There are no signs yet from the Health Minister on whether he intends to continue Peter Hain’s alternative remedy clinical trial scam self-assessing pilot scheme administered by Get Well UK - that pilot scheme should have ended in February this year. The BBC is, I hope, suitably embarrassed by the propaganda they broadcast in May. The use of public funds to provide un-proven treatments is only one aspect of the Un-Enlightenment involved. Another is highlighted in an exchange between Edzard Ernst, co-author of Trick or Treatment and the Laing Chair in Complementary Medicine at Exeter University, and the pharmacist chain Boots - as reported in the Guardian. The report quotes Ernst’s open letter to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and their Journal carries...
Mick’s somewhat more serious-minded reaction to the news of Radovan Karadzic’s arrest in Belgrade is on Brassneck but I just can’t get past the intriguing factoid revealed in this Guardian report. Whilst RTÉ merely describes “Karadzic [as having] been working in a medical clinic”, the Guardian report provides a link to the alternative medicine involved.Karadzic had been using a “very persuasive” false identity and was practising alternative medicine at a private GP’s surgery in the city.
That Un-Enlightenment is everywhere.....
The Assembly having rejected, in October last year, the previously proposed Department of Health draft guidelines on termination of pregnancy, the Health Minister Department of Health have now re-drafted those guidelines - guidelines which took 3 years to draft and which the Department, after a lengthy court battle, had to be instructed by a High Court ruling to produce. The newly proposed draft guidelines are available at the Department’s website [direct pdf link here]. As the “spokesperson for the DHSSPS” states in the departmental press release the consultation starts today [16th July] and will run for 10 weeks [Perhaps someone will tell the NI Human Rights Commission? - Ed]. There still doesn’t seem to be any reference to the issue Brian...
I had NO coffee on saturday and that began a week long break from caffeine. The break may end up being longer though! I suffered a few days of headaches and was pretty grumpy for a couple of the days. My head has been a bit dodgy today as well, dizzy and sore a bit. So why do things like this appear before me when i am on a break like this"A strong cup of coffee in the morning can feel like a life saver. Now, one of the largest and longest studies of coffee drinking suggests that coffee may indeed boost your lifespan – providing you drink enough of the stuff, that is."Read the full article hereH/T What if...http://www.text-link-ads.com/xml_blogger.php?inventory_key=PH203EOCDRY2ZAL1H02V...
I just can’t clear my mind. Lying there in the dark. I really really try.
Take last night for instance. I was in bed at 11:30pm - early for me. After tossing and turning for almost 2hrs; a constant stream of thoughts and ideas bouncing off each other, I eventually got up and had some Weetabix (which I hadn’t had already as I normally would as I wasn’t hungry) and a glass of orange juice (the greatest thirst quenching drink ever; 1 part orange to 4 parts water).
Then back to bed.
I began to think about darkness, space, stars, earth, google(!), blogs, updating my blog, photos, updating the photoblog, next location to take photographs. And so on.
This is what I have to put up with every single night. It doesn’t help this normally takes place after 1am.
Each and every...
This apparently arcane matter is nonetheless worth noting, not least for the way it highlights the low level civil war that’s been going on in the Chamber between the SDLP’s only Minister and the Sinn Fein Assembly party. The matter in question is a parity piece of legislation designed to bring certain matters in line with Westminster, with the Minister using ‘accelerated passage’ (ie avoiding the committee stage) to get it through before recess. She’s clearly expecting an attack beforehand since she restates her reasons for using accelerated passage twice. And it comes.
The objection seems to be about the use of accelerated passage, even though they support the bill for the reasons outlined by the Minister. However, later in the session, two...
Cuirean Anton Mac Cába ar plé ábhar mór conspóide a bainnean le oispidéil beaga ar fud an Tuaisceart Éireann agus in áiteanna eile thar a domhan (apologies in advance of the lack of an English translation):
le hAnton Mac
Is ábhar mór conspóide (controversy) é ceist seirbhísí in oispidéil áitiúla (local) i mbailte tuaithe. Tá fhios againn sin anseo, leis an rud a tharla do na hoispidéil i nDún Geanainn agus ansin ar an Ómaigh. Sin an fáth go bhfuil an leabhrán seo le John Robb ‘Long Live The Small Acute Hospital’ iontach tráthúil (timely).
Tá Robb bainte leis (connected to) na Mainléithe (Surgeons) Lochlannacha (Viking). Is...
Out-going Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s final public engagement wasn’t at the Boyne yesterday, it was at Arbour Hill today where, as RTÉ reports, “along with President Mary McAleese, he attended the national commemoration for the leaders of the 1916 Rising” - More here. The new leader of Fianna Fáil, Brian Cowen, is to be confirmed as the next Taoiseach later today and, while some focus may be on a limited reshuffle of the cabinet, the Irish Examiner’s Paul O’Brien sets out some of the immediate challenges he faces.
From the Irish Examiner
AS BRIAN COWEN takes over as taoiseach today there will be precious little time for him to enjoy a political honeymoon with voters. The new taoiseach’s in-tray is heavy with problems that demand...
After last week’s excellent programme on The Great Girona Gold Hunt, the BBC 1 Northern Ireland 9pm slot tonight may be a disappointment. Get Well Northern Ireland “examines a one year pilot scheme - the Get Well Scheme - which operated in two clinics in Northern Ireland until March 2008.” That’s the scheme launched by Peter Hain, “a user of complementary medicine [him]self”.. The programme producer, Ronan McCloskey, is quoted here as saying, “Without a doubt the therapies featured in this programme help patients and make them feel better. But who should pay for them?” Those who want to use them I’d suggest. But then I’ve made my position on supernaturally-based medical treatments abundantly clear...
When out-going Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, complained of a “growing hesitation” to reference religious belief in public debate I argued that “the only issue of matter is whether any argument put forward is rational.” As this recent case proves supernatural beliefs can conflict with necessary medical treatment. And there is an attempt to influence public policy in this area. As this Irish Times report notes, the author of Health Research Board-funded report from Trinity College Dublin’s Irish School of Ecumenics - “Committed to applied research at the intersection of politics, theology and religion” - Dr Katy Radford, has stated“There can never be a one size fits all approach to religious practices. Because there is such...
Downing Street have issued a non-response to a petition calling on them to prevent GP surgeries from using expensive, revenue-generating 084 and 087 phone numbers.
The government has said that the patient shouldn't be expected to pay more than a local call but companies have traditionally lied/manipulated their way around this using the vague definition of what constitutes a local call charge (something I've discussed previously).
Read more »Full post & comments at...
It’s possibly worthwhile emphasising that the reports, and here, and reactions to the Health minister’s statement in the Assembly today [pdf file] are based on what the minister describes as “only a first outline of the proposals”. Those proposals have been under review for some time.. During which some changes were left in place. In the process the designated Chief Executive of the single Health Authority, which it is now proposed be called a Board, has moved on.. From today’s statementUnlike my Direct Rule predecessors, I propose a full public consultation on my proposals, to provide an unique opportunity for the public, their representatives, HSC staff, service users and all other key stakeholders to have their say. I plan to issue a more...
That is, according to a study by three doctors in KS Hegde Medical Academy in Mangalore, India. The study asks: “Are lung cancers triggered by stopping smoking?”
So basically they took 312 lung cancer patients they treated during a four-year period of which 182 recently quit. They had all been smoking for more than 25 years. Theres more to it I’m sure, but the bottom line is 58% of patients had quit yet they still got lung cancer.
“A biological mechanism that protects smokers against cancer, that gets exercised and strengthened by years of diligent, heavy smoking. As in habitual marathon running, the body becomes accustomed to suffering grievous damage, and develops habitual ways to fix up whatever breaks down. The smoker’s body becomes a sort of lean,...
Why is it that when my bank calls me they insist that I attempt my ‘password’ at least twice. I don’t generally forget passwords, the sort that I type, but those crap ones that have to be spoken over the phone I always forget. I put it down to the fact that it will always be completely different from any of my typical passwords for the obvious reason that it will be spoken and anyone may hear it. For this reason I try to make it something I will remember, though it definitely doesn’t help that it would only be every 6 months or so that I need to use it…
They called yesterday.
“Could you give the first and last letters of your password please” said the voice.
“No, sorry, I never remember it.”
“I’m sorry I’m going to...
BEWARE THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS A MULTITUDE OF CLICHÉS
I didn’t have a cigarette today.
You are probably thinking to yourself “Oh well done you(!)” [in sarcastic tone], whether you are a smoker or non-smoker. More specifically non-smokers will be thinking “You shouldn’t have started such a nasty habit”. The Smokers are thinking “So fucking what. I don’t wanna read another rant about someone trying to quit. Don’t go down that road.” Sorry all, thats what I’m going to do, and continue to do until I get rid of this nasty fucking cough.
“Smokers cough, eh?”
“Eh, yeah”
Those are the words which were exchanged this morning during the fire evacuation between me and a colleague as I tried hard to keep my...
Spring has arrived, and it has been showing in the weather this week. Certainly no warmer in the late evening but during the day its actually been warm. Yesterday there was not a cloud in the sky. It was all blue, and doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
The clocks went forward an hour last night, good old daylight savings time; resulting in the loss of an hour’s sleep - for most people. I didn’t go to sleep until 5:30am this morning, though I didn’t get up until 1pm so I didn’t lose much sleep at all last night, yet I’m perfectly aware how unhealthy it is to screw up my sleep pattern like that. Tomorrow I will be getting up at 8am for work. I thought since it was already 6.45am I would be doing myself more harm than good by going to bed...
I went shopping today. This is not something i have done often enough since moving out in October ‘06. My problem is that I am not a great cook, well not even that, more that I’m not so good at putting together meals - what goes with what. I don’t know what to buy. I was never a very adventurous eater when I was young. I’ve gotten much better at eating a variety of foods in the last few years, but making it myself isn’t something I have mastered yet. I really need to read some websites on healthy eating along with recipe sites. Let me know if you know of any good ones.
I bought a fair amount which should keep me going for a week or so. Though I feel I should really get out of the way of eating ready meals so often. I do have a small variety of other...
http://www.everythingulster.com/blogs/index.php/everythingulster/2006/09/01/bending_over_backwards_to_encourage_obesityIt seems a fitting title in light of the recent hunger striker memorials; tonight I watched a documentary presented by overweight comedian Ricky Grover on BBC Three (part of their Body Image Season) entitled F*** off, I'm fat. Subtle, eh? The documentary team followed Mr Grover as he and some incredibly obese people complained about how hard it was being fat. The thing that tickled me most though, was the mention that in American (where, unsurprisingly, most of these studies are carried out) it's been estimated that on average a "seriously obese" person breaks 3 toilets a year.
Is this the future facade of public conveniences?
With the enterprising culture of the US,...
One of the guys down at the Folk Museum once told a group of us that the Irish drink more tea per head of population than any other group in the world, but some way. I can’t believe that is still true as the coffee bar is now ubiquitous north and south of the border, but it seems our oul wans knew a thing or two about health. Tea is in fact healthier than than water. It’s also good for your......
The medication I’m on causes me to have dry skin and lips - so plenty of moisturisor has been required. Today, with the advice of a friend, I bought Blistex, as a replacement for my girly pocket-sized Vaseline ‘lip therapy’.
Besides the fact that Blistex looks more like a tube of Super Glue, it also looks like it is going to do a better job than your average tub of vaseline. But better still - it instantly felt much better! Other than an excuse to take a crappy photo, I have nothing more to say on the matter....
Miss Fitz wouldnt for a moment suggest that the Nolan show were watching Slugger on this subject, so comments made on the show this morning were obviously a matter of sheer coincidence.
I have provided the link, but I have transcribed the comments accurate to the basic meaning intended, I hope:
“Decisions are made by doctors every day of every week. Within that decision making has to be the consideration of the probability of success. Ethical decisions have to made in medicine.
We cannot have hosptials and doctors being bullied. Bullied by the media. Bullied by programmes like this when they do not think (the patient) has a good chance of life"...
This is a petition aimed at MPs in Westminster to get them to promise that they will not use private Healthcare. They have got some to sign, mostly Lib Dems and Labour. None of Northern Ireland’s MPs have so far signed, sitting or non......
And just like that I can no longer drink alcohol. As quickly as it started, it must end. Alright so its only for 4 months due to medication im going to be on, but still - not one drop of alcohol until the end of the summer. Gotta think of another way of celebrating my 21st now too. Apparently its serious stuff, and has side effects. Before I begin tomorrow I think I will have one last pint of guiness tonight....
I think I need to see someone about my lack of sleep, or not wanting to go to sleep. I am never asleep before 1:30 anymore, yet I have to get up at 7:30 6 days a week....