jaggedy or zigzag.
They can be true or false.
What matters.
Anyone who has spent much time in hospital will recognise the phenomenon of the invisible patient.
Muffled sounds, drum beat and dementia
Norwegian Wood
Yesterday
Michelle
Penny Lane
All resonating, taking me back and creating an atmosphere.
Phone fraud and Mammeloshen*
I remember experiencing a sensation similar to that which a fly must feel as it slips down the throat of a pitcher plant. Suspicion mixed with curiosity.
Safe in heaven. Thank you Freda.
Me and my dog and silence.
Silence is sometimes needed to re-charge.
And yet, Freda is gone and I never really said hello.
Hey Mr. Blue Sky
What became even funnier was the background I occasionally use of a photo I took in the winter of a cob-web.
Klara, digital capital, Superman and me
When I say be me, that is, have integrated all my past memories, thoughts and ideas, my behaviours, imaginings, hopes, anxieties, abilities and failings.
Dementia, David Cameron and losing ground
I am no historian. I struggle with details. Dates and times have never been my thing. I am however a reflector. I look at the world around me, absorb its colours and ponder. I was going to say ‘think’ although FEEL is probably more accurate. For once, I will not quote Bruce Lee (Google, ‘almondemotionContinue reading “Dementia, David Cameron and losing ground”
Function versus behaviour
Nothing works with Florence, distraction, diversion, joking, cajoling, all the old tropes fail. You have to accept that Florence isn’t eating and leave her alone.
Naked, dead and John Cooper Powys
I don’t want to be an old man with two large books in his possession which are both half-read.
favourite patients
‘I’ll be along in 15 minutes.’
How do you reduce the risk of Covid over Christmas?
You can still hold hands if someone is wearing rubber gloves; you can still laugh or smile wearing a face mask.
Together, we live in dementia.
A basic human right – the right to family life has been bolloxed.
Little hands, absent feet and beautiful people
Of the 147 initial survivors, by the time they were rescued 13 days later only 15 were still alive, the others had been murdered, cannibalised or thrown into the sea.
Online persona
I have written a few blogs. 820 to be precise. / It makes me wonder, How people who have never met me See me. / I imagine there are two groups – Those who have met me, friends and family, who from reading, have perhaps gained some insight into who I am beyond or separateContinue reading “Online persona”
How long until I die? (Locked down and out in 2020)
Often old men and women will seek human contact, particularly when feeling isolated – and when I reciprocate with my gloved hand (that they don’t appear to notice as being anomalously purple or blue) we are able to make contact, to connect.
Covid, pants and barriers to communication
I met an old man last week, his pants were poking out of his pyjama bottoms. They were the same as mine M&S blue stars; I was going to tell him and everyone else in the room about our shared underwear but, the facemask and the goggles, gown and gloves Got in theContinue reading “Covid, pants and barriers to communication”
IDLES Lorax beauty & we all fall down.
I am the Lorax.
I speak for the trees
For the trees have no tongues.
IDLES shout for me.
this is me, again, and what you and i want or do not want when the ambulance is on the way.
I have become victim to the system bias of considering diagnoses and discharge destinations to be of more importance than the person I am discharging.
opposite the optimism / down stream
I see school children in groups walking around as if nothing is happening; dumb to the reality that their future is being burned through the profligate nature of government spending on failed schemes for virus control or overall chaotic mismanagement of the crisis.