Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

humptydumptybits

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

The positive "fabbing" thought for the day is the latest try-on of one of my older items of clothing I intend to get back into is moving in the right direction.

Put on a Marks & Spencers button up blouse in "size 12/35" bust" and did manage to do the buttons up. Well - that's an improvement on the sides were several inches away from meeting when I started this diet.

The blouse isn't yet correct size for me - as it's clearly "struggling" to have its buttons done up. But doing them up is a good bit better than "sides inches from meeting".

Still feeling frustrated at how long this is taking:wall::wall::wall: - but at least I'm making progress.

I lost weight fast, 22lb in less than a month as I was ill. The downside to losing weight fast was I looked really gaunt and although I haven't put any weight back on I now look healthy again but that has taken months. I think losing weight slowly might be frustrating but is probably much healthier and probably means you look better.

pollypenny

Re your post 2292, LL, I saw a private ambulance marked 'in partnership with the NHS' last week. And I don't mean one from a funeral director.

When I had a scan on my ankle in January, the radiographer wore an overall with X Healthcare on it.

I fear that privatisation is well-underway already.

moneyistooshorttomention

I wouldn't be surprised indeed if NHS privatisation is well under way. It's been under way by stealth for quite some time now - as it's become steadily clearer that it simply refuses to do some things it used to do and so one goes private. Or it still accepts responsibility for some things - but makes you wait so long that you go private.

I think personally I find the situation re seeing the doctor is the one that impacts most. It didn't occur to me prior to moving and I read in disbelief re problems some people were having. Then I moved - now I believe it and it's very worrying seeing what is happening re surrounding doctors practices and wondering "How far would I have to go/how long would I have to wait for an appointment?" if I needed to see a doctor.

One of my definitions of prepping these days is I've accummulated a list of "doctors by phone" just in case and it's part of the reason why I mentally keep in reserve some money (in case of a very :eek:expensive taxi fare back to my previous practice - which I am still registered with also) if it's that much of an emergency to see a doctor.

EDIT; On the clothes front - caved-in and bought a woollen beanie hat for the weather here yesterday. Told myself "Well I suppose it will bring a bit of colour to my neutral outer clothing and warmth to my skin tone - with the colours I've chosen it in"..... Think it should be big/loose enough I can pull it down around the sides that it shouldn't be too unflattering.

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies

Well two more sleeps.......

Actually as much as I'm looking forward to Christmas, increasingly I find my thoughts turning to the New Year.

I am really looking forward to 2019. Lots of plans, hopes and dreams. Very hopeful.

humptydumptybits

The NHS is having to use locums and agencies, I don't believe it is something they want to do as it costs a fortune. I have a doctor, a nurse a hospital manager in my immediate family and believe me recruitment is a massive problem.


I used to go to a surgery run by 2 doctors, they have both retired and they were unable to get any permanent doctors to run it, we are now a satellite of a bigger practice and now the same thing is happening to another small surgery. Of course this means the doctors at the big practice are covering a bigger and bigger area with more and more patients. How do they do it? They hire locums, they use nurse practitioners, they do telephone consultations, on line consultations. How long can it go on, some of the doctors in the big practice are getting close to retirement.


I needed to see a specialist last year, our local hospital was trying to recruit a consultant but the post has been vacant for about 2 years. I eventually saw a locum consultant, he travels round doing locum work for a day here and a day there. He was doing Saturdays at my hospital. He was recruited from India, I saw a more junior doctor in his department and he was from Italy, my named nurse was from the Philippines, the nurse working in the clinic was well past retirement age, I'm 65 and I know she is significantly older than I am.


The NHS is on it's knees and it needs massive investment and it can't run without overseas staff. Brexit is causing massive problems as many EU citizens are choosing to go home or deciding not to come.

lessonlearned

No easy answers, Humpty.

I doubt even pumping billions into the NHS is unlikely to save it now. It was a glorious experiment but it was always doomed to fail. It's now a lumbering dinosaur and western medicine is becoming increasingly more expensive and more ineffective.

I think part of the problem is that The NHS became a victim of its own success, simply too many users for it to cope. It has also been systematically mismanaged, abused and exploited. It was never designed to cope with what is now demanded of it. It has become a bottomless pit, we can never fund it.

As others have said privatisation is increasing. I think it began when they started outsourcing ancillary services such as catering and laundry, etc. It was the thin end of the wedge and now its gathering pace. We already have a two tier system in place.

As you know I pay for acupuncture, physio therapy and chiropractor services, steroid injections, podiatry and dental treatments. The clinics I attend I have become busier and busier as more and more people are forced into "going private" in order to get the treatments they need.

At some point I need to address my varicose veins, I also need to get some moles monitored ........again these services and treatments are no longer available on the NHS - at least not in my area. What do you do......the NHS will treat my veins if they become ulcerous but I'm not prepared to take that risk. So.....I will have to find the money. I also still have some outstanding dental work to fund.

I would really love a conservatory - alas my legs and my teeth come first. I can't manage it all. Needs not wants.

As it is I have already decided to cancel my Iceland holiday next year. It will still be there when I have sorted out my health care issues.

humptydumptybits

I think people have to be more realistic about what the NHS can and should provide. It was never set up to provide free contraception, free abortions, free fertility treatment, gender reassignment. To be honest LessonLearned I don't think the NHS should be providing acupuncture or chiropractor services. Podiatry for diabetics but not for the rest of us. Dental treatment I think should be there for the essential stuff but if people want white fillings not amalgam or cosmetic treatments then it is fair that it should be paid for.


If we got back to what is essential the NHS would have a fighting chance but it does need money, it does need foreign staff and it does need a good social service back up to ensure expensive beds aren't being taken up by people who should be in care/nursing homes.


I don't know what the position is with varicose veins locally as I don't have them but I know monitoring moles is taken seriously, maybe as we are a seaside town so people do have a tendency to do things like sailing, surfing etc so maybe more of an issue here.

maman

humptydumptybits wrote: »

The NHS is on it's knees and it needs massive investment and it can't run without overseas staff. Brexit is causing massive problems as many EU citizens are choosing to go home or deciding not to come.

I agree humpty and education is sinking fast too. Recruitment is a massive issue. As fast as the government tries to attract people to train as teachers, with hugely expensive advertising campaigns, they are leaving. About 30% leave the profession within the first 5 years, many after just one year. The problem has been masked a little as worsening pension entitlements have meant older teachers staying on a bit longer. It's mainly the result of education being used as a political football in recent years and the hugely increased workload that has resulted alongside spending cuts and lack of support from agencies such as child mental health and social services because they've been cut too.:( Some of the issues with GP practices are around doctors working part time to help alleviate the workload. That's not an issue in education as pay is so poor for a graduate profession that it's not practical to work part time without another income so people leave instead.:(


I understand your position LL and money. I too could pay for private healthcare if I chose but someone has to look out for the people who can't afford it. I already pay for dentistry as it was the only way to stay with my practice when they went private. The podiatrist is just a treat for me really but imagine having to pay about £30 for a half hour treatment on a low income. It just wouldn't happen just as many don't go to the dentist any more or get prescriptions dispensed.


It's so depressing but I find I just have to try not to think about it and focus on me, my family and friends on occasion or it becomes overwhelming.


We did get to the NT property yesterday. It was really good to see the house all decorated on the theme of the Night Before Christmas poem. We went on the way to the family Christmas party so I must have been the only person wearing a dress looking round the house.:D I indulged in a bit of people watching and there seems to be a uniform for visiting NT at Christmas: jeans, quilted jacket and boots/wellies. I can see why you'd buy a hat living in the country money. It really does make a difference to keeping warm and a beanie is great as you can just put it in your bag or pocket.


I wore my Zara maxi dress again yesterday with leggings. I wore boots to the NT and then changed into ballet pumps for the party. Compliments again on my dress from family. I think it's probably down to about £6 a wear now and worth every penny.


Quiet day at home today. My plan is to make mince pies later. DH loves a home made mince pie and Christmas wouldn't be the same without them. :xmassmile

lessonlearned

I am borderline diabetic so podiatry is not a little treat for me. It's necessary to ensure good foot care and hopefully avoid complications further down the line. I don't much care for the idea of amputations.... so I do have check ups.

Re acupuncture, chiro, physio etc.

These services are available on the NHS, they are now recognised for the value they offer in pain relief and healing. A lot of pain clinics try and provide these treatments because they are now fully recognised as often being just as effective as drug therapy.

Unfortunately as you rightly point out there aren't enough practitioners working in the NHS to provide enough cover. Waiting lists here are very long. And often they can only offer 4 physio treatments. After my car crash I needed physio for 6 months. Without it I would probably have ended up in a wheelchair. Luckily my car insurance covered most the costs.

As I said......there are no easy answers.

Maman you are right, we can't take on the world (ha ha tried that when my husband was sick, it's like tilting at windmills). All we can do is the best we can to stay as healthy as we can and to watch over our families and help them to stay healthy.

Don't know much about how education is faring at the moment. I have been out of the loop for several years but even when my kids were at school all those years ago the cracks were already showing. I can only assume the worst........

lessonlearned

I adore mince pies and Christmas pudding.....unfortunately they don't adore me back ........:rotfl:

The Night Before Christmas is lovely. We used to read it every Christmas Eve. I had a copy with Arthur Rackham illustrations. Beautiful but unfortunately I can't find it. I think it must have got lost in one of the moves.

I am on the lookout for some nice illustrated children's books, going to start collecting them again.