Can't believe how quick the last 3 days have gone.
Had the meeting with Dad's care co-ordinator and support worker on Wednesday. When I say INSIPID, BANAL AND USELESS. I think alot of people who deal with MH services will know exactly where I am coming from.
After an hour, in which I did 90% of the work trying to get people talking together and about the same subject, the only outcomes (things to take forward) were an agreement from the care co-ordinator that she would take suggestions to the full team meeting (next week)that a memory test (which is all they seem to do when someone might have dementia) be completed by Dad and that Age Concern be contacted to get a befriending service for Dad. Wow...NOT! I don't think I have any choice but to get back to MP and say that is totally unsatisfactory considering we are a year down the line and Dad is no better. I could take the choice to do nothing but then Dad would have no one giving any real consideration to his needs or mine. So really I have no choice!!!
That night Em, Rob and I took a MacDonald's meal round Dad's. He was in a poor way, again, but he ate and he rallied a bit in the conversation.
Yesterday, I didn't get up till 10 am but was in an okay mood because I think rather than be in a trough about the meeting the day before, I felt I could take this further. Okay more bureaucracy and such like, but is better to feel that I can do something, rather than nothing....and then the day sort of took over. I had planned a bath, an internet food shop and looking for something nice in the 'Boohoo.com' sale to wear to the carers' valentine's do next week. The phone rang pretty much all morning and into the afternoon. Which was fine. I got to talk to someone I hadn't spoken to before. A friend off the internet and that was really nice. To connect in that way.
Before I knew it, Debs turned up and it was off to her place. I did manage to sort Suki's food and comfort needs out (and give her some fusses) before I went. So no comments about cruetly to animals, thanks :>) We picked up my prescription on the way and I now have my February supply of lozees and migraine wafers.
Great night there. Deb's has a fair few physical probbies and her back was giving her grief so I played nursey a bit. Is fine cos, with Debs, what goes around comes around. We watched a programme about women who have romantic relationships with transvestites. Fascinating is the most appropropriate word for how I found it. Asked myself would I have a relationship with a transvetite and the answer would be "Yep, if I fancied them". Chances of coming across a transvestite in my day to day world are low and then having chemistry would be something that is debatable but I do like the idea of going shopping and trying out wigs together. That would be cool. I think I would make a better friend than lover!!!! Then again, that has been the story of my life. Skippy spent a few hours indoors (being a soppy thing)...Debs reckons he is more like a dog than a goat and I agree.
Today, card making with Hayley. My positive mood prevailed and I made a couple of cards for Debs and then revamped the 70's dancing queen card. I wasn't happy with the original and then I made a goth fairy card. Will try and scan some of me latest endeavours over the weekend. We had the most humungous jacket tatees with beans and cheese for lunch and everything was really mellow as we chatted and listened to Duffy's album (followed by some Kylie classics).
Now, after a bath and catching up on emails and phone calls, am ready to snug down with whatever is on the 'Alibi' channel and a hot choccy.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Pharmaceuticals and The Economy
From The Times
January 27, 2009
Gordon Brown plans tonic for pharmaceutical industry
Tom Bawden and David Rose
The Government has placed the pharmaceuticals industry at the heart of
its economic agenda with the appointment of Lord Mandelson and Alan
Johnson to a key health sector group that will report to the Prime
Minister.
Gordon Brown has summoned senior industry figures, such as Andrew
Witty, chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, and David Brennan, his
opposite number at AstraZeneca, to a meeting at No10 to discuss ways
of protecting pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies, their
revenues and their jobs, as the economy deteriorates rapidly.
Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, and Mr Johnson, the Health
Secretary, will also attend the meeting, along with Lord Drayson, the
Science Minister, Angela Eagle, the Exchequer Secretary to the
Treasury, and a series of other pharmaceuticals industry figures.
The decision to install Mr Johnson as chairman of the Ministerial
Industry Strategy Group (MISG), a position normally occupied by a more
junior minister, shows how concerned the Government is about
safeguarding the industry. It employs about 67,000 people in the UK,
attracts £3.9 billion of research and development investment and
accounted for £8.4 billion of Britain's GDP in 2007.
Related Links
* Pfizer to merge with Wyeth in $68bn deal
* Elan calls a review over possible sale
The Government's concern is underlined further by its appointment of
Lord Mandelson to be a full-time member of the MISG, which, for the
first time, must begin reporting to the Prime Minister, starting in
the autumn.
Mr Witty is leading the industry delegation, which has been organised
by the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries (ABPI). The
meeting formally kicks off an initiative in which the Government and
the pharmaceuticals industry will work together to address the barrage
of problems they face over the next few years.
The traditional pharmaceuticals companies, for which some key patents
will expire in the coming years, are concerned about the increasing
cost of bringing new drugs to the market and growing regulatory
hurdles. They hope to persuade the Government to introduce a package
of measures, which may include changes to taxation and patent
legislation. In return, they may agree to conditions, such as reducing
the extent to which the manufacturing process is moved to cheaper
developing countries.
The biotechnology industry, characterised by small loss-making
companies involved in potentially groundbreaking new products, has a
different set of concerns. Biotechnology companies are finding it
virtually impossible to raise money by issuing equity because
investors have deserted such offerings. Meanwhile, the debt markets
are totally off limits for most of these companies because they do not
make a profit and would struggle to make the repayments.
The BioIndustry Association, chaired by Clive Dix, is expected to
discuss with the Government several measures to rescue the endangered
industry. In a letter to The Times this month, the Association of
Clinical Professors of Medicine (ACPM) warned that British biotech
companies "are on the verge of extinction" as they struggle to raise
money in the face of the rising cost of clinical trials in Britain.
As if to underline the point, Intercytex Group, the Cambridge-based
maker of a treatment for chronic wounds, announced yesterday that it
would have to cut about half its 76 staff and halt new projects to
save cash. Nick Higgins, its chief executive, said: "This is the first
time I have had to impose cuts where there has been no failure. Our
projects are going well, but there is just a shortage of cash. These
are harsh times."
At the other end of the spectrum, big established pharmaceuticals
companies are considering mergers to ensure their survival by cutting
costs.
- Pfizer, the world's biggest pharmaceuticals group, has agreed to buy
Wyeth, an American rival, for about $68 billion (£49 billion) to
prepare for the loss of a significant source of revenue in 2011, when
its Lipitor cholesterol treatment, the world's bestselling drug, goes
off-patent. This will allow rivals to manufacture their own versions
of the drug. Pfizer, based in New York, said that about 8,000 jobs
would be cut from the merged entity, representing a tenth of the
workforce, and that five factories would be closed.
http://business. timesonline. co.uk/tol/ business/ industry_ sectors/health/ article5594350. ece
January 27, 2009
Gordon Brown plans tonic for pharmaceutical industry
Tom Bawden and David Rose
The Government has placed the pharmaceuticals industry at the heart of
its economic agenda with the appointment of Lord Mandelson and Alan
Johnson to a key health sector group that will report to the Prime
Minister.
Gordon Brown has summoned senior industry figures, such as Andrew
Witty, chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, and David Brennan, his
opposite number at AstraZeneca, to a meeting at No10 to discuss ways
of protecting pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies, their
revenues and their jobs, as the economy deteriorates rapidly.
Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, and Mr Johnson, the Health
Secretary, will also attend the meeting, along with Lord Drayson, the
Science Minister, Angela Eagle, the Exchequer Secretary to the
Treasury, and a series of other pharmaceuticals industry figures.
The decision to install Mr Johnson as chairman of the Ministerial
Industry Strategy Group (MISG), a position normally occupied by a more
junior minister, shows how concerned the Government is about
safeguarding the industry. It employs about 67,000 people in the UK,
attracts £3.9 billion of research and development investment and
accounted for £8.4 billion of Britain's GDP in 2007.
Related Links
* Pfizer to merge with Wyeth in $68bn deal
* Elan calls a review over possible sale
The Government's concern is underlined further by its appointment of
Lord Mandelson to be a full-time member of the MISG, which, for the
first time, must begin reporting to the Prime Minister, starting in
the autumn.
Mr Witty is leading the industry delegation, which has been organised
by the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries (ABPI). The
meeting formally kicks off an initiative in which the Government and
the pharmaceuticals industry will work together to address the barrage
of problems they face over the next few years.
The traditional pharmaceuticals companies, for which some key patents
will expire in the coming years, are concerned about the increasing
cost of bringing new drugs to the market and growing regulatory
hurdles. They hope to persuade the Government to introduce a package
of measures, which may include changes to taxation and patent
legislation. In return, they may agree to conditions, such as reducing
the extent to which the manufacturing process is moved to cheaper
developing countries.
The biotechnology industry, characterised by small loss-making
companies involved in potentially groundbreaking new products, has a
different set of concerns. Biotechnology companies are finding it
virtually impossible to raise money by issuing equity because
investors have deserted such offerings. Meanwhile, the debt markets
are totally off limits for most of these companies because they do not
make a profit and would struggle to make the repayments.
The BioIndustry Association, chaired by Clive Dix, is expected to
discuss with the Government several measures to rescue the endangered
industry. In a letter to The Times this month, the Association of
Clinical Professors of Medicine (ACPM) warned that British biotech
companies "are on the verge of extinction" as they struggle to raise
money in the face of the rising cost of clinical trials in Britain.
As if to underline the point, Intercytex Group, the Cambridge-based
maker of a treatment for chronic wounds, announced yesterday that it
would have to cut about half its 76 staff and halt new projects to
save cash. Nick Higgins, its chief executive, said: "This is the first
time I have had to impose cuts where there has been no failure. Our
projects are going well, but there is just a shortage of cash. These
are harsh times."
At the other end of the spectrum, big established pharmaceuticals
companies are considering mergers to ensure their survival by cutting
costs.
- Pfizer, the world's biggest pharmaceuticals group, has agreed to buy
Wyeth, an American rival, for about $68 billion (£49 billion) to
prepare for the loss of a significant source of revenue in 2011, when
its Lipitor cholesterol treatment, the world's bestselling drug, goes
off-patent. This will allow rivals to manufacture their own versions
of the drug. Pfizer, based in New York, said that about 8,000 jobs
would be cut from the merged entity, representing a tenth of the
workforce, and that five factories would be closed.
http://business. timesonline. co.uk/tol/ business/ industry_ sectors/health/ article5594350. ece
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Kerry Katona to save Iceland
Ms Katona has had her contract renewed....which might be something to do with her sudden weight loss and her new improved glamourous image but I like to think it is because Iceland thinks 'she's worth it'.
Can she bring Iceland back from the brink? An exiting government spokesman said "She looks pretty hot from here and she seems to put on a good spread but not sure she will hold any new coalition together".
Mysterious times indeed but wishing Kerry all the best...she is one hell of a come back kid.
Waiting now for confirmation that Jordan has accepted the position as home from home shadow secretary for the Republican Party. Might be some minor spats with Sarah Palin over clothing and make up budgets but sure Jordan is more than capable of holding her own (what there is left that is her own). Word on the grapevine is that her first project will be getting a 'beauty bill' passed which will lead to all aesthetically challenged people having compulsory plastic surgery or face (that being with their original face) the death penalty. She was quoted as saying "It ain't fair to have to look at ugly faces, it's a infringd....infrinj...., well it is something to do with my basic human right"
Let's hear it for the new womens' liberation movement. Yeeha!!!!
Can she bring Iceland back from the brink? An exiting government spokesman said "She looks pretty hot from here and she seems to put on a good spread but not sure she will hold any new coalition together".
Mysterious times indeed but wishing Kerry all the best...she is one hell of a come back kid.
Waiting now for confirmation that Jordan has accepted the position as home from home shadow secretary for the Republican Party. Might be some minor spats with Sarah Palin over clothing and make up budgets but sure Jordan is more than capable of holding her own (what there is left that is her own). Word on the grapevine is that her first project will be getting a 'beauty bill' passed which will lead to all aesthetically challenged people having compulsory plastic surgery or face (that being with their original face) the death penalty. She was quoted as saying "It ain't fair to have to look at ugly faces, it's a infringd....infrinj...., well it is something to do with my basic human right"
Let's hear it for the new womens' liberation movement. Yeeha!!!!
Waking up feeling okay and self comfort
At last, I have woken up without depression. Maybe the cycle is broken, maybe it is but a brief up before the rot sets back in. I am going to ride with it...like there is much choice anyway.
Having read posting on 'Self Preservation Society's' Blog... and going off on my own tangent as I do.....am thinking about self comfort. Particularly, the singing. That is the singing that I used to hear that wasn't actually there. The first time it happened it was spooky. I was in the one of the communal rooms in an acute unit and started looking for the source (outside of myself) and when I realised there wasn't one that took some acceptance. The acceptance came with the understanding that it wasn't hurting me, in fact I soon came to realise that it is something that created itself (as in I didn't consciously create it) to provide comfort for me.
I am sad that it doesn't happen anymore. It would have helped me through a pissy weekend and some other times too. Even sadder that it hasn't been replaced by anything that has the same affect one me but such is life. I still can't get my head round it.
And so today's song has to be Enya because this is the closest thing I can find to how it was for me:
Having read posting on 'Self Preservation Society's' Blog... and going off on my own tangent as I do.....am thinking about self comfort. Particularly, the singing. That is the singing that I used to hear that wasn't actually there. The first time it happened it was spooky. I was in the one of the communal rooms in an acute unit and started looking for the source (outside of myself) and when I realised there wasn't one that took some acceptance. The acceptance came with the understanding that it wasn't hurting me, in fact I soon came to realise that it is something that created itself (as in I didn't consciously create it) to provide comfort for me.
I am sad that it doesn't happen anymore. It would have helped me through a pissy weekend and some other times too. Even sadder that it hasn't been replaced by anything that has the same affect one me but such is life. I still can't get my head round it.
And so today's song has to be Enya because this is the closest thing I can find to how it was for me:
Monday, 26 January 2009
Steel Works latest victim of recession
I don't know why this seems more pertinent to me than the other losses. Most probably because steel production used to be an important industry in this country. Then again so were many other production industries and they are either in decline or gone now.
I remember the pit closures, a bleak period in British history. It symbolised to me, the end of an era... communities as was, were destroyed (I think the only thing that has actually replaced that is super-size supermarkets) and also the disabling of unions. Some would say that was a good thing but I feel that unions did and should still have an important role to play in regards to the welfare of workers.
Actually, if anyone has come out okay in regards to what unions achieved, in the past, is is the workers at Northern Rock because under TUPE (transfer of contractual obligations) they are entitled to bonuses and pay rises. I wonder how many of them are actually in unions...not many I would say! And of course the head honcho there has got a massive reward...maybe in a year or two they will be moved out (with a massive pay off) for non achievement. But such is what has become custom and practise in the UK.
Anyway, whatever people think of the banking world, and generally I think the consencus is it sucks, it had become one of the biggest industries in a country evidently in economic decline for quite some time. If a country isn't producing and/or selling something useful to its public and other countries then quite how the economy keeps going is questionable. Popular as they are, I doubt mobile phone sales will keep the economy of this country going in the long term.
I watched 'Newsnight' the other day and they had some financial experts discussing the recession. Pretty much saying that the UK banking industry has gone past it's boom time (yep..I get that), which in itself was aggrevating the economic situation here (clocked that too). One 'expert' actually thought that London was in serious shite (due to it having an over reliance on the banks to keep it's economy going). I dunno...I don't really understand finance...is all about 'pretendy stuff going round in circles' to me. The plus side, if there is one, is that the experts felt this was a time of 'GREAT OPPORTUNITY' for graduates and wanna be entrepeneurs to save the day. (I am guessing with technological innovations????). Over optimistic...quite possibly but as Delboy would say "He who dares, wins"...or possibly "He who managed to scam the system out of millions (and got away with it), has already done very nicely"
I remember the pit closures, a bleak period in British history. It symbolised to me, the end of an era... communities as was, were destroyed (I think the only thing that has actually replaced that is super-size supermarkets) and also the disabling of unions. Some would say that was a good thing but I feel that unions did and should still have an important role to play in regards to the welfare of workers.
Actually, if anyone has come out okay in regards to what unions achieved, in the past, is is the workers at Northern Rock because under TUPE (transfer of contractual obligations) they are entitled to bonuses and pay rises. I wonder how many of them are actually in unions...not many I would say! And of course the head honcho there has got a massive reward...maybe in a year or two they will be moved out (with a massive pay off) for non achievement. But such is what has become custom and practise in the UK.
Anyway, whatever people think of the banking world, and generally I think the consencus is it sucks, it had become one of the biggest industries in a country evidently in economic decline for quite some time. If a country isn't producing and/or selling something useful to its public and other countries then quite how the economy keeps going is questionable. Popular as they are, I doubt mobile phone sales will keep the economy of this country going in the long term.
I watched 'Newsnight' the other day and they had some financial experts discussing the recession. Pretty much saying that the UK banking industry has gone past it's boom time (yep..I get that), which in itself was aggrevating the economic situation here (clocked that too). One 'expert' actually thought that London was in serious shite (due to it having an over reliance on the banks to keep it's economy going). I dunno...I don't really understand finance...is all about 'pretendy stuff going round in circles' to me. The plus side, if there is one, is that the experts felt this was a time of 'GREAT OPPORTUNITY' for graduates and wanna be entrepeneurs to save the day. (I am guessing with technological innovations????). Over optimistic...quite possibly but as Delboy would say "He who dares, wins"...or possibly "He who managed to scam the system out of millions (and got away with it), has already done very nicely"
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Carers and Service Users and if/when the twain should meet????
Have read posting on Mental Health Service User's Blog...and there was reference to issues around funding. As in when groups are in competition to get funding.
Have responded to that posting...waiting for approval (story of my life..Ha! ha!)..anyway, I forgot to add that the merging of the local carers' group with the MH service user rep group seems a bit odd to me because the carers' group is for people who care for others with physical disabilities as well as mental health problems and the MH service user group represents (supposedly, and I have still yet to actually see it happen) people with mental health problems. Not sure quite how that is all going to fit together.
I reckon it is a merging because of the need for funding for either one of those bodies or both. The carers' group is under the umbrella of Rethink (a charity which is much better at supporting carers locally than people with mental illness) and the SU group is under the Mind (A charity that takes more locally from people than it actually gives) umbrella.
I wrote this more as an addendum to the other posting but also out of concern that in order to get funding charities often dumb down or lose the really good services they provide to people for the good of the greater HOLE!
My view on whether it is right for carer and SU groups to work together is yes, as long as the needs of one group do not overshadow the needs of the other. As someone who sort of fits (but not really) in both camps, I can see that I could very easily be compromised or feel that way..depending on how I am viewed by either group and what their agendas are.
Have responded to that posting...waiting for approval (story of my life..Ha! ha!)..anyway, I forgot to add that the merging of the local carers' group with the MH service user rep group seems a bit odd to me because the carers' group is for people who care for others with physical disabilities as well as mental health problems and the MH service user group represents (supposedly, and I have still yet to actually see it happen) people with mental health problems. Not sure quite how that is all going to fit together.
I reckon it is a merging because of the need for funding for either one of those bodies or both. The carers' group is under the umbrella of Rethink (a charity which is much better at supporting carers locally than people with mental illness) and the SU group is under the Mind (A charity that takes more locally from people than it actually gives) umbrella.
I wrote this more as an addendum to the other posting but also out of concern that in order to get funding charities often dumb down or lose the really good services they provide to people for the good of the greater HOLE!
My view on whether it is right for carer and SU groups to work together is yes, as long as the needs of one group do not overshadow the needs of the other. As someone who sort of fits (but not really) in both camps, I can see that I could very easily be compromised or feel that way..depending on how I am viewed by either group and what their agendas are.
The hedgehog has been helped by some fab friends
In spite of on-going issues and a nasty attack of IBS (thanks to peppermint oil getting some relief) I went to my friend's on Thursday. It was a good move because I got to spend lots of time with Skippy and he ended up with his head resting on my leg and falling asleep. That was deffo an "arr bless" thing.
Friend wanted to clip his hooves. So I knelt, trying not to kneel too hard, on his neck whilst she did the clipping (that might sound cruel but she insisted it was the right way to do it). He seemed okay about it and I was stroking his face and trying to soothe him and he was okay, until the last hoof when he had had enough and stood up and I went flying across the room. Was one of them sequences that you imagine ending up on "You've been framed".
Yesterday was card making day and I thought "Sod it, just go for it". So I did.
Saw Dad last night with Em and her fella. I am trying to get to point where I can de-sensitise myself (because I always feel so raw). Not sure I will ever get there but trying.
Today, it is too early to say what I am going to do so will see how the day takes me but have no big plan. At the moment am watching Andy Murray playing some excellent tennis in Australia (he is not me..Ha!)
Here's some of my latest endeavours of the cutty outty kind:
Friend wanted to clip his hooves. So I knelt, trying not to kneel too hard, on his neck whilst she did the clipping (that might sound cruel but she insisted it was the right way to do it). He seemed okay about it and I was stroking his face and trying to soothe him and he was okay, until the last hoof when he had had enough and stood up and I went flying across the room. Was one of them sequences that you imagine ending up on "You've been framed".
Yesterday was card making day and I thought "Sod it, just go for it". So I did.
Saw Dad last night with Em and her fella. I am trying to get to point where I can de-sensitise myself (because I always feel so raw). Not sure I will ever get there but trying.
Today, it is too early to say what I am going to do so will see how the day takes me but have no big plan. At the moment am watching Andy Murray playing some excellent tennis in Australia (he is not me..Ha!)
Here's some of my latest endeavours of the cutty outty kind:
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