Doctors

Just rang my doctor to make an appointment.  I can't make the appointment until tomorrow morning as the first available are on Monday and the appointments can't be made more than 48 hours in advance. I have to ring at 8:30 on the dot or I'll be too late to book one.

That's got to be another stupid government target.

Another Little Ice Age?

Scientific opinion is shifting:

"If we are right, this could be the last solar maximum we'll see for a few decades," Hill said. "That would affect everything from space exploration to Earth's climate."


A quote from a meeting of the American Astronomical Society. See:

http://www.space.com/11960-fading-sunspots-slower-solar-activity-solar-cycle.html
 
"Currently, the sun is in the midst of the period designated as Cycle 24 and is ramping up toward the cycle's period of maximum activity. However, the recent findings indicate that the activity in the next 11-year solar cycle, Cycle 25, could be greatly reduced. In fact, some scientists are questioning whether this drop in activity could lead to a second Maunder Minimum, which was a 70-year period from 1645 to 1715 when the sun showed virtually no sunspots.
"We expected to see the start of the zonal flow for Cycle 25 by now, but we see no sign of it," Hill said. "The flow for Cycle 25 should have appeared in 2008 or 2009. This leads us to believe that the next cycle will be very much delayed, with a minimum longer than the one we just went through." 

Hill estimated that the start of Cycle 25 could be delayed to 2021 or 2022 and will be very weak, if it even happens at all."
  
 

Is the West free?

/quote

A flashmob in Washington has felt the full force of the law, by being forcibly arrested by police - for dancing in public. They'd gathered at the Jefferson Memorial in defiance of a ban on dancing at the monument. Among those held were RT America presenter Adam Kokesh, who says he was slammed to the ground by officers. The ban came in during 2008 when an activist sued police for arresting her for public dancing. The group say they were paying tribute to her as a champion of the First Amendment, guaranteeing freedom, and in response to US District Judge John D. Bates' ruling that denounced dancing on the site.

/end quote

The Americans can go over board but it couldn't happen here could it?

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/press-release.asp?id=2233

/quote

POLICE in Birmingham have obtained a dispersal order for the city centre.
...

Under the order, officers will have the power to move on any group of two or more people deemed to be acting anti-socially. Officers can also arrest anyone in breach of the order.

/end quote

So if the police decide a couple bopping in th street in Brum is anti social they can be dispersed or arrested.

And some people think the west is free :(

h/t to Captain Ranty and OH.

NHS. what to say?

Following on from yesterday's farrago SWMBO phoned her GP this morning to arrange a chat on the phone. "Tuesday at 3:20pm". He only does 3 phone appointments a day. WTF?

So she called the consultants secretary who seems to be a gem. He'll see her in the morning at 8:50 - provided her notes are back. After all it can take more than 24 hours for the notes to get from one department to another...

Please remind me why does anyone like this bloated useless organization?

SWMBO persuaded me that because her situation was potentially serious the NHS would be as quick as going private. That's the last time I believe that crap. For less than a price of a car I could have had this sorted weeks ago.

NHS Revisited - Again and Again

The sign says: Corridor must be absolutely clear of obstructions at all times.

I had to take the above photo while waiting for SWMBO at the local NHS dive today.

Another unimpressive hospital visit.  SWMBO has a potentially cancerous polyp in the colon and went in today to have it removed.  So after a day of purging and starvation we duly arrive at a local NHS dive joint, aka hospital.

While I wait SWMBO disappears for surgery. 2 hours later she reappears and nothing done.  Depsite having previously had a guided tour of her innards and been introduced to her appendix the quack decides the op is beyond him and referred her to a London joint. Typical inefficiency.

My niece who has had serious cancer went for a scan yesterday, 31st May. All prepped up and then was told the doctor wanted the scane done in June so she was sent on her way scanless.

My daugther was told by hospital that they would fit dental braces at Easter. My wife chased at the beginning of May and an appointment was made. They turn up at the hospital and see the quack who didn't know why they had come as she shouldn't expect the fitting until July.  It appears that the receptionist had been so busy chatting on the first visit that she failed to make the fitting appointment.

Isn't the NHS great - not.