LESS THAN TWO DAYS TO TREAT

Well I never!  My imminent hospital visit was all sorted, or so I thought till I received a letter telling me I had the option of going somewhere else.  I do... why?

The appointment offered, the letter explained, with apologies, was thirteen days past the legally required period  for treatment to be given.  The hospital is therefore "required to identify if any other hospital outside the region would be able to treat [me]".... before the date that I was offered.  The letter goes on to say that I may have already received a call from the hospital about this asking whether I would be willing to to be placed under the care of another consultant; (no, I have not received such a call).  Of course,  if I did want to pursue this offer,  it would mean that I would have to travel for treatment and possibly any follow up care.  Receiving timely follow up care has long been a bone of contention for many patients in far flung communities. It would be nice to get it.  As you can tell, this guidance does not worry me in the least.  It might, I suppose, if I lived within, say, twenty or thirty miles of the hospital. 

I am  used to travelling for a regional hospital appointment, a journey of 240 miles, (round trip).  I would not be particularly put out by having to travel farther, if I were to pursue a change of plans.  As I am not going to, it is all academic anyway.  

It is highly unlikely the administration would be able to obtain alternative services for me with so little time to do so, less than TWO DAYS.  By sending me the offer at very short notice to re-arrange my treatment, the hospital may just about have legally covered itself. 

MEPHEDRONE - A MORATORIUM

Yet again, it is reported, youngsters who have experimented with drink and drugs have died. In this case the drugs are both legal in the UK, (with some restrictions). How many people have to die, or be affected to some degree by Mephedrone, before a serious educational awareness campaign begins and sensible and balanced controls are placed upon mephedrone. 

Not being naive, I am clear that the two suggested deterrents will not be a perfect answer. Something though, does need to be done. Four countries have already banned Mephedrone; Sweden, Norway, Israel and Denmark.

In Scotland there is a move to place pricing controls on alcohol and it shows every likelihood of coming into force. It will penalise responsible drinkers, it remains to be seen though, if the pricing policy will have a true medium or long term affect on those people who abuse alcohol, and an affect on future generations. There has been a similar approach to tobacco. It did appear to have an affect on the figures for a while, (I don't have the figures) some people reduced their smoking or stopped. It has been noted though, according to radio news reports, that there is currently an increase in smoking. 

With a Government election pending, this is, sadly and ridiculously, not a good time to make firm decisions around the serious problems that are highlighted with Mephedrone. The nature of our adversarial politics, the political games and point-scoring, will ensure a moratorium on a number of current social concerns.