OS Singlies - We Do It Our Way!

moneyistooshorttomention

'oreeble weather out there isn't it? and today was the day my kettle chose to blow and take half the electrics in the place with it...:(.

Oh well....one phonecall to electrician later and sorted it out myself and had to venture out in all That Weather to buy a new kettle.

Shall stay close to base today and self-sufficiency tasks for rest of day boil down to:

- make bread
- make bread spread
- make tahini
- make toothpaste
- check out some more foodgrowing info. on the Net

Oh well....some friends of mine here looked at me with look of sheer horror on their faces when I told them what income I am living on whilst waiting for the rest of my pension to turn up. They looked so horrified on my behalf at the level of it that I instantly set to reassuring them that I do live very simply and frugally in many ways and can manage to "wait it out" for the rest of that blimmin' gap between my retirement age and my Revised State Pension Age. I've never ever had even a decent level of income:(:mad::(, never mind a good one....so I'm pretty used to it by now:(

Lots of us know that one I'm guessing, ie "Been There, Done That and still there....****it".

mum2one

can reveal a little bit more....

i've become a whistle blower, the hornets nest is a big one,

Ive contacted the local paper, theyre awaiting eargly an email explaining everything, then a photographer will be coming out 2mor or photo of me and dad.

It includes...
disability discrimination
a "medical driver" answering a call whilst driving
poor service
lack of protocal

From what I can gather it is a national company as i had the regional manager on the phone yesterday ( i thought it was a local one) - if it is national going to be a mega bees nest...

hopefully should be in saturdays paper - once its public I can say what happened. x

Horace

Hello peeps

All this talk of hornets nests has reminded me that I am of a similar ilk and often stir up the nest when I see an injustice. Wow to Mum2One though - that is one mega nest you have stirred up.

I went to the reception last night, we went up a bit early so we could have a look around the new library and when we got back to the ground floor we were directed to another lift to take us to the 9th floor which contains a viewing gallery and the 18th Century panelled Shakespeare Room (this room apparently was in the original library which was demolished to make way for the 60's monstrosity and the room has been kept in storage ever since). I loved the plush red carpet in the room too as it contained the same pattern as the outer shell of our new library.

I met up with people I knew and my friend (volunteer) had a good chinwag as she met colleagues she used to work with. The Lord Mayor was nice and he had kindly words to say. I had a chat with a park keeper from a large park on the other side of the city and he told me that he had heard good words about my park and our Friends group and that we were something to aspire to.:cool: All in all we had a good night - driving home was a bit scary due to the number of lunatics out there who drive without consideration to other road users with one twerp crossing 4 lanes of traffic to cut us up because he actually wanted to turn left:mad:

Got up late this morning and didn't go to Nordic Walking either - can't get warm and feel a bit meh. I have contacted my GP surgery to say that I don't feel able to continue with the patient group because I am spread too thin.

Oh gosh look at the time - time for lunch!

JustKeepSwimming_2

mum2one wrote: »

JKS - i have to confess, I'm trying to be more organised, in case next batch of news not good.

Doh - wasn't thinking, sorry.

LavenderBees wrote: »

Under that pile of cr&p that needs shifting from your life . Sorry to hear things are still very tough for you. Dodgy hugs on their way down the net... :grouphug:

Those of us who have decided or are forced to spend C day on our own should come online and party _party_

I think I'm going to spend that week in my PJs pottering.:rotfl:

I'll be in my PJs too, with M&S food & some decent red wine, watching shoite....

Of course, didn't think to look for my motivation there - that must be why I still haven't found it :rotfl:

mum2one wrote: »

can reveal a little bit more....

i've become a whistle blower, the hornets nest is a big one,

Ive contacted the local paper, theyre awaiting eargly an email explaining everything, then a photographer will be coming out 2mor or photo of me and dad.

It includes...
disability discrimination
a "medical driver" answering a call whilst driving
poor service
lack of protocal

From what I can gather it is a national company as i had the regional manager on the phone yesterday ( i thought it was a local one) - if it is national going to be a mega bees nest...

hopefully should be in saturdays paper - once its public I can say what happened. x

Intriguing - keep us updated as to which paper(s) it'll be in. I'll even buy the Daily Rant if necessary....

A better day here - my fab osteopath has really helped my back (I'm ignoring the cost for now :eek:) & I'm even pain free on most days now :j. Hopefully I'll only need another million treatments - & I bought another book while I was waiting to see him. I am an addict

I had to put the gas fire on last night - first time this autumn. Not sure how much longer I can last out before the CH goes on & this w/e I shall hunt about in the loft for the winter door curtain (beautifully made by me = a single summer duvet contained within a sandwich of decent material which is on show & matching fleece, which isn't. Basic but effective :rotfl:) & floor runners.

DS needs some new fleece onesies as he's split the crotch on his last one, & I think the electric blankets will take a hammering. DD & I have enough PJs (can't do onsies & evening bathroom visits :rotfl:) but I'm sure she'll try & talk me into another new one.

Have some peace this evening - DS is at his Dads & DD is on a trip so I need to watch TV to stay awake as I need to collect her at 11.30 really looking forward to a half hour walk at that time of night. I could always start one of my many books.....

Horace - is that the new library in B'ham you're talking about? If so it looks amazing from the outside. I saw it from the bus after I hadn't been down Broard St for about 5 years - was a heck of a shock

Apparently I'm only podgy because of my gut bacteria - just seen it on the brilliant C4 news so it must be true.....

mum2one

One more appointment down, took dad for his ct scan, results on Monday.

I'm getting organised, just booked myself for 3 Xmas fayres, so hopefully can get a good run, some stuff cleared, a couple yrs ago I went throu fad making jewellery, and some little stockings that fit a treat size choc bar for the xmas tree, few odds and sods.
Next plan is to allocate xmas prezzies and any spares sell.

Convinced mum and dad to change their spare bank account (was opened for paypal / cashback to change to M+S, there was a link via the site once approved (done), and opened / transfered they give you £125 m+s vouchers - there be mine for next xmas!!

...
Can let lose now.

Basically we have had a ngtmare this week with hospital transport, from being hrs late for Chemo, being stranded for pick ups, being heckled by driver almost being assaulted, having my fathers cancer status being broadcast over hospital waiting area - becoz a "representative" from the travel company decided he couldn't discuss this in a private rm, but to make out business public.

Being discrimanted against over disability, refusal to use built in aids in transport, the driver on 1 ocassion didnt know how to operate the step on the side of the ambulance, and refused to open the back dr and use the ramp, which meant I had to literally jump down - which resulted in more pain / strain on my limbs, counteracted on the fact that Tuesday ended up as a duvet day - i couldnt even walk down stairs (ok we've got a chair lift).

Having a driver using his mobile phone while driving - but t best bit he stood up from the driving seat to reach the phone

With the dodgy times, and whats happened - dads got 5 appointments over this and next week, I've had to cancel doctors, nurse, dentist, consultant and hygiene person at dentist - as if he has a app at 10am, we have to be ready at 8am, be lucky to be home for 2pm.

It boils down to not just us that have been affected, its nearly every passenger that booked transport, espically if its appointments for chemo, blood transfusions, its not just a case of have tooth ache, I'll get a lift it, with our hospital unless your there at 8am, parking is a ngtmare, and dads been needing wheelchair to get around, i can't push him, nor mum (both on crutches), so we were advised to use the hopsital transport.

It is quite funny, as we're asked which is the patient, and they always come to get me, - its the emotional side as well, and although were on treatment plan, (awaiting the big answer - hoping Monday), also the mobility of parking and walking to departments could be a mile.

What was the crux that tipped me over the edge to complain was the attitude of the hospital, spoke to someone high up (there secetary) who basically said tough luck, its an outside company not our responsibilty..... have to say after I called the press - things changed and they really did try to help out.
We were due to leave the hosp at 1.30pm - it was 4.30 before we got collected,

The company that have the contract - only took it over on Monday - there blaming a bad transfer - saying bookings were sent in, I originally thought they only dealt with our 2 "local" hospitals - but no they have the county.

The nurses in 1 department - gave me a office to use as I was upset and a phone if I needed to call anyone, - they were coming up to say thank you, - the number of patients that hadnt turned up on time / been stranded etc was a fair wack. You times that over different departments, and hospitals - it was almost meltdown.

It was the contracts had been put out to tender - new company. The drivers said they were run raged

---
When I spoke to the local paper, they were absolutly shocked, I did a report for them, (ended up pages long... ) they can pick what they need, the photographer is coming out tomorrow, so whether be in Sats paper not sure -

I also spoken to the area manager of the transport service, (sent them a copy of the report), which is being dealt with.

...
The reason I have blown the whistle is no-one should have gone through what we went throu, nor should others be stranded, miss appointments, it was literally melt down, there could be people missing out on vital treatments, lie saving conditions, for us, this week so far been blood tests, (I took dad for), back up for chemo assesment, (his blood been affected), yesterday was 2 blood transfusions, today was CT scan.

I felt i couldn't really say anything earlier, as i felt that once the paper had got the report and the transport department had the same info, they would know that I mean business.


---
Its weird as 7 years ago we were involved in a "security incident", with DD, and what started off as a letter to the local paper in Wales (we were on holiday there), I was thinking todays letter page (if it got that far), tomorrows chip paper - it didn't quite end up like that.

The incident, - DD got told to remove the hood off her hooded cardigan (she was 4 yrs old at the time), as she was a security risk.. yet this didnt apply to all the teenagers in hoodies and baseball caps.... it was more of a principle - if its no hoods, then that should have been applied to all, espically as DD had been in there for about 30 mins when they decided she was a risk.

Local paper In wales
they contacted our local paper - interview, photos, (DD made front page) (interviews Thurs - friday evening paper)

FRIDAY-
interviews on Radio Wales,
our local BBC radio station
interview on Radio 5
We were picked up be a press agency - had our own agent...
ITN news at 10
BBC 1 news at 9pm
Local news channel (itv early evening news)
local BBc early evening news

Saturday-
Daily Male, - had a big photo of DD with the story
Every daily national (posh and common) - all run the stories
It even made the newspapers in Ireland.

she even made it to being discussed in Parliament

Shouldn't laugh - but when the ITN news was on, a friend of ours in Devon ended up spitting out his pint wasnt expecting that

My Uncle opened the Daily Male saw DD put, and almost choked on his breakast...

-The first question everyone asked was how much money did you get paid, bet you were rich...
NO - not a penny - as although the main photo used was one I had taken, as i sent it to the paper in Wales, it became there property - and they could use it as they wished....
Thats how my daughters nickname is Miss Hoodie....

xx

Horace

It is shocking about hospital transport - it should be a reliable and professional service and not shoddy:mad: (note the gnashing of teeth on your behalf Mum2One.

JKS I am talking about the new library in Birmingham which is now on Centenary Square off Broad Street. It was designed by a female architect at a Dutch company and the rings and metal work on the outside were designed to reflect Birmingham's industrial heritage and jewellery making. It is proper lush because although it looks boxy part of it is circular inside with travellators, escalators, a posh glass lift, secret gardens etc. etc. http://www.libraryofbirmingham.com/

It is official - I have a lurgy:mad: I have felt chilled to the bone all day despite the heating being on. I am now sitting here wearing a fleece jacket, a hoodie, warm winter hiking trousers and bed socks. I have also started to sneeze and sniffle.

Managed some chores today - two lots of washing up, sorted out some Friends payments, helped the park manager pack her car with plants and logs that I had borrowed from her. Plus I sorted out a tree planting session.

mum2one

Horace - you take care, make sure well wrapped up, the weather not helping, looked like a proper frost had taken route. xx

moneyistooshorttomention

Mum2One

Errr...does rather sound like you have indeed disturbed a hornets nest there then:rotfl:

I shouldnt laugh and yes that's exactly the sort of thing I would do myself in those circumstances.

It's bad enough being ill, without all that malarkey going on. Does sound like that firm couldnt run the proverbial drinking session in a brewery. It may be that they bit off more than they can chew in getting a contract that size.

Bit confused as to whether it was a secretary or someone high-up you got in touch with in the hospital. Secretaries arent very high in the pecking order....

Whoever it was - the hospital may have farmed out the contract, but they definitely do still have responsibility for making sure the work is done properly (after all they are the ones that awarded the contract to that particular firm and could, presumably, decide to award it to some other firm instead if Firm No. 1 doesnt shape-up).

It never ceases to surprise me anyway that hospitals, at the best of times, seem to be sublimely indifferent to the fact that people have Lives to Lead, as well as keeping hospital appointments/etc (tries not to think just how long they might decide to keep me waiting beyond my appointment time for a check-up visit I have next week - and makes mental note to take a book with me again in case they do). With the best will in the world it's depressing surroundings/awful coffee/uncomfortable seats without some inefficiency (in your case = make that one heck of a load of inefficiency) as well. That beggars belief that that ambulance driver apparently didnt know how to operate that step!!! As for using a phone whilst driving - I would have been noting down his numberplate and reporting him to the police.

Overall impression I have from what you said is that this firm managed to get the contract by "cutting corners" and not paying enough to get properly trained staff and then not allowing for enough time per "call" for them to do their job properly. I would be wondering how many firms bid to the Area Health Authority for that contract and would be willing to bet that someone somewhere in the local Health Authority just picked the cheapest bidder for the contract regardless (ie rather than investigating the ability of each firm submitting a bid to perform the job properly). Sounds like they just believed the firms' over-optimistic assessment of their ability to do the job properly, having first blinded themselves to everything except which firm it was that submitted the cheapest bid.

Good luck and keep us posted.

JustKeepSwimming_2

mum2one wrote: »

One more appointment down, took dad for his ct scan, results on Monday.

I'm getting organised, just booked myself for 3 Xmas fayres, so hopefully can get a good run, some stuff cleared, a couple yrs ago I went throu fad making jewellery, and some little stockings that fit a treat size choc bar for the xmas tree, few odds and sods.
Next plan is to allocate xmas prezzies and any spares sell.

Convinced mum and dad to change their spare bank account (was opened for paypal / cashback to change to M+S, there was a link via the site once approved (done), and opened / transfered they give you £125 m+s vouchers - there be mine for next xmas!!

...
Can let lose now.

Basically we have had a ngtmare this week with hospital transport, from being hrs late for Chemo, being stranded for pick ups, being heckled by driver almost being assaulted, having my fathers cancer status being broadcast over hospital waiting area - becoz a "representative" from the travel company decided he couldn't discuss this in a private rm, but to make out business public.

Being discrimanted against over disability, refusal to use built in aids in transport, the driver on 1 ocassion didnt know how to operate the step on the side of the ambulance, and refused to open the back dr and use the ramp, which meant I had to literally jump down - which resulted in more pain / strain on my limbs, counteracted on the fact that Tuesday ended up as a duvet day - i couldnt even walk down stairs (ok we've got a chair lift).

Having a driver using his mobile phone while driving - but t best bit he stood up from the driving seat to reach the phone

With the dodgy times, and whats happened - dads got 5 appointments over this and next week, I've had to cancel doctors, nurse, dentist, consultant and hygiene person at dentist - as if he has a app at 10am, we have to be ready at 8am, be lucky to be home for 2pm.

It boils down to not just us that have been affected, its nearly every passenger that booked transport, espically if its appointments for chemo, blood transfusions, its not just a case of have tooth ache, I'll get a lift it, with our hospital unless your there at 8am, parking is a ngtmare, and dads been needing wheelchair to get around, i can't push him, nor mum (both on crutches), so we were advised to use the hopsital transport.

It is quite funny, as we're asked which is the patient, and they always come to get me, - its the emotional side as well, and although were on treatment plan, (awaiting the big answer - hoping Monday), also the mobility of parking and walking to departments could be a mile.

What was the crux that tipped me over the edge to complain was the attitude of the hospital, spoke to someone high up (there secetary) who basically said tough luck, its an outside company not our responsibilty..... have to say after I called the press - things changed and they really did try to help out.
We were due to leave the hosp at 1.30pm - it was 4.30 before we got collected,

The company that have the contract - only took it over on Monday - there blaming a bad transfer - saying bookings were sent in, I originally thought they only dealt with our 2 "local" hospitals - but no they have the county.

The nurses in 1 department - gave me a office to use as I was upset and a phone if I needed to call anyone, - they were coming up to say thank you, - the number of patients that hadnt turned up on time / been stranded etc was a fair wack. You times that over different departments, and hospitals - it was almost meltdown.

It was the contracts had been put out to tender - new company. The drivers said they were run raged

---
When I spoke to the local paper, they were absolutly shocked, I did a report for them, (ended up pages long... ) they can pick what they need, the photographer is coming out tomorrow, so whether be in Sats paper not sure -

I also spoken to the area manager of the transport service, (sent them a copy of the report), which is being dealt with.

...
The reason I have blown the whistle is no-one should have gone through what we went throu, nor should others be stranded, miss appointments, it was literally melt down, there could be people missing out on vital treatments, lie saving conditions, for us, this week so far been blood tests, (I took dad for), back up for chemo assesment, (his blood been affected), yesterday was 2 blood transfusions, today was CT scan.

I felt i couldn't really say anything earlier, as i felt that once the paper had got the report and the transport department had the same info, they would know that I mean business.


---
Its weird as 7 years ago we were involved in a "security incident", with DD, and what started off as a letter to the local paper in Wales (we were on holiday there), I was thinking todays letter page (if it got that far), tomorrows chip paper - it didn't quite end up like that.

The incident, - DD got told to remove the hood off her hooded cardigan (she was 4 yrs old at the time), as she was a security risk.. yet this didnt apply to all the teenagers in hoodies and baseball caps.... it was more of a principle - if its no hoods, then that should have been applied to all, espically as DD had been in there for about 30 mins when they decided she was a risk.

Local paper In wales
they contacted our local paper - interview, photos, (DD made front page) (interviews Thurs - friday evening paper)

FRIDAY-
interviews on Radio Wales,
our local BBC radio station
interview on Radio 5
We were picked up be a press agency - had our own agent...
ITN news at 10
BBC 1 news at 9pm
Local news channel (itv early evening news)
local BBc early evening news

Saturday-
Daily Male, - had a big photo of DD with the story
Every daily national (posh and common) - all run the stories
It even made the newspapers in Ireland.

she even made it to being discussed in Parliament

Shouldn't laugh - but when the ITN news was on, a friend of ours in Devon ended up spitting out his pint wasnt expecting that

My Uncle opened the Daily Male saw DD put, and almost choked on his breakast...

-The first question everyone asked was how much money did you get paid, bet you were rich...
NO - not a penny - as although the main photo used was one I had taken, as i sent it to the paper in Wales, it became there property - and they could use it as they wished....
Thats how my daughters nickname is Miss Hoodie....

xx

Crikey Mum2one - you've had an interesting time of it, haven't you. Agree with what MSTM has written about the hospital/transport situation; I'm so glad that for my visits I can get there & back under my own steam so I can leave when I like. It does take me about 7 hours for the day out door to door, & it is a pain as it involves lots of buses/waiting/walking. But my mum relies on hospital transport & although she has never reported any problems (& she's moan about it if she could ) apart from the very lengthy waits.

Regarding hoodies - Sainsbobs once refused to let my friends mother into their store as she had her hood up. She is only 4 foot, so could have looked like a child, but even when they could see she was nearly 80 & she explained her hood was up as she'd had dental treatment & was trying to keep the chill off it, they still wouldn't let her in .

She changed allegiance to Morries & now spends her £100/week there.

We lose our only f/t staff member today & management have yet to tell us of any plans for managing our workload :whistle:

Next week will be fun I feel :wall:

Have a good day all - & LB yes, finally it is Friday :j

Anyone seen Byatt recently? Hope all is OK....

Southern-Girl

Mum2one -
The nurses will love you forever and a day for whistleblowing about the lateness of the transport :A
My daughter is a nurse and works in treatment rooms. Her hours are 8am-6.30pm. She often has to stay until 8.30/9pm because a patient is waiting for transport to be taken home. (they are often elderly and alone with no family).
Additionally, this has a knock on effect at home. Her boys are just teenagers and get in from school and are fine on their own until she usually gets in. But when she's delayed, I then have to go round and sort them out dinner etc and stay until she gets in at about 9pm.
It's not an occasional mistake from the transport company either!

.................and to top it all, because of cutbacks she doesn't get paid any extra:eek: