jeanmark

RodotH, I have no idea but I'm sure there is information availble. My main point was that many are complaining about a poor service, and I do not dispute their concerns, but it is very difficult to identify and try to address a problem if you are not told what the problem may be. To assume those working very hard in the system know that there are major problems is just that, an assumption. Many are just trying to survive the stresses of such work, that includes being verbally abused via telephone. I appreciate it is usually as a result of someone who is frustrated at not being able to access a GP, but imagine how you would feel if it happened every few minutes of your working day.Health care workers, like everyone else, have been exposed to the same problems relating to Covid. They have not been immune to the problems of either being ill or having to isolate as a result of exposure. I addition they have to continue to follow certain procedures as laid down for cleaning after each patient seen. These are very time consuming and thus reduces the number of patient slots available, they only have so many hours in a day to meet need. Covid remains a problem until it is under control and thus these precautions are necessary. Add to all of this the long term problems of the shortage of GP's in general. People have a right to expect an efficient health care service that provides for their health needs when required, but no service will be 100% efficient if demands out weigh resources.

Neither are acceptable behaviour, but I feel it is wrong to assume girls today have to put up with whistles and often graphic comments from men, often in their middle ages, and not feel threatened? How would you have felt having to explain to your 14 year old granddaughter what it meant when an adult male, with other men present, shouted "I have a face ready for you to sit on"?Whilst we, as older and more experienced adults, accept such behaviour as complimentary and non threatening, it will continue. What lessons are we teaching our young women about how they should view themselves, how they should be treated? If the behaviour is so acceptable, why do men never do it when alone or with their wives and girlfriends?I agree texting for such photos is totally wrong, but these boys are being taught it is okay to whistle and humiliate girls, so why not take it one step further.

With all the negative comments about GP's and Health Care Practices, I have not seen anyone who has indicated they have taken their concerns to the GP or Practice Manager. It is difficult to address problems if no one tells them what the problem is. What ever you may think about GP's they are very busy with increasing workloads, so unless you express your concerns via the right channel rather than make an assumption about your own experience, things will not change. It is difficult to deal with a problem if you are not told what the problem is.If the concern you raised cannot be sorted out by the end of the following day, then you can make a formal complaint to the practice. If you are not happy with their final response you can take your complaint to the health service ombudsman.

ChristineN6, of course the physical assessment can not be carried out over a phone, but a Health Care Assistant usually carries out the basics of taking Blood Pressure reading, blood etc, although in general breathing assessment isn't being carried out at present because of Covid. You do not need a doctor to carry out these simple tasks. The remainder of a long term assessment can be carried out over the phone, unless there is a concern in which case you should be seen for a face to face consult with, possibly a nurse first and then, if necessary, a doctor.

Carolynnwendy, that is hardly a reasonable response to my comment. Doctors are paid to assess, diagnose and treat patients and that is what they do. Health care has moved on and other professionals can carry out many of the things doctor used to do, having received experience and additional training in specific areas. Nurses are more than capable of managing long term conditions, thus freeing up the time for doctors to diagnose and treat other patients. In my experience, patients with long term conditions are more than capable of managing the condition, giving them more control over their lives. The long term review is to asses this is still the case, that no changes are necessary and the patient has time to discuss any worries.

Thank you Lionel.

I agree Lionel, but I do get annoyed when people think a practice nurse is not capable of assessing a patients needs. These are advanced practitioners with knowledge and understanding of family medicine and well aware of when a doctors input is required.

GlenysD7, not because of immigrants...

Then ChristineMc, I apologise if I mis-interpreted the sentence you wrote "i think its a disgrace when hospitals are always open and doctors are not doing what the government told them they should open". They are now able to see patients but also, wisely, retain all Covid precautions, that does interfere with timing patient appointments.

Well GlenysD7, in my opinion many of the immigrants are holding our NHS together, we need to assess the heath of our own nation before implying it is 'imported' people causing the problem.

In this circumstances you are advised to phone for an ambulance.In other circumstances appointments with a Practice Nurses is not uncommon, these are usually very experienced nurse with advanced training and well able to assess a patient before referral to a doctor.

ChristineMc, the government has never told Health Care Practices they must be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They do to have that staffing capacity. As family doctors, they can not be compared to the service a hospitals has to provide, that is not their purpose.

Our Practice Nurses carry put long term reviews very successfully. A Health Care Assistant takes bloods and carries out various readings, depend on the long term condition, a Practice Nurse will then follow this up, either by phone or face to face depending on results, and will inform a doctor if there appear to be a problem. A pharmacist then follows this up with a medicine review, usually via phone. A great service.

Covid restrictions that are still necessary in heath care setting, shortage of staff, sickness, high demand for service, increased caseload of patients. These are humans who are trying their best to provide a service under difficult circumstances, lets give them a break...

My practice has an on-line request for a doctor (a phone call if not on the internet), you briefly describe the problem and you can include a photo if appropriate (such as a rash or ulcer). A doctor then phones you around lunch time to discuss the problem and if necessary, a guaranteed face to face appointment is made for you that day, including if you expressed concern about wanting to be seen. If the photo is of something that triggers an alarm, they telephone with an appointment, without having to discuss the issue.It may not be to everyones taste, but it does mean the doctors have the time to spend with those that they need to see.

Nor me Lionel.

I do not see why age should be a limiting factor. Age should not be a defining factor for people who want to enjoy life, if the young object, let them leave, this world was made for us all. Fun isn't the prerogative of the young, in fact, those of us who were young in the 60's may have invented some of it...

Squeezy, I don't think its a matter of tolerance. I don't feel a 14 year old school girl should take a wolf whistle as a compliment. Should we expect a young girl to smile, say thank you and move on?I do not believe all young schoolgirls feel comfortable when whistled at by a group of grown men. Some of my comments made on previous posts identify how things can progress to more explicit comments. Most of us are viewing this as older and more experienced adults, I never liked it, never thought it was a compliment and truly believe that whilst we continue to condone it, men will continue to humiliate young women for fun. I never once witnessed a lone man whistling at young women and certainly not when they were with their wives or girlfriend!

Lionel I agree with you and the proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 is a good example of trying to control the masses. This government is very good at trying to get things through without anyone noticing until it is too late.

I have to agree CaroleAH, it should relate to the actual story not just done for effect and people have to realise that there are children being brought up in singe sex partnerships and to them it is normal. Children are not born with prejudices we teach them by our own attitudes towards things that are different to ourselves!

No Lionel, but like you I feel there are to many laws being suggested, but few appear to address the main problems, well other than trying to step on freedom of speech and other things that may upset this governments sensibilities!

But how many young school girls do you know that are truly enlighten? Many are now much younger when they develop in body, but that does not necessarily mean their mind has developed at the same rate! Being whistled at by a group of adult men may not appear as a compliment.

Whilst agreeing with what you have said, I do not believe all young schoolgirls feel comfortable when whistled at by a group of grown men. Some of my comment made on previous posts identify how things can progress to more explicit comments. Most of us are viewing this as older and more experienced adults, like you, I never liked it, never thought it was a compliment and truly believe that whilst we continue to condone it, men will continue to humiliate young women for fun. I never once witnessed a lone man whistling at young women and certainly not when they were with their wives or girlfriend!

I have no answer, but living in a village with a number of single track roads in the area, I got tired of car drivers thinking they can pass, at speed, with no regard to the cyclist safety. I was pushed off once to many times and gave up the pleasure of a cycle.You also mentioned pot holes, these may be a pain for car drivers, but they are a cyclist nightmare when coupled with impatient and inconsiderate car drivers.Driving through a university city where the area is awash with cycles, I know there can be problems, but a cyclist rarely kills someone in a car, but cars can cause serious damage to a cyclist.We all have the right to use public roads, and have a responsibility to respect other users, not just complain they don't pay tax for the privilege. Next people will expect a tax on wheelchairs etc. that cross roads!

Car drivers are expected to give cyclists at least the width of a car before overtaking, which is why many cyclist will ride two abreast when on narrow roads to prevent motorists scraping by them.

AverelleN, but I do expect car drivers to ensure they can overtake a cyclist with sufficient room to make it safe for both, an attitude of assuming a cyclist is of lesser importance on the road than a car driver, speaks volumes for the drivers attitude.

LyndaA2, why include caravans, they can not be on the road without a car towing them, the car will already of have paid road tax. Motorhomes do pay road tax.

I totally agree djl277, why imply that it is only cyclist causing problems.

But many cyclists own cars and already pay road tax, why pay twice. There are as many responsible cyclists as there are irresponsible motor vehicle drivers. It is surprising how many car drivers think 3 inches is plenty of clearance when passing cyclists.Car drivers are expected to give cyclists at least the width of a car before overtaking, which is why many cyclist will ride two abreast when on narrow roads to prevent motorists scraping by them.

The problem Lionel, is this whole subject is being based on adults with experience of life. But in many cases it is young women and young girls who are the target of such behaviour and can. and often does, descend into more graphic comments than a simple wolf whistle. I have already mentioned in one comment my experience of such behaviour. The granddaughter of a friend I was visiting, had walked from school in her uniform to her grandmothers house. She was very upset at being whistled at by a group of workman she had had to pass, and felt very uncomfortable when they all laughed at a comment one made. She then asked what "I have a face you can sit on" actually meant.I do not believe this should be made a criminal offence, there are too many other things happening. However, I do not see wolf whistling as simple innocent fun carried out by adult men, and neither to many young girls. Whilst we continue to support such behaviour we give the message to young girls (and boys) that the behaviour is acceptable. As a young woman I never found it flattering, just irritating, and totally aware it was only done in front of other men but never in front of wives and girlfriends!

Well Lionel, as a woman I do protest about such behaviour by grown men and also consider myself a lady!

I agree and that's why I believe we all have to recognise that older people may consider wolf whistling as simple innocent fun carried out by adult men, but it may not be perceived as such by younger people. in particular young girls.

I won't disagree with the problem of social media and the young, but they have a degree of control over that, even if they do not necessarily recognise the dangers. But I'm afraid I don't see objecting to wolf whistling as political correctness. When I was young it may have been seen as a 'bit of fun', nevertheless, even then it could be upsetting, but we were told 'it happens get used to it', However, this kind of thing is now often carried through to much worse behaviour. I'm not sure a grown man shouting to a young schoolgirl (in uniform) that he has a face for her to sit on is acceptable. Even more so when she asked her grandmother what it meant, what a time to be visiting a friend, she then asked me to explain!As to present vaccination compliance, it isn't just the young who are objecting.

I totally agree Wilf, but one we must try to eradicate by our own behaviour. However, if many of the comments on this subject are anything to go by, we never will make progress.

Billythequiche, whilst agreeing with your thoughts relating to violent crime amongst the young and how social media is influencing people in a negative way. Also the police having enough problems to deal with, I do object to people believing it is okay to humiliate young women. This isn't a matter of he said/she said, it's whether we believe it is acceptable in this day and age for a young schoolgirl to have to accept being whistled at and often the target of more lewd and lascivious conduct. by older, often middle aged men. I do not see it as a compliment when young girls have to change their school route home because of feeling uncomfortable as the whistles change to comments that become more and more graphic.No, I do not believe it should be criminalised, but I do believe we should not tolerate such behaviour and ensure we protect those who are still vulnerable. If an older person doesn't call out this behaviour when it happens, they are reinforcing this behaviour and encouraging these predators to try their luck with some one much younger and less able to cope.

KhattL, that's the whole point, women are still treated as objects by such behaviour!

I agree the police force, as most front line services, are stretched to the limit with the elastic about to break, but they should not be responsible for ensuring men show respect towards girls.I worry about the present when most appear to think such behaviour should be treated as a compliment and thus just ignored. But I have seen the distress caused to girls as young as 12 when middle aged men thinks it is funny to embarrass them. If we have truly moved on why is such behaviour still acceptable and treated as just a bit of fun. I have to assume that many on here are happy for their young granddaughters to feel humiliated by such behaviour.

Nananyn1, fun its not forbidden but I do not believe that a shy 14 year old girl has to accept being whistled at by middle age men as a compliment.

Wilf, like you I have no idea how it would be policed and making it a criminal offence seems a little heavy-handed. I agree that being educated, particularly by their parents as well as school, as to what is acceptable behaviour is a way forward. The trouble is get a group of young males (or females) together and they are more worried of not being accepted. Some may not participate in the actual behaviour but do nothing to object for fear of being called a "pussy".I find it sad that such behaviour appears to continue to be seen as acceptable but those who speak out for change are seen as being the problem!

I do not agree with trying to make it a criminal offence but it is difficult at a mature age to really understand how a 14 girl may feel when whistled at by adult men when she is walking alone. How would you feel if it was your granddaughter who was very upset? Would you tell her not to be so sensitive? Most of us are old enough to understand they mean nothing, and we are old enough to shrug it off. Young girls (and boys) have not yet acquired this ability, I certainly didn't have it as a young girl but felt pressured by adults to accept it as okay. I do believe it is right in this day and age for such behaviour to stop. Women who are now standing up and stating it is no longer acceptable should be applauded rather than mocked.I just want all females to feel safe and not be harassed by males when walking, however innocent the remark or gesture was meant. Although females appear to suffer the most, the same principles of respect applies equally to young boys.However, at my age, if anyone whistles as I pass, I suggest they go to spec savers!