31-May-2011 - 14:30hrs. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW

.

~~~~~~~~~~#########~~~~~~~~~~

At 14:30hrs. Today 31-May-2011

Miss Lee Rowland 

daughter of Keith & Jean Rowland of P9, Ployville, Transvaal, South Africa (both sadly deceased)

&

Greg Lance-Watkins

son of Desmond J. Watkins DFC, CdeG avec palme & Winifred B. Watkins UK (both sadly deceased)

Were married in the presence of a few family members and a number of close friends of many years standing, after almost 26 years together.

 Miss Lee Rowland arrived

Lee makes an entry with Carol

Signing The Registry!

Signed & Sealed!

Doesn't Lee Look Great?
& I still have SOME hair!

A Quiet Moment

Friends & Family

Under New Management!

The Reception

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~~~~~~~~~~#########~~~~~~~~~~

.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

26-May-2011 - THE COSTLY WAR ON CANCER

26-May-2011 - THE COSTLY WAR ON CANCER

New cancer drugs are technically impressive. But must they cost so much?

May 26th 2011 | NEW YORK | from the print edition

CANCER is not one disease. It is many. Yet oncologists have long used the same blunt weapons to fight different types of cancer: cut the tumour out, zap it with radiation or blast it with chemotherapy that kills good cells as well as bad ones.

New cancer drugs are changing this. Scientists are now attacking specific mutations that drive specific forms of cancer. A breakthrough came more than a decade ago when Genentech, a Californian biotech firm, launched a drug that attacks breast-cancer cells with too much of a certain protein, HER2. In 2001 Novartis, a Swiss drugmaker, won approval for Gleevec, which treats chronic myeloid leukaemia by attacking another abnormal protein. Other drugs take different tacks. Avastin, introduced in America in 2004 by Genentech, starves tumours by striking the blood vessels that feed them. (Roche, another Swiss drug giant, bought Genentech and its busy cancer pipeline in 2009.)

These new drugs sell well. Last year Gleevec grossed $4.3 billion. Roche’s Herceptin (the HER2 drug) and Avastin did even better: $6 billion and $7.4 billion respectively. Cancer drugs could rescue big drugmakers from a tricky situation: more than $50 billion-worth of wares will lose patent protection in the next three years.

This month Pfizer, an American company, announced that America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would speed up its review of a cancer drug called crizotinib. Roche submitted an FDA application for a new medicine, vemurafenib. The industry is pouring money into clinical trials for cancer drugs (see chart).
This is part of a shift in how big drug firms do business. For years they have relied on blockbusters that treat many people. Now they are investing in more personalised medicine: biotech drugs that treat small groups of patients more effectively.

Last year the FDA approved Provenge, developed by Dendreon of Seattle to train the immune system to fight prostate cancer. In March the FDA approved Yervoy, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s drug to treat melanoma. And there are promising drugs in the pipeline. Pfizer’s crizotinib attacks a protein encoded by a gene found in fewer than 5% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Roche’s vemurafenib attacks advanced melanoma by blocking the mutated form of a gene, B-RAF. Both Pfizer and Roche are developing tests to help doctors identify suitable patients for their drugs.

The snag, from society’s point of view, is that all these drugs are horribly expensive. Last year biotech drugs accounted for 70% of the increase in pharmaceutical costs in America, according to Medco, a drug-plan manager. This trend will continue as drug firms develop new ways to treat, for example, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Cancer plays a huge role in raising costs. America’s National Institutes of Health predict that spending on all cancer treatment will rise from $125 billion last year to at least $158 billion in 2020. If drugs become pricier, as seems likely, that bill could rise to $207 billion.

Not all these new drugs work. In December the FDA said that Avastin’s side effects outweighed its meagre impact on breast cancer. (Genentech will argue otherwise in a hearing in June.) More generally, some people reckon that new cancer drugs offer small benefits at an exorbitant price. Provenge costs $93,000 for a course of treatment and extends life by an average of four months. Yervoy costs $120,000 for three-and-a-half months. Some patients live much longer, which fuels demand for the drugs. But others spend a lot and get little. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, calls the new treatments “the next frontier”, but adds: “We are not buying a lot of life prolongation with these drugs.”

Britain’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, a public body that judges whether medicine is cost-effective (ie, what Sarah Palin would call a “death panel”), has rejected several new cancer drugs. That so upset patients and tabloid editors that the British government back-tracked and created a separate fund to pay for expensive oncology drugs. The government now plans to introduce “value-based pricing” by 2014, with a system to price drugs not just for their efficacy but also for their “wider societal benefits”.


America does things differently. The government health programme for the elderly is barred from considering price at all when it decides whether to cover injected drugs under something called Medicare Part B. Under Part B’s loopy reimbursement system, the more a drug costs, the more the oncologist who prescribes it is paid. Patients have little reason to demand cheaper drugs. Part B usually covers 80% of a drug’s price, and most patients have additional insurance to cover the remainder. Americans hate to be denied any kind of treatment: a delay in Provenge’s approval prompted furious talk of rationing.

Private insurers have started to make patients pay a larger share of their drug bills. But drug companies often help to pay the patient’s share, which stops the public from getting angry about soaring costs. Even when prices are high, demand for cancer drugs is largely inelastic, says Tomas Philipson of the University of Chicago. Dying patients understandably place a high value on life, so they are willing to pay more for treatment. All this means that firms can charge steep prices. “At some point it’s just corporate chutzpah,” says Peter Bach of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. “There’s no check in the system.”
America’s propensity to pay has one important benefit: it encourages investment in research. Drugmakers recoup their investments in America; other countries take a free ride. New research may yield better treatments. And today’s cancer drugs may prove more effective when tested in combination with others, predicts Todd Golub, director of the cancer programme at the Broad Institute, a genetics research laboratory.
Who will reform this unsustainable system? Private insurers may haggle harder. Patients may grow restive—a recent study found that 10% of cancer patients (not covered by Part B) fail to take prescribed drugs, largely because of the cost. Barack Obama’s reforms are supposed to cajole all health-care providers into becoming more cost-effective, but that will require political bravery to enforce, and few politicians are brave enough to do anything that sounds like rationing grandma’s cancer drugs. Congress recently authorised more than $1 billion to compare the efficacy of drugs—while explicitly ignoring their cost.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

Related articles

• Drug companies in America: The costly war on cancer (economist.com)
• Roche likes odds of Avastin approval in ovarian cancer (fiercebiotech.com)
• Drugs and Profits (nytimes.com)
• Roche, GSK melanoma drugs in ASCO's "hottest" spotlight (fiercebiotech.com)
• Genentech, Plexxikon Seek FDA OK (xconomy.com)
• Author Shares Her Valiant Journey With Cancer in Riveting Memoir (prweb.com)
• Too Much Cancer (onlinecardonations.wordpress.com)

18-Mon-2011 MEA CULPA!

18-Mon-2011 MEA CULPA!

Hi,

my blog has slipped behind!

Firstly I am due for Clinic at 14:30hrs. later today and then hopefully Chemo. on Wednesday.

My Diary section is a complete muddle due to re-scheduling.

My Uncle Alan at 83 still has no answers but had blood tests in preparation for an FNA on Tuesday which is a little daunting at 83 since St. Thomas's failed when they tried!

An FNA is a Fine Needle Aspiration in which they have a CT scan and then insert a needle into the tumour to withdraw a sample for biopsy. Let us hope all goes well - Brenda is going with him, no doubt after over 60 years together she is far too angst ridden to remain at home alone!

Well as you gathered my leukocytes and platelets were too low for last weeks chemo. so let us hope they have built up adequately for this week - tomorrow will tell.

I feel remarkably well but constantly tired.

Perhaps part of the reason for my blog lapsing is that I am still angry with the incompetence of the management and political structure of The NHS in Wales and before I actually write my formal complaints and publish them wide and far I incline to calm down and consider vengeance is a dish best served cold - once I start I intend to eviccerate the bastards who quite clearly are responsible for my cancer having metastisised to the Lymph glands.

It is clearly a management failure due to the squandering of public money designed for the NHS on politicised badging projects just because they could, that cost £1Billion rather than invest in fundamental equipment to ensure Radiography kept pace with medical and clinical need.

Now we have had the direct example of the F**k Off and die its Friday principle of NHS Management that too will be expounded in ruthless detail.

My very good friend at The Sunday Times is showing much interest in the story as not only did his Father in Law die of cancer but he has very much held my hand in the past. Without his intervention at the time there is every possibility my Nephrectomy would have been delayed yet further ensuring my death 10 years ago!

I will aim to in fill the missing last week in the next few days and will also try to update The Diary to the New Schedule also!

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.
You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help. . YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

09-May-2011 - NHS REFORMS From An Informed Opinion

DATE .

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Tweet My Blogs

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To Give Hope & Information

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Hi,

challenged by this comment in red below a friend of mine married to an NHS Doctor checked and ammended his opinions in the light of both his and her opinion and experience.

The NHS needs a good shake up. Problem is, I suspect its as much about money and targets as it is about 'don't care'

If the public knew how true that is, politicians would ALL be swinging from lamp posts.

I know one GP extremely well (have done for nigh on 31 years). Her practice is inner-city, predominantly immigrant, and very high on the deprivation index of same. Targets are the bane of her life, as is a meddlesome, politically-driven Primary Care Trust (PCT).

She has the 'wrong' sort of patients, so for three years prior to this one she's had a pay freeze. This time it's a pay cut (can't do that to the staff, as they have NHS-determined rates). She's also doing substantially more hours (nominally 3/4 time, actual hours about 40/week over 4 or 5 days depending on clinic patterns).

This is because they can't afford another salaried GP, and, when one partner recently retired, they had no applications for the salaried (i.e. income-protected) job. Yup, that's zero, zilch, nada, none at all. Nor can they recruit a Nurse Practitioner, and at least one other local health centre has had similar problems. Neither can recruit additional GPs, as apparently nobody wants to work there.

If you think that's surprising, in view of the megabucks GPs are paid, read on...

Many simple things about the NHS are stupidly broken: discharge letters from hospitals, containing the details of treatment and instructions for follow-up care, arrive as physical paper letters: my daughter has a Saturday job scanning them into the practice system! The doctors still can't get at all the test results from all the local hospitals on-line: most of them sometimes, some not at all. The systems linking the NHS together are terrible, and hospitals' own records are inconsistent, and often chaotic (they don't tell you that in the clinics or the X-ray departments!).

The 'choose and book' system for arranging appointments is a disaster. Hospitals block-out large amounts of clinic time, and the metrics are such that, once you're on a waiting list, you are already counted as 'dealt with' (or something like that), and actually not on any waiting list for statistical not-meeting-our-targets measurement purposes. Bizzarre, dishonest, and wholly true.

I'm in IT (sort-of). All the GPs in this area have their IT provided under 'contract' from their PCT. The service standard is truly pitiful. In the past few years they have gone for days at a time without working computer systems in the practice. Given earlier NHS campaigns for 'paperless' surgeries, imagine the 'fun' that causes.

Patients could be forgiven for not understanding the reasons and being cross (hell, the doctors don't understand the reasons!), but that does nothing to help GP's stress levels, nor fix the problems. If my company served our commercial clients the same way, we wouldn't be in business any more. The contract is effectively a monopoly - GPs pay, but have no real say in the service level provided. For those in the know, XML and PGP encryption (which would probably sort out the hospital connection in short order) might as well be the Enigma codes.

Whoever runs the NHS' IT departments certainly doesn't do so in the patients' interest.

[Personal disclosure: we'd like to bid for local IT support contracts. We already have several in private healthcare and our customers are, generally speaking, delighted with us. We can't get a foot in the general practice door though, as the PCT IT structure is incestuous, defensive, and behind the 'firewall' of public sector commissioning, meaning in practice small businesses can't get anywhere near it.]

Regarding the PCT's other management gaffes, there are endless anecdotes about their meddlesome ways. The most recent spectacular example of waste locally was replacing all the health centre carpets (the place is only about 5 years old!) with lino, as carpets are 'unhygenic' in consulting rooms. The facts that, 

(a) it cost a fortune, 

(b) the patients feel much less stressed in a room with carpets (wot, really?), 

(c) the carpets didn't need replacing, and

(d) the GPs protested (in writing) and were ignored, tells you everything you need to know about the PCT's priorities.

Now the coalition, in essence, wants to add financial responsibility for hospitals (through 'commissioning') to GPs' already overloaded job description. Why? Follow the money trail:

GPs have already been a convenient 'aunt Sally' for politicians. They got a half-decent income settlement from Blair's last administration that went some way towards stopping the brain-drain. Ever since, successive governments have tried to claw it back, labelling GPs as 'greedy' and money-grabbing.

Chance would be a fine thing! There must be greedy, very wealthy GPs somewhere, but I've never met one. Her accountant takes home far more than she does, as do the lawyers they so often have to employ these days (employment tribunals, patient complaints and so on. They'll need one on the staff eventually!). Don't even ask about management in the local PCT (there's a surprise!) -- oddly, they don't have any trouble recruiting.

If you don't want clever, effective doctors, don't pay 'em. The existing ones are obviously greedy and a bit thick, but don't worry, they're beginning to take the hint...

She already has to manage her imposed and artificial drug 'budget' (need an expensive drug? Fergeddit!), and will shortly also be funding some care delivery such as the treatment room staff. The budget transfer from the PCT for that function is estimated at 40% less than the PCT spends on it now. Go figure that one!

Nominally, the practice operates commercially as contractors to the NHS. In reality it's a fantasy world of statistical targets (with financial penalties, etc.), 'funny money' (part-subsidised, no-choice services from the PCT, such as the dreadful IT), ordinary partnership accounts (for the Revenue), odd things like NHS pensions provision and staffing rules, pay grades, and so on.

It's contract service provision, but not as we humans know it, Jim. The commercial world of TAC (total absorption costing), cost centres, budgeting and so on, doesn't apply. It's so muddled, I doubt anyone could measure efficiency in any meaningful way, nor say where money is being wasted (except perhaps the carpet suppliers!).

She's already beginning to talk wistfully about early retirement, or a career change.

Given that reform of the NHS is obviously a priority. The question, for me, is this: Do you want your GP worrying about their nominal hospital budget when they should be finding your tumour, or would you rather the system was run properly in the first place?

Don't blame the doctors for being human. They're struggling to be professional in the face of a bl**dy huge, overbearing, expensive and self-serving bureaucracy, that sits like a fat leech on the back of the NHS where it can't be touched. "No cuts to front-line services" is code for "We'll dump the blame on the one group of professionals who can't/won't fight back".

The person I know very well prides herself on spotting odd, life-threatening and difficult to diagnose things. She has twice had people drop dead in front of her whilst at work (and actually saved them through CPR - don't think it's like 'Casualty'). She spends hours listening to people's problems, and visits patients in her free time, presumably because she cares. But she shops at Asda and can't afford to replace the 9-year-old car.

She tells me she didn't qualify as a doctor to fight bureaucrats about the carpet in her room, nor to have to log onto the PCT system from home to stay on top of bureaucratic emails (no time in the surgery).

But she's not superwoman either.

If you want it fixed, go deal with the politicians that caused the mess in the first place. Someone actually voted for Andrew Lansley, but I wonder how many of his constituents actually checked him out first, to find out what he was competent at, and how good he'd be in government.

The one thing about the present generation of politicians is that it's their job. They do care if they lose it, because they're otherwise largely unemployable. So we do have leverage, if we use it properly.

Other countries view MRI scans as cost-effective (i.e. cheap) diagnosis tools. Here, although we actually invented the things, we ration MRI time, and rely on charities to supply the machines. It's beyond ridicule.

You can't blame GPs for this, but you might, just, fix the people causing the problem in the first place, namely the incompetent and self-serving politicians.

Rant over. Sorry for taking up your time.

 

I am happy to publish my friend's opinion as it is a considered view point that needs airing, that does not however mean I endorse his comments and some I profoundly disagree with.

 .

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I Have Been Fighting Cancer since 1997 & I'M STILL HERE!

I Have Cancer, Cancer Does NOT Have Me

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com
TWITTER: Greg_LW  
Health/Cancer Blog: http://GregLW.blogspot.com  

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09-May-2011 - NHS LOGO IN WALES - DEVOLVED IRRESPONSIBILITY!

09-May-2011 - NHS LOGO IN WALES - DEVOLVED IRRESPONSIBILITY!

So very redollent of The NHS in Wales!

Tangled thinking inside the box

NHS Wales has gone to a GIG

This is in the NHS where in Wales the blithering idiots in the so aptly named National ass for Wales have squandered £1Billion of health service money.

I note even the discredited half wits in the Welsh Lib. Dims. stated in their election leaflet:

Labour and Plaid are wasting a staggering £1Billion in our NHS.
They've wasted money shuffling bureaucrats around instead of focusing on the real problems.
This money should have been spent on healthcare - wasting it is a disgrace.

Not least of the stupidities has been re-badging The Gwent area NHS from the meaningless Glan Hafran Trust to the even more foolish Aneurin Bevan Trust – rebadging EVERYTHING – so just imagine the cost of that.

They have even produced an entirely new uniform for ALL the nurses right across Wales – they are ugly beyond belief! (NOT The Nurses - The Uniforms!!)

Imagine a nurses uniform top that is firstly too short for the width of all too many of the nurses! (uniforms NOT nurses ;-)

Secondly what idiot would design a nurses uniform that could ONLY be removed over the head!

This of course is prone to destroying any effort they may make to have a hair style, but far more concerning, do the idiots who designed them expect nursing staff to cut their way out and throw them away if they become contaminated with let us say blood, faeces or vomit!

Did anyone do any joined up thinking?

I am also aware that many of the nurses have found the new fabric used causes rashes.

The NHS quite clearly, like so much else in the over blown and over passe public sector Kleptocracy of QUANGOs needs root and branch pruning reducing the useless levels of management and political nere do wells and apparatchiks by at least 50% to start with.

How can we expect a decent health service when it is dragged to its knees, not by medical requirements but management incompetence and political interference.

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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07-May-2011 - Home at last!

07-May-2011 - Home at last!

Hi,

Just a quick post!

FIRSTLY -

Don't Dare to be unwell after 12:30hrs. on a Friday through till mid day Monday - NHS Wales has gone to a GIG

NHS Wales New Logo
Tangled thinking Inside The Box
NHS Wales has gone to a GIG

FINALLY two Doctors arrived at about 11:45hrs. both looking a bit bewildered - one female wearing headscarf and alien clothing (Afghan?) and a male also Iran, Iraqi or similar.

I was standing when they arrived and they didn't come into the room merely said my name I confirmed and as I understood it they said you can stay till Monday if you wish or you can go home.

I stated I'd rather go home where I could at least eat, drink and sleep until I saw a competent Consultant on Monday.

My next Consultant meeting is on Monday with Lester at Velindre.

The Doctors left and the ward sister informed me that they had written up a scrip for anti biotics and as soon as they arrived I could go home.

Rachael bless her turned up just before the drugs and finally I got home at about 15:15hrs. - I survived The NHS!!!

I've had a large drink of fruit juice (1 pint of orange) and also a 1 pt. yoghurt and fresh fruit smoothie.

I feel a little less dehydrated and demoralised!

Lee is making a gammon steak egg, mashed potatoes and brocolli as I write and I shall be in bed by about 18:00hrs. at a guess.

All that for a course of anti biotics - >CIPROFLUXACIN 500mg. to take 12 hours apart for 7 days<!

I STRESS the total cock up of this visit to the hospital was NOT the fault of the medical staff and the nursing staff did all they possibly could - This is clearly a case of bad management, incompetent deployment of resources and utterly incompetent structuring of the NHS by idiots who have lost sight of the job.

This is NOT a matter of inadequate money but if anything TOO MUCH money in the hands of the management.

I am disgusted to hear that The Government who are at least trying to put right the 13 unlucky years of economic illiteracy and utter incompetence are now going to be sabotaged by the politicising of The NHS once again, by Nick Clegg TRYING to blame his risible results at the polls on NHS Reforms. For heavens sake someone buy him a mirror and then just look at who the Lib.Dims. have on offer!

They make UKIP Wales look competent!

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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07-May-2011 - good NOT TO HAVE THE FAILING NHS MANAGEMENT!

07-May-2011 - good NOT TO HAVE THE FAILING NHS

Image via WikipediaMANAGEMENT!

Hi,

it is 08:30hrs. on Sunday morning and I'm showing signs of recovering from the damage that the utter incompetence of the management of the NHS in Wales was inflicting on me from Friday early evening until yesterday afternoon!

I was up on Friday morning after just on 4-4.1/2hrs. sleep and just as I was going to bed again tired I was called into the Royal Gwent just before 20:00hrs.

It took around 4 hours to ascertain I had a very low platelet count at 34 when petechiae was plain to see and recognise for anyone trained. It was also then apparent that anti biotics were required and the suggestion of a transfusion was made.

The decision was taken to watch and wait on the platelet count and decide based on a new set of bloods in the morning - they were taken and they showed a natural improvement in the platelet count to 39.

Still no anti biotics.

Due to crass and incompetent management no bed was found and I was forced to spend the night in a standard office chair in a side consulting office!

Not unsurprisingly I had no sleep whatsoever.


FINALLY more than 12 hours after I had come to The Gwent and the decision was made that I would have to stay a bed was found - that was 24 hours without sleep - not that it was due to unusual sleep times as I had got up at just after 09:00hrs.

The medical staff have been great up to Doctor level but then  above that in the food chain the system just collapses with more and more management and less and less results.

Read the YELLOW CARD and it is clear Velindre take the situation seriously yet clearly the Gwent's management care little and do less. How can my treatment so far be seen as other than harming my survival chances which are pretty ropey anyway!

Eventually a porter is found and off we set on the great trek - what no ox waggon!

B6 is the Haematology Ward on the far side of the hospital off of the same staircase (same wing) as Maternity.

Here is the bed/room:

It looks very appealing after so long without sleep or food!

Unfortunately it is not a great deal of use as my petechiae is clearing and really all I want is to see the Consultant get my antibiotics and LEAVE.

There is absolutely no way this visit to hospital has been other than damaging to health and clearly as far as management is concerned the service is attrocious. They couldn't run a bed and breakfast facility let alone a major hospital - it reflects the entire idiocy of the way Government is run with its massive over staffing, obscene feather bedding, Politically Correct crapology and over paying of top end staff - They are CLEARLY not fit for purpose and incapable of doing their job at any price!

Even were I staying the inconvenience of considering sleep starts with I have eaten nothing of any substance since Thursday as just as this started I was going for a shower before food and then to bed - That was yesterday afternoon!

Further since the room has no door (it is away being fixed!!) and is off of the main ward corridor - there would be little chance of sleep - particularly in view of the fact that the room is directly above the back road to service the hospital overlooking the dustbin / waste area, which is noisy.

You will note also that the sunlight is streaming in and consider how lightweight thin curtains would fail to help!

It is now 11:00hrs. and I'm waiting to see the Consultant in the knowledge that the pharmacy shuts at 12:00hrs. until Monday!

Do enlighten me in what way can my visit to The Gwent be seen as anything but seriously deleterious to my health!

It is no fault of the staff I have seen and it is entirely unfair of their employers to leave them to deal with my very rational and presented anger at such a level of utter incompetence on the part of the management of the NHS in Wales.

Is the aim to kill patients to make savings?

I still have not seen a specialist in this field - I have seen no Oncologist nor a qualified Haematologist - that the service is so far supplied by variously experienced nurses - whose only ranking is to all look like cleaners in their new and hugely costly uniforms all colour coded for insiders and the hell with the patients!

WHAT IS WRONG with a simple block of embroidered badge saying >STAFF NURSE< or >WARD SISTER< or >NURSE< or >HEALTH CARER< or even >CLEANER<
Too simple I guess when EVERY uniform has an embroidered badge showing they are NHS Wales in two languages - I just might have twigged that but what competence are the different colours?

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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07-May-2011 – YELLOW CARD - Bored, Knackered and Uncomfortable

07-May-2011 – YELLOW CARD - Bored, Knackered and Uncomfortable

DID I SAY I HAVE CANCER & I'm ON CYTOTOXIC CHEMOTHERAPY 

with a platelet count of 34 that is falling and clear signs of infection!

Hi,

I'm sitting in a consulting room in The Royal Gwent Hospital where I arrived at just after 20:00hrs. yesterday and it is now about 05:30hrs. and in a disgusting display of utter incompetence of the management structure of The NHS under the devolved irresponsibility of the super annuated Welsh Council they STILL have failed to find a bed for me!

This is where I have been since I arrived for urgent medical attention at the request of my Consultant's staff at Velindre 9.1/2+hrs. ago:

In view of the circumstances and the state of my health how do YOU feel about the chair I spent the night in!

I was unable to sleep past 09:30hrs. on the 06-May02011 after about 4.1/2hrs. sleep so that is over 20hrs. without sleep so far and so far one coffee, no food and iced water from the cooler in reception since about18:00hrs.

Did I tell you I'm here 'cos I'm not well and my Consultant's team believes I need prompt and competent attention - perhaps someone can tell me how this level of abuse by the management of the NHS can be other than damaging to my health and possibilities of survival?

So in boredome lets consider The Velindre NHS Trust YELLOW CARD!

I will scan the card when I get home but here is the text:

Front Cover:

VELINDRE NHS TRUST

I am a patient on Cytotoxic Chemotherapy

NANE DETAILS NUMBER etc.

DRUGS: CARBOPLATIN & GEMCITABINE

CONSULTANT: LESTER

If you are unwell or are admitted to
another hospital for any reason contact
Velindre Cancer Centre aany time day or night

Telephone: 029 2061 5888 and ask for the
nurse with the chemotherapy pager.

Inside Front Cover:
Information for patients

You must contact Velindre Cancer Centre
immediately any time day or night if:

You have a temperature of 37.5C or above

flu like symptoms, chesty cough or any
other signs of infrction

shivering episodes

unusual bruising or bleeding

vomiting more than once in 24 hours

four or more bowel movements, or 4
episodes of diarrhoea in 24 hours

mouth ulcers or soreness that stops
you eating or drinking

you are admitted to another hospital
for any reason

Information for healthcare staff:

This is a Velindre patient receiving chemotherapy
treatment and is at risk of

Neutropenic sepsis

Treat all infective episodes seriously and promptly
with antibiotics.

If febrile will need urgent FBC and blood cultures.

If signs of shock or obviously unwell:

Do Not wait for blood results, administer IV
antibiotics as per neutopenia protocol:

www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cfm?OrgID=357

commence IV fluids

take serum lactate, glucose and clotting screen

monitor urine output – may need catheter and

hourly urine measurement

adminsiter 100% oxygen

consider referral to critical team

Contact Velindre immediately if this patient
is admitted for any reason. We have 24 hour
access to medical records and oncologist advice.

Telephone: 029 2061 5888 and ask for the nurse
with the chemotherapy pager.

The back page:
this page is not very relevant as it is just contact addresses that Velindre Cytotoxic chemotherapy patients might need!

Well its 04:30hrs.

No bed no antibiotics and I've just had a chat with one of the nursing staff and voiced my concern just think what The Yellow Card says!

Last Monday I came in and YES I had a very minor infection but a judgement was taken that my bloods were OK to cope with this but to keep an eye on it at home and monitor my temperature.

Clearly SOMETHING was going wrong sufficient for Velindre to require hands on checking and care – my platlet counts are down to 34 when norm is 150 to 300 – I have clear signs of infection showing in the blood and a Consultant on the phone is happy to let my infection rise and do nothing until after more bloods sometime in the future without checking with Velindre, without clear explanation and without seeing me!

This does look like crass irresponsibility and at this stage I may well take some very serious convincing that this is NOT utter irresponsibility.

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help. . YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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