Another Christmas Story - from our 'Dear Leslie'

Yes indeedy ! yet another joyous story from our 'Dear leader', Leslie Griffiths.  Unfortunately, old trout, we've heard this so many times before, it's getting a bit tiresome and is now totally unbelievable.  It's usually headed "More Money for Mental Health", followed by some notional piece about rebuilding Whitchurch hospital ( for the 7th time of telling ), or pouring money into what is jocularly referred to as "Care in the Community" ( they say the old jokes are the best, don't they ? - this is now past its' 29th Anniversary, would you 'Adam and Eve It' ? ).

I know that there's this ten year old myth that you can be made Health Minister and know everything immediately.  Of course it isn't true, and just because she's been good at 'Whatever-she's-pleased-the-Party-with histiorically', doesn't mean that she'll be any ruddy good at running our depleted Health Service.  Still, like her equally ignorant predecessor's, she's wearing the old mantle and giving it a bash, as they say, while we sit here trying to work out what the hell she's doing, except 'more of the same', which is bad news all round, I'm afraid.  However - for what it's worth - she recently brightened up the festive season by announcing "Another £5.1/2m for Mental Health", as though we hadn't heard it all before, many times over.  However - in between Kim Jong Il photo opportunities 'at the coal face' as it were - she tells us that this money will benefit Care in the Community services, and make us all happy that the acutely mentally ill will be treated 'at home' instead of in those awful old hospital beds ( yawn ). Yes, to cynical 'Old Lags' like me, it has about as much value to the mentally ill as 'the second coming' has to die-hard Secularists. Once again, to repeat that crass phrase in the old Tom Cruise movie, Jerry McGuire, "Show me the money" - like, where and precisely how much is to be spent, and 'when' of course ? Perhaps someone out there knows more than this ? If so, please write in to robin.williams6@virgin.com, or enter a comment after this post.
Happy New Year to the 3500+ readers !  R.W.

A Christmas Story - No room at our hospitals

With it's usual efficiency, the South Wales Echo reports the staggering facts about Wales NHS, that 50,000 Welsh residents travelled to England for treatment on the NHS last year. These statistics released by the Welsh Government show that almost 6.5% of Welsh patients were treated 'over the border', Oh, and our Health Boards have to pay for these treatments, at a higher cost than if they were treated in Wales.

In contrast, Welsh Health Boards admitted 11,500 residents from outside Wales and, presumably, charged them for their treatment here.  What we don't know is  how many of these actually paid for their treatment or, as with 'Health Tourists', the money may never be paid, because of our crass stupidity in not making them pay 'up front' in the first place.  What we would like to see are the actual figures for the losses that we have to bear because this inherent incompetence. Hardly any wonder that we are seen of the MUGS of Europe, Asia, Africa and the 'free' world, when it comes to health care and other social benefits.

In addition, I learned today that the December issue of the Cardiff & Vale Health Board of 'Caring for the Spirit', proudly announces that our consecrated Christian Hospital Chapel  ( UHW B5 )is to be 'shared' with our Muslim brethren, because their existing rooms are not large enough to accommodate the faithful followeres of Islam.  To help them, we are paying for a muslim interior designer to arrange for the the 'necessary' changes that will have to be made to our consecrated, Christian Chapel.  And all this done in the name of  multiculturism, even though this idealistic concept is not recognised by muslims in any way, shape or form. They continue to blot our land with exclusively muslim enclaves, whilst perpetually whining about the offence caused to them by overtly Christian symbolism and Christian Festivals.  Isn't it wonderful ? - The hell it is !

And, whilst our consecrated Christian Chapel is being 'Islamified', all other faiths such as Hindus, Jews, Buddhists etc etc ad nauseum, remain consistently overlooked by the Universally Inept Health Board, along with everyone else who is still daft enough to believe that multiculturism in Britain is possible.  To me, it's a close run race between Islam and Tesco as to who will dominate Britain in the years to come ! ......................... "May God help us all" ( the real one that is ).  R W.

[ Thought for the day - Perhaps the Hordes of Migrants from Poland could help us, as they did in the Battle of Britain ?   No, you're right of course - they'd take sides - and their English is even worse than that spoken by most of our muslim brethren. ] 

SINGLE-SEX WARD COULD FACE AXE

20/12/11
Madeleine Brindley 's article today worryingly suggests that UHB may not now go ahead with single sex ward provision when the new elderly mental  health unit opens at Llandough in September.She reports that relatives and carers of those effected are currently being consulted by UHB.

However CHC has said it is, "unhappy with any plans to create a single- sex ward."
Why one wonders should this be so ? Surely women suffering with all the indignities of dementia should at least be given their privacy in such a time of dire illness as well as their carers with some peace of mind that their loved one will be in a safe and dignified environment.
Would - one wonders - women being treated for breast cancer be treated with such disdain ?

I myself as a woman patient have experienced the indignity of having to walk through - on a mixed mental health ward  -  curtained beds of men who  lay there smoking in their underpants to get to my own bed:  Whitchurch Hospital-  October  2006.
I myself was assured by the Director at Public Consultation December 2010 that this would never be the case again and that it would be remedied.

UHB it would seem is rather adept at 'u turns' even after having made a public commitment to single sex wards being a priority and an essential component in the way in which people suffering mental illness in 21st century should have the right to expect even living - as we do -  in Wales.

Let us hope sincerely that 'The Time to Change  ' campaign finally to begin in Wales 2012 will address such issues with some alacrity.

G K Brightmore

Atos Work Capability Assessment - 'everyone a loser'

In all my experience I have never come across a con-trick as cruel and damaging as the Atos questions that are supposed to assess your capability to work.
Firstly, I learned that the Department of Work and Pensions sold their Gabalfa Health Assessment Center in Cardiff to some completely unheard of company called Atos.  All the staff now work for Atos, not the DWP as before, and all of them look very disenchanted with their new lot.  They didn't even have any leaflets on Atos - about where they were, what they do or - most importantly - how they came to be a sub-contractor of the DWP in the first place.  Nobody knew a thing, but as I accompany patients there, I thought a word of warning would be appropriate, because, no matter what your capability really is ( Mentally or Physically ), you will be declared 'Fit for Work'. Am I serious - yes I am; Is this test a Confidence Trick - yes it ruddy well is, and even worse than the 'Three Card Trick' that took everyone's money.

Having been to several of these 'interviews' I have discovered that people who were originally tested as being Unfit for work, have to be re-assessed regularly, with the second test taking no account whatsoever of anything said or seen in your first test.  So the lucky ones who were CORRECTLY assessed as being UNFIT for work the first time, all fail the second test, because they refuse to consider ANY evidence at all.  I was horrified, and so should all of you be too, because none of the 'nurses' chosen to handle these interviews are qualified to handle the 'meetings' or make any judgement on anyone.  They are dummies employed to make sure that they never see the same client twice, and NEVER take into account either the first interview, or any written evidence from doctors or psychiatrists.  I proved this on every occasion ( that I knew was 'rigged' ) by asking the 'nurse' - Are you fully qualified to conduct a psychiatric assessment, or even a physical one ? And none of them are - in any way - sufficiently qualified to conduct even a physical assessment, neither do they ask any questions but those on the computer screen in front of them.  The answer to everyone of these pre-meditated and deliberately biased questions will make certain that you end up being declared fit for work. The 'Trick' here is a psychological one, based on the fact that every question is a closed one ie. "You got here alright ?" - answer yes ( 0 points ). "You can dress yourself can't you ?" Answer yes ( 0 points again ).  The inevitable result is that you score all Zeros in answer to every question, which gains you a reject letter showing your 'score'.

Thus, having been judged ( unfairly ) as fit for work by the Atos-created algorithm, your money will drop to Job-Seekers allowance and you will forced to join a job club or lose even the lower Job Seeker's allowance if you refuse to attend.  My advice gives you two options; 1. Refuse to answer any question with a 'yes' on 'no' answer  2. Ask them ( exactly as I did ) if they are qualified etc. and then enact option 1.  3. Alternatively, ask them 'Do you mean 'to what extent can I do this', or 'At what point does the pain /dizziness affect your working?' or answer "well, I can put my shoes on but only with help as bending over causes chest/back/ head, neck, leg etc etc"  This stops the trap of answering 'yes' or 'no' to every answer, when you know the answer will give you a zero score, because all of the questions are made 'open' ones to which you may reply at length about how, when and where your disability affects you.

Once faced with your inevitable declaration as being fit for work, you must appeal. Make sure that you point out that the test is unfair as it doesn't take into account any supporting evidence, and it is unfairly  biased against you because all of the questions are closed, in order to trick you into giving them the answer they want.  Get any and every bit of help you can - from the Citizen's Advice Bureau ( which is being closed in Cardiff - I wonder why ?), from a solicitor, or any recognised Patient Group, or an advocate such as myself.  DON'T QUIT, whatever you do - if you have a disability , you have a right to the same financial benefit you received before, so fight for it and send a big 'No you cannot steal our money as is being done with our pensions' to David Cameron, his deputy for being a bloody hypocrite, and the Welsh government especially ! R.W.  

Aaaaaand to prove it, here is further evidence researched by my brilliant colleague, Lynnette Spragg:-

Atos, company paid to drive people off disability benefits, slammed by
MPs after blunders ........................by Tom McTague, Daily Mirror 26/07/2011

THE firm paid to drive people off disability benefits has been slammed by MPs in a scathing report out today.

More than 150,000 people deemed fit to work by French IT company Atos have won appeals in a process costing taxpayers more than £30million a year, it found.
And some had their benefits stopped for “failure to attend” a test when they had not even been booked in.
The Commons work and pensions select committee condemned the blunders.
Tory MP Simon Hart said people were deemed totally fit to work in one test, only to be found in the appeal they were unfit to get a job.
Committee chairman Dame Anne Begg said some of the blame needed to fall on the Government for designing “flawed” assessments which Atos had to work with.
She said “considerable efforts” had been made to improve things, but more needed to be done

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/2011/07/26/atos-company-paid-to-drive-people-off-disability-benefits-slammed-by-mps-after-blunders-115875-23297366/#ixzz1gX93h8NW
 

Aaaaaaand - if THAT ISN'T ENOUGH - READ ON FOR MORE . R.W.  

Twelve doctors employed by the firm that is paid £100m a year to assess people claiming disability benefit are under investigation by the General Medical Council over allegations of improper conduct. The doctors, who work for Atos Healthcare, a French-owned company recently criticised by MPs for its practices, face being struck off if they are found not to have put the care of patients first.

The Observer has found that seven of the doctors have been under investigation for more than seven months. The other five were placed under investigation this year following complaints about their conduct

Vaughan Gethin A.M. - A good Judge of Health Developments ( gawd 'elp us )

Readers of the Penarth times may have missed the tiny article at the bottom of page 4, which shows our local A.M.'s glorification of the new Mental Health Assessment Unit, on which construction has started, at a cost of £56m.  Well, he was nearly right and good on him for supporting anything to do with mental health.  However, I feel that some bit of knowledge of this development may be of use to him when he next decides to discuss the project.

Unless I am seriously mistaken the Elderly Mentally Infirm Assessment Unit is near completion and due to be opened in the September 2012.  I would suggest that the £56m cost quoted be checked, as a 57 bed unit on the same site was recently built for £7.155M, whereas the Assessment Unit will have 82 beds, which makes the quoted cost of £56m unbelievable.  This unit should not be applauded, as it is a reduction of 192 E.M.I beds since June 2002.  Moreover, he may have noticed that this is an 'Assessment unit', with a targeted maximum stay of 42 days, whereupon no one knows what the fate of these vulnerable patients will be.
Mr Gethin A.M. may care to know that all existing E.M.I beds in Cardiff and the Vale are to be closed, leaving only the hopelessly inadequate unit in Llandough.which offers no hope for most of these Incurable, degenerative Demntia/Alzheimer's who will only get worse and die.

Mr Gethinn may agree with the Cardiff & Vale Universally Inept Health Board that this is an excellent solution to the growing number of the elderly in our society, a percentage of whom will become fatally ill with dementia - i.e. dumping them 'in the community', thus abdicating their Duty of Care to these our elderly relatives.  On the other hand, Mr Vaughn might care to investigate this, and the proposed £80m Adult Mental Health Hospital, which will offer inadequate access to much needed inpatient care for the hundreds of acutely mentally ill patients in our area.

I accept that Mr Gethin is somewhat naive in his new role but I respectfully suggest that he gets up to speed on these mental health issues with some degree of urgency.  So far, no other A.M has had the intestinal fortitude to question either ( or both ) of these developments or their fanciful costs, that were obviously created in some smoke-filled den of inquity in the Cardiff Bay Area. As a member of the same party, I understand that he is a qualified solicitor, which should be of enormous help to him when he questions the legality of events leading up to the so-called consultations on these matters.  I must also add that the UHB also propose to move Rookwood Hospital to half of the top floor of Llandough, in order to profit from the sale of Rookwood site to a property developer, whilst reducing the amount of care available to their spinal injury patients. Still we ( and they, of course ) live on the hope that their deception of the Charity Commission will not convince that august, and independent authority that the UHB ( or it's bogus Trustee - led 'charity' ) that "It's a straight swap - we're making not a penny on the deal - honest guv".  Fat chance, I say, but who knows how such large public bodies get away with the mismanagement of our money, now or in the past ? I really hope that Mr Gethin can get us an answer to the question "What is to become of the long-suffering patients at Whitchurch hospital during the 4 years that the new until will take to be built ?      R.W.

"The Truth is....Over by 'Ere"- More Ministerial Cock-ups

Minister for Health Predicts £50m overspend by the year end 

After you were kind enough to publish my letter 'Let us have the openness and transparency that we were promised' ( Echo 15th November ), I am staggered that the latest damning statement from Minister for Health, Leslie Griffiths' didn't make front page news, or ANY page in your newspaper.

According to Ms Griffiths, she predicts that the health Boards ( that she is supposed to be managing ) are going to have a £50m overspend by the end of the year, ( December 2011 or April 4th 2012 ?? )  What vision she must have, and how wise to warn them and us the 'there will be no top-up funding available' when this ( apparently ) forseeable disaster occurs.  How does she know this, when - as I said in my last letter - none of us know what the budgets are because they haven't been published ( even the overall budget figure might be helpful ) ? Is she getting her excuses in early, I wonder.

I daren't say anymore as - from information supplied to me under the Data Protection Act - I am a habitual, vexatious complainer, who is not a patient representative nor an advocate, and I refuse to accept dismissive letters when I politely request truthful information.  Pretty damning stuff for someone who has spent the last 14 years, trying to help patients get basic information on their service that we have a right to know.  What a beastly charlatan I must be !

Unfortunately, none of the information is accurate, and anything useful to me to defend myself has been redacted.  What bullying cowards they all are, to condemn a man who has committed the sin of daring to challenge our government when they deny any responsibility for the deceitful misrepresentations of their health boards and their lap-dogs the outright, proven liars, the Community Health Councils.  If I'm wrong, why has no one taken me to court for defamation or harrassment, or jay-walking even ? Perhaps I'll get a lethal injection next time I attend clinic, or be run over by an ambulance whilst leaving the car park ?  As the x and 'LL' files say - The Truth is over by 'ere', but it certainly isn't in any statements given by our Health Minister or her subordinate organisations.

Yours fearfully - Robin Williams - Patient Advocate and Government Pest ( In hiding )

The struggle people with mental illnesses face when trying to return to work - Health News - News from @walesonline

The struggle people with mental illnesses face when trying to return to work - Health News - News from @walesonline

A Voice from the Clouds Informs me - 'You are not an Advocate'

Firstly ( it nearly being Sunday ) I must say a huge 'AMEN' to the gentleman or lady who sent me an anonymous comment on 'Happy Birthday UHW', written by my colleague and friend Lynette.  Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to write and, please let us all have the benefit of your opinion on the NHS again soon.  Your comment is most welcome !

Now, back to the critical epistle from above.  Does anyone out there know who  Dr Graham Shortland BM, DCH, FRCPCH is ?  I didn't either, except when I managed to find the bottom of his letter and his title 'Medical Director Wales NHS'.  Phew, I nearly fainted !  For over 3 months I been waiting for his eminence the First Minister to give me his promised answer to my questions about the fact that 'The Queen of Heart's' instructions on recent consultations were deliberately ignored.  Since then, I've had my blog blocked from access by anyone working for the NHS, and my e-mails intercepted by Big Brother and the Thought Police.  I complained about this ( well who wouldn't ? ), but didn't get any response until the good Dr Shortland took the time and trouble to write to me to say that the UHB has the power to block a particular Blog, when deemed necessary.  He also goes on to describe how the "filtering process ( of e-mails ) from potential Phishing - definitition of which is an attempt to criminally and fraudulently acquire sensitive information etc etc ad nauseum", is necessary, especially when "e-mails do not comply with the UHB's Internet/Email Policy". [ Has anyone out their ever seen this policy, please ?]

I'll spare you the rest of his comments, until the bit that is just too 'peachy' to keep to myself. Verbatim, it says. "Finally, I have received information that you do not have the status of Patient Advocate and this reply is to inform you, as a member of the general public, the seriousness with which the Cardiff and Vale UHB treats communication issues".  Let's hold that thought for a moment, shall we ?  Firstly - by any definition of the word Advocate, I meet all criteria and conduct myself with 100% honesty and commitment when dealing with the many concerns I receive regarding the blatant and deliberate misrepresentation that the UHB put into writing. I am completely independent ( of any extraneous influence of the UHB or any of it's subordinate orginisations ( such as the CHCs ) and my services are provided entirely free of charge.  Secondly, this eminent doctor is completely oblivious to the total lack of seriosness which the UHB gives to communications.  Anyone who has read any of the consultation documents or so-called 'plans' for changes to our health service, will know that none of them comply with current legislation, and singularly fail to observe the accepted standards of 'Best Practice' in 'Management', 'Planning' or 'Probity'.

Everything I have written is 'the whole truth, the entire truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God', so what has a Medical Director got to do with responding to a complaint about censorship, blog-blocking, or the patient's perspective of the integrity of UHB communications ?  I am sure that he is a great doctor, worthy of every letter after his name, but, he doesn't know me, or anything about me, and obviously hasn't read any of my complaints or any of the communications made by the UHB to the Patients and public that they are bound to by a 'Duty of Care'.  So, why does he have the temerity to write to me in such terms, unless the Welsh Government have abandoned any semblence of democracy, fairness, openness or transparency ?  Perhaps if the Medical Director devoted his attention to the activities of the UHB that are of concern to their patients, he might not be so quick to judge a truly dedicated and genuine Advocate.  R.W.

Mental Health Care 'unfit for purpose'

Services for vulnerable 'unfit for purpose' - article by Nina Lakhani, 'I' News 21. 11. 2011

"Mental Health services for society's most vulnerable people are unfit for purpose, according to a damning independent enquiry published today.
Seriously ill patients are subject to assaults, taunts and overcrowding in overstretched hospital wards where containment rather than recovery is the the priority.  Meanwhile, others on the verge of suicide or a breakdown cannot access help because crisis teams are too busy, or closed outside office hours.
Rising demand and government cuts are leaving the services at breaking point in some areas.
[ More than 1.25 million people used specialist mental health services in 2009/2010 in England alone; out of those 107,765 were admitted to a psychiatric hospital in crisis ].

The year long independent inquiry by the charity MIND found huge variances in hospital and community crisis services across England and Wales. Evidence from 400 patients and staff found that innovative, humane and responsive services do exist, but only for a lucky minority.
Just over half ofall inpatients felt unsafe or threatened at some point during their stay and one in eight had been physically restrained by staff, according to figures from the Care and Quality Commission.
The number of people detained under the Mental Health Act is on the rise. Afro-Caribbean patients are still twice as likely to be detained than any one else.
The Mind report calls for an outright ban on face-down restraint after the enquiry heard evidence about the ongoing use of potentially fatal techniques.  The Government last night said that it would now be considering the use of restraint".

Case Study - "We need a 24/7 robust crisis team".
Hannah Walker, 55, from Dorchester in Dorset was diagnosed with Bi-polar affective disorder by a psychiatrist whilst serving as an R.A.F. officer.  She left after 16 years in service in 1991because of her mental illness. ( Since then, she has had 20 hospital admissions ).
"Hospitals are better now than they used to be, mainly because there are single-sex wards which make me feel safer.  I live alone, so it's the nights when I am so vulnerable.  We need a 24/7 robust crisis team. People should have access to local services that help them, when they need them".
[Transcribed verbatim by RW ]

Happy Birthday UHW?

Have you been reading the SW Echo the last few days? Oh you really should - the stories about the fantastic University Hospital of Wales (UHW) site have warmed my cockles no end. Sigh, it sounds like a perfectly warm paradise to go, I almost WANT to be unwell just to visit...

Or not!

So UHW is 40 years old. Why should we care? The Health Board needs some good press so with a 40 year birthday celebration they probably think it's a perfect opportunity to 'big up' the 'super-hospital' and everything it stands for.

Shall we take a look at what has happened at UHW in the last year alone?

Here's one news story from March this year:

'SERIOUS concerns have been raised about the state of two wards offering specialist care to patients at the University Hospital of Wales.

Inspectors highlighted the poor fabric of the dialysis unit and neurosurgery ward during an unannounced spot check.'


So the buildings are a tad shabby.

And this news story from a few days ago:

'TWO patients died from rare infections not seen anywhere else in the world after undergoing heart surgery at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, an inquest heard yesterday.'

Oops! So there's an issue with infection/cleanliness too?

Or this one:

'Heather O’Shea, 45, of Butetown, Cardiff, who was a senior staff member in the haemotology ward at the University Hospital of Wales, had been guilty of a gross breach of trust, a judge said.'

Oh dear - not looking good is it??


From January this year:


'PATIENTS are travelling to Bristol for brain surgery because a controversial plan to centralise surgery in Wales is behind schedule, an AM has claimed.

Conservative AM Jonathan Morgan last night called on Health Minister Edwina Hart to answer questions over the provision of adult neuroscience services at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff.'

I really could go on but I won't, I'm sure you get the picture.


To be fair, one thing I cannot criticise at UHW is the (majority of) staff, the floor staff I'm talking about; the nurses, doctors, porters, cleaners etc. The management leave a lot to be desired, and, to be honest, most of them could do with a few days in the real world. Don't even get me started on the Board themselves. Bah!

There's so much more to this though, waiting lists, complaints, ward closures, cancelled operations due to dirty equipment, capacity issues, parking (or lack of).

So will you please join me in raising a dirty, cracked, probably stolen glass of cheap bubbly to UHW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!                  Yours, Lynette Spragg

Health Boards Warned "Stick to Your Budgets" by Ms Griffiths Minister

Re: "Health Boards warned 'stick to your budgets'

I was very interested to read that the Health Minister, Leslie Griffiths has issued this warning to all remaining Health Boards.  She said "The Government has set your targets and provided the means...etc."  However, amongst the following empty rhetoric about 'targets' and 'financial performance', there is no mention at all about what the budgets are and precisely how much of these 'provided means' have been devoted to running each health speciality, in terms of capital expenditure for developments, or the amounts of public money ( yours and mine ) which is to be spent on further rationalisations and costs of external consultants.

To be precise, What is the annual budget for each and every Health Board ?  also, What cost-savings are expected to be made by each in terms of 'targets' for each speciality within each Health Board.

The public has a right to know this information.  Also, what punishments does the Minister intend to administer should Health Boards fail to 'stick to their budgets' ( whatever they are ) ?

As I have previously stated, apart from the morgue at Llandough, no other targets have been met, except by deliberate misrepresentation of waiting times, such as orthopaedics.  Millions have been poured into our Health Service, yet front-line services are getting worse and much harder to access.  Shouldn't the Minister address the many existing failures in health governance before chucking her weight around Cardiff Stadium.  Experience over the past twenty years has shown that failing to confront the obvious managerial incompetence of the government, NHS Wales. and its' Health Boards, will only result in yet more incompetence and even poorer services being inflicted on the public.  So let us have the openness and transparancy we were promised when the Welsh Assembly first opened.  Publish the budgets and targets.   R.W.

Have you Heard This One Before ? - a joke by Leslie Griffiths Minister H&SS

'Together in Health'

I stayed up until 2.30am to listen to Leslie Griffiths, Minister for Health etc, and experienced deja vu as I listened  carefully to the meaningless and insincere summary of her 'Plan' for the next 5 years.  She stated that the plan was essential because existing services were not safe and not sustainable.  Why ? - no answer.  She also stated that there is an absolutely compelling case for change in NHS Wales.  What is it ? I asked myself, whilst watching Andrew T Davies fumbling his way through his assessment of 'Together for Health'.  He managed to point out that the document lacked any detail at all and that there was no 'Who' What', 'Where', 'How' or 'Why', or any timing in the document.  The Minister replied sharply "this is a five year plan'.  Great, I thought watching Andrew retake his seat clumsily.  Fortunately, my heroine stepped into the breach and pointed out to the Minister that she was espousing the same empty rhetoric that all previous health ministers had used in the same meaningless documents ( all of a different name ) that had been published over the last 14 years.  Who ? - Kirsty Williams, of course - a brilliant leader in every sense of the word. ( and I am a Labour voter ).  No answer at all except to say that the opposition AM's were just insulting the intelligence of the public, and that NHS Wales was doing a wonderful job.

I nearly fainted !  Since 1972, we have lost 30% of mental health beds in Cardiff and the Vale and, as the BMA stated, hundreds more throughout general services in Wales. And all of these losses over a period where the health needs of communities has increased, yet have become smaller in size and - most importantly - have become less and less accessible to all of us.

So, who does she think she's kidding ? Does she think that everyone is so dull that they have lost there memories and cannot see the evidence of their own eyes ?

If there is an issue of 'safety and sustainability' ( and I don't believe there is ), then it is because  successive health ministers have created this situation through their own sheer neglect, plus the total absence of any 'Needs Assessment' over the past 10 years.  Sully, Rookwood, the CRI and West wing have suffered neglect for over 20 years, as I and others can testify.  Contrary to this, millions of pounds have been put into the health service for back-stage services and staff with absolutely no improvement in patient services ( except Llandough Mortuary which won a best practice commendation ).

And - worst of all, to me - there will be NO PEOPLE's FORUM, that was launched on the BBC earlier this year.  Her answer for ignoring the concerns of patients and the public ( as a statutory requirement of The Health and Social Care Act 2001 ), was that "The Community Health Councils ARE the voice of the people". Successive consultations have shown this to be total fiction, as the CHC's have proven themselves to be the lap-dogs of the health authorities by completely ignoring public responses, verbal and written. So, once again she is hanging onto a falsehood, knowing that the CHC members will invariably support the Health Board in anything they plan to do, regardless of the adverse effect on the long-suffering patients, and the poor, overworked staff. 

'Together for Health' is complete fiction as it really means that we have to cure ourselves in future, whilst she and the other NHS fat-cats languish on their huge salaries, not giving a damn for the poor patient or the reduced health services.  Liars, all of them !   R.W.

Come Out, Come Out Whoever You Are - Show Yourself at Halloween !

In an earlier post, I reported that the Universally Inept Health Board had managed to get access to this blog blocked to all NHS staff.  What are they afraid of - the truth perhaps ?  That they have been lying to us for years, promising us a better health service - 'fit for purpose', they said - remember ?
Every consultation a means of conning the long-suffering patients that 'Your health service is out of date - no longer 'fit for purpose'; not meeting the changing Health Care needs of the nation'.  As Rita Austin so aptly put it - "promising us Jam Tomorrow", in order to keep us 'in check', 'under control' whilst they began the destruction of our Health Service.  Starting with the most vulnerable - the Elderly Mentally Infirm - dementia patients, with no hope of cure or respite.  Yet, with callous indifference to their needs, the Welsh Government, the Welsh NHS, the Local Authorities ( e.g. the Vale County Council ) the Universally Inept Health Board, and their fawning lackies the Community Health Councils, they all connived to cut existing services to extinction ( vis Bryneithin - the only specialist care home in the Vale ).  Then through Sacharine smiles, their lying lips told us of a Master Plan, called 'Making a Difference' that was to provide us with the ultimate service - by closing Rookwood Hospital ( to make way for a profitable property development ) and relocating their services to Llandough Hospital.  Where ? How ? When ? Why?.  First move the Midwife-led unit to UHW, closely followed by all gynae services, including all surgical services, and the Intensive Care Unit.  Now, in 2011, the entire lot has been cleared, leaving ( supposedly ) enough room for the slowly starved Rookwood services, using their own 17 year neglect of the premises as a pitiful excuse for their profiteering.

Sounds great doesn't it ?  Except for the fact that the Charity Commission haven't approved the great deception relating to the Restrictive Covenant, or the profiteering which is strictly against all Commission rules.  Impressed ?????  You 'aint seen nuthin' yet, bud.  Parallel to this ill-coneived plan, was another - even less feasible Plan to relocate all mental Health Services from Whitchurch ( and other locations, like Barry and St David's hospital ) to a brand new £80 hospital, also on the Llandough site, for a 'ring-fenced', cool, £80m ( yeah right ).  A two inch thick document of unashamed, meaningless rhetoric - no costings included - portrayed a non-specific, no detail, Disneyland of mental health services, that was to be the answer to the 20+ years of prayers of the beleagured asylum inmates, enduring outdated, often barbaric services in a century old Victorian building.  When ???, you ask - in four long years - or, sometime never when the Welsh Government admits that it cannot afford such an extravagant development.  Meanwhile the services would have been lost, leaving a woefully inadequate service that will barely touch the needs of the growing population.
So, what do they do in the meantime ???   Establish a Big Brother Communications Security system, known as CV.IMT.Security@wales.nhs.uk that can pry into your e-mails ( and probably your telephone conversations ) to any and all employees in the NHS.  Months ago, they blocked my blog, then extended it to all potential challengers ( known as 'habitual complainers' ) of their deceitful plans to slash services and save £300m.  Anyone out there dumb enough to believe that Wales is a Democracy , or that our government gives a toss for the health and well-being of its' citizens ?????    I didn't think so ???  Scream out loud against the intrusion of privacy and the end of Freedom of Speech !  R.W.

Mind Money Laundering for a Cleaner Mental Outlook

The organisation called 'Mind' does not, in reality, exist, unlike 'Big Brother' or 'Come Dancing' which - if the mood takes you - may actually be seen in all their naked awfulness.  A friend of mine was recently rejected as an applicant for a position of the 'Mind Governance' group/panel/committee.  Of course, this, in reality, is a contradiction in terms, because the MIND organisation doesn't actually govern anything.  Here I would remind readers that the proper term for running an organisation is 'MANAGEMENT' - making sure that the money in exceeds the money out, creating a surplus, or - simply, in the case of Mind  - using the money for the purposes intended - which they don't always.  Of course, this assumes that you act legally yet, as in the recent criminal misrepresentations of one, Paul Clarke ( Mind in the Vale ) this assumption is not always justified.  Having been a Trustee of his franchise, it was immediately obvious that Mr Clarke was not one to respect legal contracts or his legal obligations to the poor service users that he regularly duped.  Where ( I hear you shout ) was the 'governance' there, let alone anything resembling competent management ?

You see 'Mind' is not one organisation, it is - in fact - a group of franchise operations, where the franchisee is ( more or less )  free to create and run his little empire as he wishes - as was the case with Paul Clarke who - despite my evidence-backed complaints to his funding organisations ( e.g. The Health Boards, The Wales Council for Voluntary Action ) managed to get away with conning money out of organisations, with little or no benefit to service users - all done with the protection of the MIND name and the misplaced loyalty ( and plain stupidity ) of the funding organisations.  His favourite ploy was to ask every possible fund provider in Christendom to provide the funds for whatever noble project came into his twisted little brain. (N.B. He did have a degree in Rock and Roll music which, along with the sex and the drugs must have qualified him for anything but helping the mentally ill ).  The result of this larceny was that he would often receive multiples of the actual amount required for the particular project needing the funding.  In this way, he was allowed to build his 'Empire' and his personal standing in the eyes of the incompetent world of mental health service provision, whilst doing bugger-all for the mentally ill that he was supposed to represent.

The relevance of this story to my friend's application to become part of the elite MIND GOVERNANCE, was that she was rejected for not having 'transferrable skills' that were applicable to mental health issues.  Considering the facts of my little tale of woe, I nearly wet myself reading this audacious and quite rediculous excuse for rejecting my friend's application.  What better experience is there to deal with mental health issues than having been a long time sufferer of mental illness yourself , and having years of so-called 'user group' involvement with represention ( albeit tokenistically ) at the 'Big Table' of mental health governance, as Mr Clarke himself would have described the situation.  For the last 14 years I have represented service users and campaigned for better services for them, yet have singularly failed to defeat the Mental Health Mafia that is the unholy union between statutory and non-statutory organisations like Mind.  Better that you help yourself than rely on any of these money-grabbing organisations for any practical help !   R.W.
{ See also 'How do you Confront the Hydra' for more detailed explanation )

Well Done Lynnette..........and Kirsty Williams

What a pleasure it is to read Lynette's post, reporting on the criticisms made of The First Minister's policy with regard to Health Services in Wales. This is precisely why I want to widen contributions to 'our' posts, as they reveal the common problems we all face, throughout all health services in Wales. Whether the First Minister chooses to call honest reporting and accurate criticisms of the huge programme of rationalisation and centralisation of the health service, 'unfair to the NHS', the fact remains that he and his minions are systematically making all health services LESS accessible to patients, by closing hospitals, reducing bed numbers, as well as reducuing the number and geographical locations of many GP surgeries.

Of most concern, is the First Minister's total lack of consideration for the patients in Wales, whose views are invariably ignored, or are deliberately misrepresented by his fawning lap-dogs, the infamousely conniving Community Health Councils. As a prime example of their patient treachery, Gordon Harrop from their CHC base in the Vale, speaks on the claim that 'Seven extra mental health beds will be provided in the South Wales Valleys. He says' "This is a good day for mental health services and the community has been well served by the consultation process overseen by the CHC" This guy is seriously nuts, along with all his creepy cronies who live in the dark, eating rusks and warm milk. He completely IGNORES the fact that St. Tydfil's hospital is scheduled to close with the loss of a hell of a lot more beds than the lousy 7 that the cheapskates at the Universally Inept Health Board are providing. We are NOT gaining any 'extra' beds at all, and conmen like Harrop should go back to Leather Lane and take his cheap con tricks with him. More and more mental and general health beds are being lost every day, while our autocratic government insults our intelligence by claiming that "services are being improved' and 'services will be 'fit for purpose'". Even the 'grunts' of the US Marine corps ( God Bless 'em ) aren't dumb enough to swallow that load of codswallop. Are you ????? If you are, you can join all the new applicatnts for the CHC by signing up at the Frontal Lobotomy Clinic at Cardiff Royal Infirmary ( version 6 ). Like I said, "Well done Lynnette.....and Kirsty Williams. R.W.

Well done Kirsty Williams!

I honestly never thought I'd say it but WELL DONE KIRSTY WILLIAMS!

BBC Wales Health Story

She read the NHS reports and told Carwyn Jones EXACTLY what these said, and then, he came up with some bull crap which, basically, is why the situation in Wales is so bad - because the head of Labour and WAG have no idea what is going on in the Welsh NHS.

At question time in the Senedd, she said the risk assessments showed local health boards (LHBs) were "admitting the scale of the problem and challenges that they are facing".

She asked Mr Jones if he was "prepared to face up to those same challenges" and that far from the NHS subjecting people to a post-code lottery "in Wales it is more like Russian roulette".

You cannot surely expect to reduce the NHS budget by £1billion and still keep levels of service the same?

Mr Jones replied that Ms Williams' statement was not helpful to the NHS - a service that Wales was "proud of".

I'd like to meet the people of Wales that are proud of the NHS at the moment. I don't think it is anything to be 'proud of', do you?

A spokesman for Ms Griffiths said: "These irresponsible comments by the Welsh Lib Dem leader will cause unnecessary concern to patients.

"The NHS in Wales takes patient safety very seriously and to imply otherwise, is an insult to its dedicated staff.

A spokesman to speak for our Health Minister? She thinks a lot of herself eh. Alas, we are all fully aware that there are major issues with the NHS in Wales and that isn't due to a few words from Kirsty Williams, that's from personal experience within hospitals and GP surgeries etc.

I think the LHB's themselves were saying they didn't have the staff or the equipment to meet demand - Ms Williams said nothing of the sort!

Welsh NHS Confederation director Helen Birtwhistle said: "In some areas, services are provided across too many sites with the result that these limited resources - especially staff and equipment - are spread too thinly.

"The NHS is exploring opportunities to bring services together so that some of the risks that have been identified can be reduced and the quality of care for patients improved."

Ahhhh more rubbish that 'bigger is better' - not so! Bringing services together doesn't mean jack if departments don't communicate - and clearly they don't.

So the grand plan was: Ask LHB's to write a report on the failings in their areas, read report, ignore report. Nothing new there then.

The scary thing is, they hold the purse strings eeeeeeeek!

Lynnette Spragg

World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2011

This is surely a day for 'all and sundry' in the mental health world to flood us with important information that will raise awareness of Mental Health Problems in the community.

The British Army ( Bless 'em ) had already decided that all soldiers, returning from 'theatre' would have immediate access to 'talking therapies', from their own doctors, outside psychiatrists and as many psychologists as would be needed. Their aim - Eliminate Stigma ! What a noble aim and absolutely typical of the army to lead us with their usal courage and determination. Now, every trooper suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxieties, sleeplessness, prolonged periods of sadness, alcohol dependency etc etc will ALL be able to access this essential service And....if they are reluctant to come foreward, concerned colleagues, family or friends may make enquiries on their behalf. This is, and always has been, a need that should have been satisfied by H.M. Forces decades ago. Now the British Army have recognised the need and got on with the job of providing these essential services. We have all taken for granted the terrible pain that our soldiers, airmen and sailors have endured as a result of defending us and our great nation. Where the army leads, the rest will follow.

But ( dare I ask ) what has happened today in Cardiff to commemorate this 'World Mental Health Day' ?...........
I haven't heard or read of anything, and neither have my friends and colleagues. Cardiff City Council should be ashamed, as should the Universally Inept Health Board, and all other statutory and the many non-statutory mental health 'charities'. However, let's not rush to condemn. Perhaps readers could provide this blog with comments correcting me, and ( hopefully ) listing all the events that I and my colleagues obviously missed !

Dystonia is Definitely NOT 'all in the mind'

Dystonia is a painful, often crippling disease of the nervous system, classed as a chronic, long-term condition under the Equality Act 2010. It is a Neurological disorder that has no cure and can - often - make the sufferer contemplate suicide. In fact as a sufferer myself for 11 years I cannot honestly say whether acute mental pain is worse than the pain caused by Dytonia's involuntary muscles spasms. All I know is that - speaking as a suffer of both conditions - they can have the same debillitating effect that could make you self-harm or, worse, lead you to want to stop the pain by ending your own life. Yet, one is a physical condition and the other a 'mental' one, which automatically carries with it the added pain of stigma - even from those who are supposed to love you and care for you. So, how can you tell the difference ?

From my own experience, I had suffered from anxiety as a small boy, visiting St David's hospital many times, before the diagnosis was offered to my mother. I became a nervous child, with a high gag reflex, and stomach cramps at every stressful situation - such as being forcibly anaesthetised. I learned to deal with my hidden fears by acting out the role others wanted to see - a normal, active and sometimes naughty child, with no father to correct me or to act as my role model.

My first experience with depression is described, briefly, in an earlier post. Sometimes I felt confident and strong - particularly at school or in work where I could drive myself to be better than others, even if this wasn't achieved. The danger points in my life were the ones that brought the anxiety depression back, with a vengeance. Marriage difficulties, children's illnesses, losing a job ( and I lost 7 in all ), along with two marriages and a partnership that was weeks away from becoming as permanent as my first two failures. It doesn't take much to lose your self-esteem, your confidence, and the esteem of your own family. Such events take you into a vortex, pulling you down relentlessly, until you finally see death as the only option open to you. Be aware that stress will exacerbate the symptoms of both conditions, so do all you can to avoid any of the stressful conditions that life throws at you as ( supposedly ) 'Character Building exercises'.

With Dystonia, my symptoms started the year before my angina attack and subsequent heart surgery in 2000. Unfortunately, it went undiagnosed for over a year, with my own doctor telling me that my constant eye-blinking was a habit that I should simply stop. So easy, you'd think. My GP even told me that if I persisted with this 'habit' that he would refer me to a psychiatrist 'because of my mental history'. Those damning words stung me to see a psychiatrist within weeks. Fortunately,he knew the difference between Anxiety Depression and a condition he named as 'Dystonia'. He arranged a referral within a week to an opthalmologist, Dr Robert Walters at UHW. Within an hour of seeing this caring man, I was diagnosed with Segmental Dystonia, which he said was caused by damage to the nerve ganglia (Basal) at the base of the skull, as a result of an illness or an accident. The word 'incurable' followed, making me care less what the cause was of this disease of uncontrolled muscle spasms around my eyes. Even though he offered a variety of treatments, including the 13 stinging BoTox injections I have to endure every 8 weeks, I realised that I had been stigmatised as being 'mental' by my own GP. ( On reflection, the needles hurt more than the stigma did, and still do ! - R.W. )

The point of this post is not to rush into any hasty opinion about what troubles your neighbour, your friend, or even a family member. They could be twitching, blinking or crying out of despair. They could be suffering from Depression or Dystonia, but it hardly matters which, as both conditions require your empathy, your sympathy, and your understanding. So next time you see someone twitching, with their neck or their arms bent in a painful spasm, don't judge them as being 'mental'. The same goes for someone sad and crying - in fact - don't judge them at all, as both conditions inflict pain that requires treatment and not scorn. R.W.

N.B. ca 30,000 people are diagnosed as having Dystonia of one kind or another in the UK. However, approximately 10m people suffer from some kind of neurolgical disorder, with awareness and understanding of Neurology among healthcare professionals not what it should be.

Links to the Dystonia Society via www.dystonia.org.uk e-mail enquiries to info@dystonia.com

Also, visit www.neural.org.uk

Please Contribute & save Democratic Opinion

Please follow Robin's invitation and help keep this blog running by contributions:

Living in a country such as Wales - renowned for its quangos and the nepotism that running through all sections of life here such as the arts , politics as well as those, 'support' services meant to enable ' service users ' but in fact only finance themselves not welcoming any controversy it is now important that those traditionally voiceless in our society such as mentally ill people and their unpaid carers that they SHOULD be HEARD.

DO WE NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS OUR VIEWS IN A DEMOCRACY ?

It seems to me in Welsh society there is a conspiracy of profound and total ,  'silence' that allows people who are acutely ill to be 'warehoused'  - there is no other word for it -  and to 'bed share' in a 19th century conditions in the last remaining Aslyum in UK at Whitchurch in the capital city of Wales yet no one in authority says  - ANYTHING.

We are however fed the NHS latest buzz word of, 'Recovery that glosses the multitude of sins and the deaths that take place at Whitchurch and Llanfair every year. Sadly it has been reported to me within the last two months of writing this that with the outlawed practice of so called, 'deadly restraints ' that was current at Bristol at Winterbourne and exposed as illegal still continues at Llanfair carried out by certain staff members.

Please help Robin and myself uncover the quagmire that lurks beneath our so called,'Welsh Democracy'.

Broadening the Blog - Infusions of Talent on Health Matters

I sincerely hope that you like the contributions from my dear friend 'Magpie' ( a.k.a. Lynnette Spragg ) and, of course the masterpiece from Gillian.  I had decided to alter the design of the blog but don't know how to do this, even though I have had some advice.  As Llinos rightly said, I write mainly on Mental Health, and she on Maternity Matters. Nobody appears to give a jot for Mental Health matters, so I reasoned that having other health-concerned campaigners add posts to my blog, they ( in turn ) would ( hopefully ) read some of the posts about the stark problems facing the mentally ill.  Doubtless, there is a lot in common with other services as they all ( probably ) have similar gripes and groans about their specialist area of healthcare, as I do about the savage cuts to Mental Health Services.  Consequently, I invite any interested party to contact me on 029 - 20711371, or 0775 1313353, with a view to sending me a post ( in Word ) that will help me to broaden the scope of what I like to think is 'OUR' blog, not mine.  Meanwhile, if you receive a copy of 'Sefyll' ( whatever that means ) from from the sycophantic Cardiff and Vale (Homeless) Mental Health Project, please read the cra-sorry-contents which tell you all about 'the Recovery' model, especially the 'Charter for Mental Health' on page 5.

My first thought was that this Recovery baloney was taken from the preaching of Mrs Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science Church, which preaches that 'all illness is in the mind etc etc ad nauseum'. The similarity between the two is startling in that they both ( along with; The Welsh Government, NHS Wales, The Universally Inept Health Board ( Cardiff & Vale ) and, of course our dear 'friends' on the Community Health Council ) believe that all our illnesses are psychosomatic.

So don't worry about Coronary Heart Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, or those silly Cancers, that take us to hospital ( apparently unnecessarily ), we are all to heal ourselves in future, because all ailments our 'All in the Mind'.  Just think of all those wasted years of research into illnesses and treatments when, all the time, we could have been good Christian Scientists, or followers of the Incompetent members of the Universally Inept Health Board, and healed ourselves.  
"Last one off the cliffs is sissy !"   RW

RCN calls for longer visiting hours to allow families to play roles of carers?

 I usually agree whole heartedly with the RCN and RCM, however, today's article on the BBC website is just crazy!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15052636

The RCN want to extend visiting hours in hospitals, which, on the surface seems like a good idea. Wards being more flexible for working mums and working around bigger time windows than the standard 2-4pm and 6-8pm (school closing time and kids bedtime).

This is not the idea for the change.

The idea is that patients' families will help care for them including feeding and taking them to the toilets.  I am sure most families would be willing to help their loved ones anyway, but what about those who don't have family or they live too far away or simply don't bother to visit?

Inevitably this is the sort of thing I'd expect the NHS, specifically the LHB's, to cook up and am completely confused as to why the RCN would suggest it? Surely they know this would be the slippery slope to less nursing staff e.g. auxillary nurses?

Whatever next?

Lynnette Spragg

Cocktails in Babylon .Gill Brightmore

This poem was 'triggered' , but not  'inspired' by my own so called 'treatment' on a mental health ward in SE Wales  between 2004-6  as well as  by the very moving, " The Day Room" by the poet  Kit Wright.

COCKTAILS IN BABYLON:

Clozapine  / Diazepam   / Effexor  / Olanazpine

The Radio in my head is playing   over & over
telling me this is -  The Final Count Down.
It clouds the windows of perception now chemically adulterated
here in    the suburban asylum.

The DJ appears to be the Doctor wearing a white coat    now dirty
speaking only in broken English he takes down the medical history
never making eye contact -  here on the Acute Ward.

The Morning Drug Trolley clatters in at 7.45 am down the green linoleum corridor
ready to discharge it's awful contents  lethal as Class A drugs  all freely available here
given out like so many brightly coloured Smarties by stony faced staff in dead silence
-  for we have no 'talking therapies' here : the health Minister does not think it suitable.

This is no Sweet Shop - the windows all have bars and cannot be opened
the air stale with the stench of nicotine hanging in a bright cloud above our heads
together with the smell of last night's supper and the scent of unwashed urine
here in - the Day Room - on the acute ward.

If we resist the threat of,  'deadly restraints' or ECT should we step out of line
or worse of all should we refuse our medication .

A drug can be prescribed for ever treatment - Borderline Personality Disorder / Clinical Depression /
Bi Polar / Schizophrenia or even  'challenging behaviour' our society cannot  tolerate
unless it is medicated to point of comatose hitting us straight to the cortex like a silver bullet
eliminating thought all processes ,

but the Radio in my head does not stop . . .
it is playing The Final Count Down over and over.

Here stranded in the Day Room my throat is parched my palms are sweating I am terrified here
alone behind locked doors not knowing what transgression
I have committed as no one speaks to us: here we are invisible sitting here on the
dirty sofas watching the  36 inch TV blaring out endlessly day & night
OT. is a choice of playing Bingo or listening to CD's  all organised by a fully paid up,
'mental health professionals':
It is hard to know the sane from the insane  sitting here in the Day Room
with  the Psychiatrist thinking he's God so we wait for the next humiliation to befall us
evicted  from life and even the security of our NHS beds
late at night we can be moved at random . . . to  some other place . .

Crackers  / Nuts / Looney / Bonkers  / Barking

Sitting on broken plastic chairs in the dining room at the sticky tables we await the tea trolley once again
staring out through grimy windows as the magnificent chestnut trees sway outside in in sympathy
for us scrabbling for the tepid tea poured from a broken pot before the milk is gone:
we dare not ask for more:

in the endless Day Room ...we await these  but  assured of our ,'recovery'

Metazapine  / Thorazine / Fluoxeitne  / Tamapazapam

Cocktails in Babylon,

but the Radio never stops . . .

@ G .K Brightmore       24/ 09/ 11

Maternity 'Services' in Wales

Firstly my thanks to Robin for allowing me to post on his blog - this is a fantastic page and I rarely disagree with your wise words.

Where Robin specialises in Mental Health issues, my love is Maternity care.  I led a campaign to save Llandough MLU from closure which gained a lot of support from people from all walks of life, however, as we're all aware, the Health Board had already made a decision on this and merely covered over their incompetence with a farcical 'public consultation' of which the outcome would never have been any different.

Are you aware that the Health Minister Lesley Griffiths has released a new document titled 'A Strategic Vision for Maternity Services in Wales' dated September 2011?

This document has given me a really good giggle... I must remember to thank her for that. Besides the laughs it really is a waste of paper.  Why? Let me give you a few examples;

• One of the 'key themes for action is to 'promote healthy lifestyles for pregnant women which have a positive impact on them and their family’s health'.  I wonder then why the 'Health in Pregnancy' grant has been withdrawn for women 25+ weeks pregnant? This grant was specifically designed to help women afford fruit and vegetables in order to ensure a healthier lifestyle for them whilst pregnant, and thus their babies.

• Another key theme - 'provide a range of high quality choices of care as close to home as is safe and
  sustainable to do so, from midwife to consultant-led services'. So in one breath we're providing choices but then in the very next we're only doing so if it is sustainable. Explain sustainable? Sustainable as in cost effective or sustainable as in enough staff to cover the necessary functions? Not really sure!

• Another key theme which actually goes toward answering the above confusion - 'employ a highly trained workforce able to deliver high quality, safe and effective services' - so this means sustainable is indeed about money right? If they're going to ensure the staff are there and trained accordingly then we're basing choices on budgets.

• So now we're into the 'advice' section - 'Alcohol - Advice for women planning a pregnancy is to avoid alcohol in the first 3 months' - all very well and good when you have a midwife booking you in and explaining this, oh wait, that was removed too! Now you don't see anybody until your first 'dating' scan at 10-12weeks (3 months!)

I could go on! It really is a barrel of laughs!

I would love to know who has advised her on this and whether she read it through before publishing it!

The good news is we're stuck with this Government for another 4 years, woohoo!

Lynnette Spragg

Staff are Vital to our Future and they are facing the same awful cuts as we are

I've just been reminded about how important it is that we don't lose sight of the excellent staff that support us in these times of uncertainty, and will continue to help us even though they, themselves, are facing the threat of cuts and inevitable job losses.  We may come to bitterly regret seeing some very good staff become victims of the cuts, which certainly won't help the cause of fighting for better services.  Improved services means better qualified staff and more of them ( please God ) so please be careful before you make any public criticisms of staff unless they are fully justified and supported by reliable testimony.  We may not like the fact that their managers support 'the corrupt system' that lies to us and misrepresents sham consultations, but this is not the fault of the staff in the wards, or the CMHTs, who we depend on for help. 

My fight has always been with the corrupt system that allows such lies and misrepresentations to take place and even be supported, when the Universally Inept Health Board decides to 'circle the waggons' and turn to the Minister and the government for the support that they know they can rely on.  After all, these dishonest sharlatans are only obeying government policy, which is solely concentrated on saving money, instead of honouring the original NHS commitment of Providing Health Care at the Point of Need.  This is the exact opposite of what are government are doing, with Rationalisation and Centralisation being the priority.  Also,indiviual politicians of all parties are primarily concerned with preserving their own high standards of living, whilst showing absolutely no sincere concern for the rest of us who may be reduced to subsistence. We have seen them disobey their own policies with impunity, but our complaints go unheeded.

My primary concerns have been with the fact that the vulnerable and the chronically ill are the ones being targeted first - e.g. The Elderley Mentally Infirm at Bryneithin and other specialist care homes, as well as the mentally ill of all ages, particularly those sufferring from the most acute illnesses.  This is ( to me ) extreme cowardice because they know that we are easy targets - either we are unable to fight back, or we are dismissed with statements that say as much as "Well, we mustn't lose sight of the fact they are Mentally Ill, in the first place".  This is the origin of the stigma we all have to live with - our minds may be 'out of kilter' due to accidents, physical illnesses, hereditary problems, or substance misuse, brought on by the culture of 'pleasure' that is cultivated in the minds of the young by criminals.  Stigma is enemy number one, and always will be, so don't forget that.  Enemy number two is the corrupt system that seeks to lie to us about losing our services, thereby denying us any involvement in the shaping of the future of our services. And be sure of only one thing, new policies are being introduced - without our involvement - that will prevent us getting proper advocay in the event of complaints.

Before I become as prolific a writer of meaningless pap as the incompetent UHB's Chief Executive, I better return to my original point, and that is - The Staff who deliver mental health services to us are Important, and we mustn't lose sight of the fact that the poor sods are more worried about losing their family incomes than we give proper consideration. Being unemployed these days carries its' own stigma and we must give thought to those who are suffering on negligible support from benefits. RW

Hurricane 'Lesley' Sweeps away the Public Health Conference and Public Opinion

Our new Minister for Health and Social Security, is 'Hitting the ground' by stumbling along in the footsteps of her forerunners, sticking to the 'Party Line' during her speech to the Public Health Conference.  Hackneyed phrases like "Services will be improved, not downgraded" and "The final decision ( to approve Health Board proposals for 're-shaping health services' ) will be MINE !", and "Decisions will be made on a clinical and not a political basis."  On hearing that load of crap on the lunchtime news, I nearly barfed up my breakfast porridge and muffin.  We expect 'Rhetoric' from politicians but - really - must it always be the same meaningless, insincere garbage ?  I have come to the conclusion that women are made Ministers because they are incapable of original thought.  'Sucking up to the boss' is what they're best at, and to hell with the people that elected them to power. If there truly is a 'glass ceiling' holding more of these incompetent women down, I say - Hallelujah - God save us from the weak women who are incapable of original thinking.

After 11 long years of cuts to Mental Health Services, during which time 422 inpatient beds have already been lost since July 2002, and hospitals closed, do they really expect us to swallow this bilge ?  Surely not ?
Yet even Marcus Longley ( who I used to respect when we shared spaces on TV programmes criticising NHS services ), now 'Professor of Health Economics' at Glamorgan University, seeks to insult our intelligence with his outpourings of sycophantic drivel ( that probably got him the job in the first place ). Quite seriously, Lying, Stealing and Ass-Kissing have become the the major qualities required of a politician.

Meanwhile, the butter-wouldn't melt-in-my-mouth, Lesley Griffiths begins her 'new career' reading 'old scripts' from some 'Bureaucrat specialising in Bureaucrap' based at Cathays Park.  Clearly, she is incapable of original thought, and believes that if you keep making the same stupid mistakes, as your party political predecessors, then everything will come right in the end !  Steven King couldn't write such nightmare scripts.

Whilst waiting for the reports ( of which she has no idea at present - yeah right ), she tells us that "Changes are absolutely necessary" but neglects to tell us why, saying only that we had "Too many hospitals offering a general service, locally, instead of fewer specialist units that will be better for patients" - completely forgetting where they live, of course, and the logistical problems of getting patients and family to these 'Cure-all bastions of modern medicine'.  How comforting for people in Aberaeron to know that better, more specialised services await them in Cardiff - providing, of course, that that they live long enough to get there and be treated ?  It's hardly any wonder that we, in the Cardiff and the Vale, aren't any happier because we can't get on any waiting list any quicker than the poor sods in Aberaeron !

As I have said - to the point of boredom - there is no freaking planning by the incompetent ass-wipes at the Universally Inept Health Board.  And we are the mugs who pay for their mistakes with our money and our lives.  " Make the Patients Fit the Service" is the rule of law being applied throughout NHS Wales, and "Cut the Staff to Save on Overheads".  Hospitals can be sold at will to any developer passing out enough brown envelopes to choke a Swiss Banker.  To hell with 'right and 'wrong' and silly impediments like legal covenants on hospital land leases. "Make as much profit as you can by turning hospital land into housing developments".
Yes - it is bloody-well true - 'Money is the Root of all Evil', and this is the main motivation for all the changes that dear sweet Lesley Griffiths will blindly approve without any conscience or remorse at all.

Oh - I forgot - Lesley started her speech by saying something like "....after all, Wales WAS the cradle for the National Health Service".  The only undecided question is "Where will the Grave be located ?" dear Lesley.     R.W.

R...is for Recovery but what do the letters C D stand for ?

The 14th September's Echo contained the supplement 'A to Z of Mental Health' ', but unsuprisingly the cuts and deterioration of our services - Inpatient and Day services - get's no mention, althouch 'C' is for Child and 'D' is for Drugs.  As far as my opinion extends, C. D. is for Cruel Deceipt, of all mental health service users for over 11 years with consistent, deliberate misrepresentation. from the athorities, i.e. the Government, NHS Wales, The Health Boards and even the managers of our services.  Every 'consultation' has been a joke, with no service user groups on the list of the 72 consultees used by our government.  "We know what's best for you" continues to be the only policy for the mentally ill, and other patients in general.  Poorly qualifed, inexperienced, over-paid, egotistical and uncaring men and women, DO NOT know what is best, yet they continue to occupy senior public positionss and make cuts to our services, whilst insulting our intelligence with fatuous comments that the service will be fit 'for purpose' - their purpose of course - to save money.  The need for mental health services is increasing with the growing population, none so dramatic as the exponential growth in the elderly and the Elderley Mentally Infirm.  These poor unsuspecting people have been the first of the 'cuts' list, with the only Elderley MentallyInfirm home, Bryneithin, and the only Rehab centre Pen-yr-Ynys  in the whole of the Vale of Glamorgan being scheduled for closure, regardless of need. No 'Needs Assessment' has been carried out, yet, the paid lackies at the Cardiff and Vale Mental Health Project, have the gall to deny the closure of Pen-yr-Ynys. in the face of written proof. .

Now we are told that "Recovery is the best model to follow" although no one has defined what the blazes this is supposed to mean.  The dictionary defines 'Recovery'  is 'A full return to the proper state of health, strength, stability', but this definition does NOT apply to the 'Recovery Approach' provided by our old 'friend' Phil Chick.  As the article also says that acute mental illnesses, such as Bi-Polar Manic Depression and Schizophrenia have 'no cure' so, how are patients to achieve the dictionary definition of 'Recovery' ?

The facts remain that it is increasingly difficult to access services that are ( remotely ) adequate for need.  For these eleven years, Mr Chick and his colleagues have consistently misled us whilst methodically reducing the numbers of beds, day services and access to mental health services.  In my opinion. Mr Chick ( who used to be the Government's Director of Mental Health ) has - in my opinion - yet to find the true level of his abilities,being a classic exampleof 'The Peter Principle'.  Many patients I know say "I'm now in Recovery" yet, sadly fall ill again as regularly as before.  The only difference is that now they are denied the inpatient care that thier illness treatment demands.  So 'R' is actually for 'Rhetoric' - defined in the same ditionary as "fine-sounding, but insincere and meaningless".

Another Blow to Mental Health Services in the Vale

At a time when our mental health services have been cut, rationalised and centralised to the point where all patients are ( in some way ) inconvenienced or denied services, further bad news is the last thing we need.  But, here it is - a slap in the 'Orchestra Stalls' that will have all Vale patients reeling in dismay - the announced intention to close the Rehabilitation Centre, Pen-Yr-Ynys on Barry Island.  Staff were informed earlier this week that  their jobs could not be guaranteed beyond the end of the current financial year. They were also informed that the sale of these two properties will make an essential addition to the public purse.  Isn't that a relief to us all ?? We all lose the only Rehabilitation Centre in the Vale so that some useless pillocks on the Cardiff and Vale Universally Inept Health Board can go on enjoying their fat-cat lifestyles. Of course, the 'Board's' uniquely talentless Deputy Chief Executive and Planning Director claims that this matter was included in the farcical public consultation held last year.  Of course, nothing could be further from the truth but then, after months of untruths and deliberate misrepresentation to mentally ill patients by this charlatan and his little helpers, why should we now be surprised to realise that he is a liar of the first water ?  So, there you have it - the truth and nothing but the truth as usual from me.

Of course, my critics will point out that this a mere bagatelle in the history of costly failings in NHS Wales, the Welsh Government and the Universally Inept Health Board.  Look at all the millions spent on orthopaedic services that were supposed to end the tortuous waiting periods for treatment - was this money well spent and,  did it achieve the desired effect ? Of course it bloody well didn't, anymore than the millions poured in by successive Health Ministers do anything to improve general waiting times for the long-suffering patients in other specialities ( that simply created a generation of 'figure fiddlers' ).  The list is really getting too much to bear - the GP contracts, the Consultant contracts, the Out of Hours contracts, the equal pay millions, the millions overspent on drgs and flu vaccines( unused ), the contract nursing costs, the costs of the numerous Out of Area placements of patients to England and other foreign parts - Is anyone out there taking note of all this, because this is your ruddy money being wasted, you complacent, apathetic fools ?!?

Yes, I'm wandering once more, from the tiny insignificant spec of essential services for the mentally ill that has now been lost after this deluge of incompetent spending.  Meanwhile, the new Health Minister and her boss, the First Minister continue to sit on their thumbs, doing 'Porthcawl' about the unstoppable destruction of our once great National Health Service. And WE voted them in by default !

Work Assessments for the Mentally ill - Don't Panic

The Work Capability Assessment Ordeal - the commonest cause of anxiety and distress amongst the mentally ill.

Please take an old man's advice - that of someone who is an advocate, offering FREE advice and help to ANYONE in need.  Allow me to sum up this Atos Work Capability Assessment, if I may be so bold ?

Having attended at least five of these 'assessments' lately, I can give you my qualified opinion that these tests are the most biased and unfair way of assessing your capability to work.  The most obvious first question to ask is "Where are all the job vacancies - just waiting to employ someone with a mental health problem, or any disability, in fact".  Obviously they aren't any, or they are already taken up by Poles ( in agriculture ) or other migrant workers who are prepared to work for less than the minimum wage, and have no intention of ever becoming 'British'.  The other problem is that you have huge ethnic groups - particularly those in Cardiff who wouldn't look out of place in Mogadishu - where the unemployment rate is in the working age groups is as high as 98%.  You have to ask yourself, "Are they getting the same work assessment test and being placed in jobs as a priority - or - even on equal terms with the mentally ill ???????   I suggest that the answer is a resounding 'NO', as the softest target is US - the mentally ill, and discriminating against us doesn't have a 'racist' label which prevents GENUINE equality.  Why ? ( I hear you ask ) Because your illness can't be seen, and also, the unqualified members of the Universally Inept Health Board ruled that "If a patient can walk from Whitchurch hospital into the village, he/she doesn't need a hospital bed; Any care he/she needs can be given ine the community; and, lastly - he/she is fit enough to work."  Thus they have climbed the Everest of stupidity, having no knowledge of Psychiatric treatment..

The test itself is so biased, my first client was asked "Are you able to move that box of tissues... ( on the desk ) ?"  I told my client not to answer.  Instead, I asked the nurse ( we're being assessed by a nurse ? ), "Are you conducting an assessment based on the physical or mental health of my client, and, are you sufficiently qualified to conduct either type of assessment ?"  The reply, " I just ask the questions on the computer screen and fill in the answers."  What an outrageously biased and unscientific system.  Without boring you ( as usual ), this test has no genuine legitimacy or legal obligation on ANYONE, because it is ( simply ) as bent as a butcher's hook in its' bias towards concluding that EVERYONE, regardless of mental or physical disability is fit for SOME kind of work is just plain stupidity.  What type of work ?  Where are the jobs ?  I haven't a ruddy clue, and neither will you.  ( Perhaps 'Big Brother', or a similar type of moron, knows ? )

My advice - take someone with you and do not answer any 'closed' questions ie. that require only a yes or no answer.  Until the tests are fair and agreed by the patients as being so, and conducted by a qualified consultant in Psychiatry, thay are invalid, being a charlatan's way of tricking you into something you don't understand, or don't accept for the inequity.

All Hail the Clown Prince of the Community Health Council of Health Lap-Dogs, Cardiff Pound

I couldn't resist looking over the shoulder of a fellow campaigner who managed to acces a copy of a letter sent to a member of our Welsh Government by the 'Chief Officer' of Cardiff CHC, no less. He ( for the purposes of not 'naming and shaming' a man who has been, and still is,  the subject of much justifiable ridicule ) was responding to the widely voiced complaint about their being no answer to the question, "What is to happen to the patients of Whitchurch Hospital during the 4 years ( at least ) before the new inadequate Mental Health Unit is to be completed at Llandough". The honourable member of government was pressing him for details of the care to be given the poor souls left to rot - for lack of proper services - in the ancient Victorian Asylum, during the ensuing period before transition to the ( supposedly ) 'fit for purpose' wards will be opened. However, I digress from letter to the A.M. that was sent by the Clown Prince of the Cardiff CHC.  This letter was the most arrogant, ignorant and deliberately evasive load of meningless, insincere, dissmissive, crap that I have ever had the misfortune to read.  Even though I have known this imbecile for years I never thought him capable of stringing five words together to make a sentence, let alone write such bureacratic gobbledeygook.

The A.M offered to take the matter up with the Minister herself ( which any reasonable person would think should be an automatic reaction to the uncertainty heaped of mental health patients by the Universally Inept Health Board and their lap-dogs the fawning CHC.  Their Chief Officer ( surely a joke appointment ) should have responded respectfully and in detail to the questions put by the A.M and accepted the offer of more help.  Yet, this arrogant, poppinjay, caricature of a Chief anything, writes with the same contempt as he shows to the poor patients he is supposed to represent by refusing to answer the question and refusing the offer of help. In my opinion he should be replaced immediately with a replica Pinnochio doll, complete with strings connected to the Universally Inept Health Board. The patients need, and demand, answers to how they will be cared for at Whitchurch over the next four years.  The Health and Social Services Minister should act immediately to allay the fears of these vulnerable citizens.  She should then dismantle the useless incompetent, blatantly dishonest Community Health Councils whose actions reflect so badly on our government and the citizens of Wales.

Back to the Stark Reality of Mental Illness

Yesterday, a really good friend of mine, who cares for the mentally ill and the 'eductationally challenged', gave me a sharp reminder about what this blog - and my 14 year campaign to improve servise to the mentally ill of all ages - is all about.  His Aunt died after suffering from depression for years without proper inpatient care, or 'Care in the Communiy'.  Needless to add, she died on her own, and only those who have experienced the Black Hole of clinical depression are able to imagine the suffering she must have endured before the merciful release occurred.  Again - needless to add - her death was put down to ' natural causes' - doesn't that convenient statement mask the truth that the REAL cause of death as 'inadequate provision of mental health care' ?
As is if that wasn't enough, one of his 'flock' hanged himself in prison the same day, yet nobody else cares about these preventable deaths.  My heart bleeds for my friend and those two lost souls who were tormented to death by the invisible illness that is becoming more widespread and even more poorly serviced by the Welsh Government, and their Universally Inept Health Board ( Cardiff and Vale Branch ).  God damn them all for their callous indifference to preventable deaths that occur amongst the mentally ill !

Ambulance Chasing, by the Director of Community Health Councils

Did you see Carol Lamyman-Davies ( nee Jones ) giving the Ambulance Service a tongue-lashing, last week on the evening news ?  What a powerful performance of eye-glaring and menacing hair-do !  She really gave 'em 'what for' and told them to buck their ideas up on performance double quick, or else.  Oh, I forgot, there was no 'or else', because the CHC has no more powers over the Ambulance Trust than they have over the  Universally Inept Health Board ( Cardiff & Vale, that is ).  Rumour has it that she did conclude her tirade by saying that she was "Going to hold her breath and stamp her feet until 'somebody' did something". Then, sticking her thumb between her lips and inflating her chubby cheeks, she stamped her way out of the studio.
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Speaking as someone who has often been the beneficiary of the Ambulance service, I can honestly say that the staff are as caring and professional as you would find in any hospital A&E unit.  Apart from one miserable old git who almost refused to take a dear friend of mine to hospital, one night, ( she died 3 days later in ITU ) I have nothing but praise for the unsung heroes and heroines of the Ambulance Service, who have saved my life ( and that of countless others ) on countless occasions.  Consequently, I suggest that the 'Shirley Temple' of the CHC, takes her future tirades to the Welsh Government who pay her inflated salary, putting her job 'on the line' in the process.. Yeah, I know - that's about as likely to happen as a rabbit jumping into a gaping crocodile's mouth ! 

If the Welsh Government were sincere about eliminating waste and improving performance, they's get rid of the CHC and the UIHB, then give the money to the Ambulance Trust and A&E staff, who could a better job of running health services.

'Amonymous' it may have been but at least it was truthful

Last week, I read a letter in the Echo from an anonymous writer and - for the life of me - couldn't understand the need for anonyminity, unless it was written by a Health Board Member, the Minister herself, or a member of staff.  However, the letter was great - all about the terrible parking conditions at Llandough that everyboby who works there or visits there has to put up with seven days a week, and then some !  However, the response from the Planning Director, Paul Hollard, was typically pathetic in that it tried to avoid any responsibility ( on behalf of Cardiff & Vale Universally Inept Health Board ) for creating the situation, to say nothing at all about correcting it.  As with the Health Service they are supposed to provide - where they are 'making the patients fit the service' - Mr Hollard ( I really can't keep referring to him as the Planning Director, as it's a title akin to putting a Maple Syrup label on a bottle of acetic acid ( That's vinegar, listen I studied chemistry, so why shouldn't I use my knowledge ? ), seems to think that blocking up every route leading to the one-and-only-exit in, and out, of the overcrowded site is something that anyone else should sort out.  Perhaps the poor guy is a fan of Dr Who, and imagines that the hospital is small on the outside, but huge on the inside, like the Tardis.  Suffice to say that, in my unhumble opinion, the guy knows as much about Planning as I do about the workings of a mobile telephone or, maybe an XBox 360.  After writing a pithy response ( see Episode 2 - 'The 'Doctor' resorts to an acetylsalicylic tablet ( that's aspirin - See, my schooldays weren't completely wasted on Woodbines, Westerns, and wild, wild women ! ), to make the headache - if not the long-suffering patients, relatives and staff - go away.  Of course, the 'Great Time Lord' has a Master Plan for displacing the only car park with a Mental Health Inpatient Unit, plus Shopping Mall and a bowling alley, plus Imax Cinema - so, Ya-boo and sucks to you !  The only problem is that he forgot to tell anyone else how to fit 1000+ beds, staff, operating theatres, Rookwood Hospital, the useless 'Assessment Unit', the wholly inadequate Elderley Mentally Infirm Unit, New Outpatients clinics plus ( of course ) a Mental Health Hospital ( excuse me ) into his tiny 4 x 4 'Tardis'.  Did I forget to mention the 18 hole golf course ?............oh my - where did I leave my calming mints ?
Anyway, thank you Mr or Mrs anonymous - keep those letters pouring in, now !       RW