Sunday, 30 August 2009

Yes im a stereotypical geek

Well im kinda blind as bat without my glasses so you can imagine my horror when my brother sat on them. Luckily I have a pile of contact lenses for in the shop (for the none glasses wearers steam off cooking plus glasses = being able to see jack shit).

The one thing I love living up north is we are around ten minutes from the Metro Centre which is open as normal on bank holidays and late on weekdays, a big plus for someone like me who never manages to be organised enough to go shopping etc at normal time/ on normal days.

Hopefully dad will be paying.

Saturday, 29 August 2009

BBQ and being a veggie

Surprisingly ive so far manage to stick to it but the lack of food means the drinks rapidly going to my head. Had a great post line up for tonight but it will have to wait.

Now to go be the sensible one and drag the idiots out of the hot tub, thank god we emptied the pool.

Friday, 28 August 2009

Wow a post thats not a winge

Whoot im happy had a great night training at taekwondo, have a family BBQ tomorrow. Oh yeah and my uncle got me a pink stethoscope to hang on my notice board as reminder of why i am up at 3am writting a dissertation proposal. Actually must get back to it

byez

Thursday, 27 August 2009

NHS vs private a personnal opinion

As promised a health care related post. I was reading the junior doctors blog earlier and came across this post The Junior Doctor it something I intended posting on after my accident ( post is HERE ) but never got round to however after recent events ill post it now. The NHS really does seem to get a lot of negative press which in my opinion it doesn’t deserve.



I posted a few weeks back about being involved in a car accident the care I received after this was excellent, today I had to go back to the hospital for a check up due to having asthma and my chest being injured in the accident.

Now bare in mind ive only had one serious asthma attack and that was my fault. Cycling 5 miles then trying to spar for an hour when you have exercise induced asthma and haven’t took your preventer inhaler isn’t a good idea. Unless I want to do the likes of above I can get away with not taking anything so not really a case for regular hospital checkups. However the consultant I saw today was excellent answered all my questions etc and reassured my mother. Definite thumbs up – This was an NHS appointment as I was automatically referred back to him due to being taken to an NHS A&E. My appointment was at 9am and I was seen on time and out of the hospital by 10am.

Now we do have private medical insurance – the reason why ill explain in a later post.

Now day before yesterday my mam went into have the leaders in her toe cut and her toe straightened. This was at one of the local hospitals run by our insurance company. She had to be in for 7.30am and was booked to go down to theatre at 9am we were told she was the 1st patient of the day. Now remember this is a private hospital that does not deal with emergencies, she eventually went to theatre at 11am.

When ive previously been to this hospital all relatives are offered coffee etc while they wait for the patient to come back from theatre and are told before they arrive so they can be waiting for their relative. On this occasion no coffee and my mam was back on the ward an hour before we were told she was back not good when this operation is costing the insurance over 10k.

Now im prepared to forget about this and just get mam ready to go home, the consultant came back around and rudely said to my mam she was free to go at 3pm. Didn’t answer any of my mams questions or anything.

After the drip had finished my mam asked the nurse to remove the IV 9 times only to be told certainly ill come back in a few minutes to do this. After wandering round a few times it was obvious the nurse weren’t short staffed but rather sat drinking coffee at the nurses station. Now im well aware they need time to relax but there were 10 nurses and HCA sat at the nurse station and 5 patients on the ward. The staff ratio is meant to be 1 nurse and 1 HCA to a patient with each consultant only having 4 patients booked in per day and each consultant having a SHO or registrar.

As said the consultant discharged my mam at 3pm it was 5pm by the time the nursing sister came and removed my mam IV so she could leave the ward.

Overall not good service.
In the case of my accident I had
Chest xray
Neck and back xray
Bloods and blood gas
Leg xray
Pelvic xray and scan
Wound on my shoulder stitched

The whole time the doctor was explaining what was going on a reassuring me on a level appropriate to me.

I was out of A&E with 6hours yes that not within the governments targets but considering the amount of test run it seems fast turnaround especially considering what my mam has just had at a private hospital with less than a quarter of the number of patients.

Personally god forbid anything like that happens again I’d much rather be treat in an NHS hospital.

The service provided by the ambulance service was also great and much better than I experianced when taken by private ambulance with an asthma attack as mentioned above. Again this was to the same private hospital as treat my mam this week.

Yet unlike the rubbish Medic999 and RandomReality have to put up with the private guys only get private patients and are unlikely to ever deal with drunks or be assualted.

My whole experiance has really made me realise how much we as a population dont appriciate what the NHS offers us.

Applying for halls sucks - Pay peanuts get monkeys

Argh last year in halls I had a bit of a nightmare with one of my flat mates so decided to not live there again. However I eventually managed to move halls and meet some great flat mates who this year are once again living in halls and ive decided to join them.

Now I missed the deadline due to what was going on so wont be placed until October which I don’t mind however im getting no where, the uni operate a system where by when you send your application you get a confirmation email which I never got I applied back in july and ever since have been attempting to get the uni to confirm my application.

8 emails the same as below later


Dear sirs
Due to the circumstance last year I missed the deadline for applying for halls for the academin year 2009/2010, as a returning student I am aware I will not be placed until October.

However I never received the automated confirmation email when I applied I am enquiring if you have received my application?

Thanks for you attention inregards to this matter.


Now their reply


I am really sorry but returning student will not be allocated until October may I suggest a private landlord.


How in the world does that answer the question above. Ive also rang them to be told the same and whenever I ask if they got my application they just say returning student wont be allocated until October without even taking a name to check if they have my application.

Pay peanuts get monkeys

More health care related post when I carm down in an hour or so!!!

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

Public space, public librarys - should they exist

Just a little cartoon i found on Digg.com

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Sunday, 23 August 2009

Why I hate summer - plan for the week.

Being away from uni means a lot of my friends are up and down the country making for a boring summer oh well their back in the next few weeks. For a lot of student the summer is a chance to catch up with old friends however it rather boring for me due to my ex stealing a lot of our shared friends oh well. It not that I don’t have friends at home rather they don’t do the traditional going out on a night etc. below is my plan for the next week,

Monday – St Johns
Tuesday – Taekwondo
Wednessday – Taekwondo
Thursday – Free day no doubt wont turn into that as my mam will be out of hospital after her foot operation.
Friday – Hospital with the step gran then taekwondo on the night
Saturday – Pattern training, parents shift BBQ on the night
Sunday –Senior grade training


I really fancy going out and getting to know some lads again now miss having a boyfriend.

Friday, 21 August 2009

Dissertation/biomed project

Help me plan it guys. I know im only going into 2nd year but want to start this early. Im applying for graduate entry medicine so need a really good mark ha there’s for wishful thinking.

My interest in medicine is prehospital care and the role of a doctor in this tho I doubt I can make a biomed project relevant to this.

Any suggestions please I don’t want to end up doing it on some little gene or something stuck in a molecular bio lab i.e my least favourite module. Hence the early planning.

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Oh yeah im doing this at stupid oclock as my mam has the heating on that high everyone else in the house is frying so awake while she sleeps like a baby. Wish i could make you guys a fly on the wall it would make ideal reality TV

Thursday, 20 August 2009

Long update

Sorry for the delay in an update but im ill with shingles lol it sucks. Right where to start.

St Johns

Second meeting went well how can I put this incredibly bad. Managed to fumble my way through CPR and went as red as a tomato, god what must they think of me embarrassing with a capital E.

Taekwondo

Slowly getting to black belt standard just over 3 months to go and starting to luck forward to it hopefully ill be buying one of these soon.

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Also on my taekwondo shopping list

-Shin guards the class I go to is being taken over by woman and I feel like im not in proper kit without them. Being the highest grade female i feel like i should set an example. Tho I’d rather be more male and do without

-Boxing gloves same as above tho I did stop wearing the club ones half way through the lesson like the lads.

On another note what is it with white belts arghh I told the new starter to stop punching before the command seems reasonable as thats what is expected of the senior grades aswell. So what did she do punch so soft trying to make me look soft. I was so tempted to go full force on her in sparring to make a point but managed not to. Thankfully my instructor realised what was going on and didn’t look down on me for it.

Uni

Still haven’t heard back from the accommodation office so don’t know if ill be living in halls or at home next year. Hope to god it halls I love my mam to bits, but she starting to drive me nuts now. She just so tidy and organised it ridiculous, im sure she has OCD. If not I may start looking for a house share.

Hospital

Went to my stepgrans hospital appointment with her I might aswell walk around with Gradmed applicant on my forehead, she told everyone we meet bless her. Tho I did managed to get some shadowing organised out of it. Yey!!!!!

That’s all for now back to volunteering next week when my scabs have healed.

Monday, 17 August 2009

Becoming a veggy

Today is the day ive done what ive wanted to do for a long while now im no longer going to eat meat ever! Ive been watching Fast food junkies on 4OD watching the yak being slaughtered was the final straw enough is enough, every time I look at meat now all I can see is the little chicken running around or the cow smiling back at me.

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Sunday, 16 August 2009

If youve got a ka join

www.fk-oc.com

Bloody chavs

My dad’s a cop and last night went out to a chav house unfortuanly he brought back a few little visitors, more commonly known as flees on his uniform. Needles to say im not happy about being bitten to hell and mams even less happy about having to have the games room fumigated from now on he will be getting changed at work!

Been stationary shopping today, so that one section on my list crossed off just a few more to go. Also picked up a 1st aid manual so going to have a little preread for tomorrow.

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EDIT: They arent bites on my side its bloody shingles. I was ment to be starting my job as a HCA on tuesday bollocks. Apparently ive most likely got it as a result of swine flu or the shock of the accident. Not happy ive just got back to my normal self and now im stuck in the house again well they say bad things run in threes.

I once again dont feel ill with a contagous infection but it means i cant leave the house again arghhhh. I was going to the metro tomorrow, if it wasnt for the fact that im not selfish and know what it can do to immunecompromised people i would go anyway.

Going to ring the St Johns people and ask if they are happy for me to come down if i put a dressing on the rash. Ill be goint to taekwondo training anyway, my instructor already warned me its not a reason not to train with the comp coming up so atleast i wont be to bored.

Saturday, 15 August 2009

What to take to univerisity

Alot of the list around seem excessive or not enough so im going to post my actual packing list for 2nd year. Yes im starting early but dont fancy running around like a headless chicken at the last minute again

Documents

• Passport Photos Passport
• Driving Licence
• National Insurance Number
• NHS Medical Card
• Details of your vaccination history
• Insurance Documents
• TV Licence (Not needed if you plan to use your TV only for watching DVDs/Playing Games etc.)
• Support Notification
• Any Information from your LEA, the SLC (Student Loans Company) or Student Finance Direct
• Your Unconditional Offer from the University
• Any Documents regarding your Accommodation
• Cheque Book
• Paying-In Book
• Bank or Building Society Details
• Travel Discount Cards (16-25 Railcard etc)
• CV & References
• CRB Check - Applicants copy (if required by your course)

Academic

• Reading List
• Academic Diary / Wall Planner / Calendar
• Dictionary
• Thesaurus
• GCSE and A-Level results/certificates. (Some Universities use these during your induction)

Stationery and Educational Equipment

• Notice or Message Board – check as usually provided by the university
• Lined Paper
• Printing Paper
• Jotter Pad – saves carrying files of paper to lectures
• Pens
• Pencils
• Highlighters
• Permanent All-Surface Markers (useful for marking what's yours!)
• White Tack or Blu Tack
• Scissors
• Sellotape
• Hole Puncher
• Stapler
• Post-it Notes or Flag Markers
• Pins for sticking things to any cork boards provided
• Ruler(s)
• A4 Ring Binders or Lever Arch Folders
• Paper or Plastic Wallets
• Envelopes & Stamps
• Rubbers
• Sharpener
• Calculator (especially if you're doing maths or maths :P) + spare batteries

Electrical Appliances

• Extension leads
• Computer/Laptop & charger
o USB Pen drive
o CD-R/RW for creating hard back ups
o External Harddrive – usefull for backing stuff up but generally I just save it to the uni system over the internet and my harddrive.
• Printer – if you don’t have one already wait till you get there as it may be
cheaper to print in the library
• Alarm Clock
• Mobile Phone & charger
• Television (You will probably need to purchase a TV license).
• Digital Camera
• Batteries and charger
• MP3 Player/iPod (with charger and USB connector and headphones)
• Speakers and Connector
• Headphones
• DVD Player
• Digibox
• Games consoles
• Hair Dryer
• Hair Straighteners / Curling Tongs

Personal Items

• Nail Clippers
• Nail Scissors
• Tweezers
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush / Comb
• Razor
• Shaving Gel
• Cologne
• Body Lotion
• Body Spray
• Perfume
• Condoms/Femidoms
• Hair Dye
• Hair Products
• Jewellery Box
• Make-up
• Moisturiser
• Prescription Glasses/spare pair (and a copy of your prescription)
• Contacts & contacts solution
• Earplugs
• Brace/retainer & accessories
• Towels/Face Cloths/Sponges

First Aid Kit

• Prescription Medicines
• Contraception
• Multivitamins
• Painkillers
• Plasters
• Antiseptic Wipes
• Antiseptic Cream
• Blister Plasters
• Cold/Flu Remedy
• Throat Lozenges
• Pro-Plus
• Nytol
• Anti-allergy Tablets
• A Cold/Hot Pack
• Sanitary Towels/Tampons [For the females among us]

Clothing

• Dressing Gown
• Pyjamas
• Slippers
• Flip-flops (for communal showers/summer & 'beach' parties)
• Swimwear
• Normal, casual clothing
• Formal wear
• Gym or Sporting Clothes
• School Tie (for the school discos you're BOUND to have!)
• A warm coat, gloves, scarf, hat and a brolly (so many students pack in sunny September and get caught out/cold when Autumn/Winter starts to bite)
• Fancy Dress Items [seriously]
• Clean underwear
• Smart clothing and smart shoes suitable for interviews for part-time jobs

Fancy Dress

Take any suitable tools and items that will come in useful for a costume. It's best to get them in advanced otherwise you may pay over the odds. Usual themes include
• Possibly clothes/ accessories for
• 80s night theme
• Beach/ Full moon party
• Cowboy night
• Emergency/999 theme
• School disco night
• Halloween/ Christmas/ Easter/ Valentines

Bathroom Items

• Hand Towels
• Bath Towels
• Wash Bag
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Floss
• Soap
• Shower gel
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Razor/epilator/hair removing equipment
• Shaving cream
• Toilet roll
• Air freshener
• Anti-perspirant/deodorant.
• Dry Shampoo- or just tie it up

Bedroom Item

Bedding
• Sheets
• Duvet
• Duvet/Quilt Cover
• Pillows
• Pillow Cases
• Mattress Protector – you don’t know what has happened on your mattress before you moved in
• Blanket

Other Stuff
• Cushions so that your bed is both a bed and a sofa
• Cuddly toys :)
• Sleeping Bag
• Take something to eat for your first night's meal, as it might be a bit hectic.


Kitchen Items

Appliances
Check with your uni as appliances are normally provided but if they arent
• Kettle
• Toaster
• Toasted Sandwich Maker

Equipment
• Small Casserole Dish
• Wok or Large Frying Pan (with lid)
• Large Saucepan (with lid)
• Small Saucepan (with lid)
• Flat Baking Tray (for Oven Chips!)
• Tin Opener
• Bottle Opener
• Corkscrew
• Vegetable Peeler
• Cheese Grater
• Wooden Spoons or Spatulas
• Masher
• Microwavable Bowl
• Measuring Jug
• Colander
• Whisk
• Chopping Knives
• Chopping Board
• Tupperware (plastic) tubs for storing left overs. Write something on the lids and the tubs to prevent them going missing
Other Kitchen Items
• Glasses (Wine Glasses, Shot Glasses, Pint Glasses, tumblers, high-ball)
o Cutlery (Knives, Forks, Spoons) Tip - Taking just 1 or 2 of everything will encourage you to wash them straight away
o Crockery (Plates, Bowls, Mugs, Cups)
• Oven Glove
• Tea Towels
• Baking Foil
• Cling Film
• Sandwich Bags
• Bin bags
• Kitchen Scissors
• A set of Scales or Balances

Laundry and Housekeeping Items

• Febreze
• Vanish
• Washing Powder
• Fabric Softener
• Laundry Bag
• Clothes Horse
• Coat hangers
• Washing up Liquid
• Washing up Sponge/Cloth
• Kitchen Towel
• Toilet Roll
• Cleaning Equipment

Decorative
• Posters often a stand at the freshers’ fair
• Photos
• Postcards
• Rug
• Throw
• Cushions
• Beanbag
• Fairy lights/Disco Balls/Lava Lamps etc

Miscellaneous

• Loose Change (for washing machines)
• Extra Storage – Boxes, Shelves, Hanging pocket organizer etc
• Holdall or Weekend Bag
• Torch
• Pen Knife
• Safety Pins
• Small Sewing Kit
• Door Wedge
• Tissues
• Lip Balm/ Chap Stick
• Balls/ Frisbees
• Sports Equipment
• Bike – if you think you will use it
• Musical instrument- if you realistically play often be honest as they take up a lot of space in a small room
• Umbrella
• Tray
• Recipe Book
• Super glue - very useful for fixing things
• Store Cupboard Ingredients (Oil, Spices, Tin and Packet Food)
• Alcohol.
• Money!!
• Spare birthday cards, for when you forget

Friday, 14 August 2009

Temp job - More blood sweat and tea

Ive been temping at a local company for the last few weeks and it boring as hell. I basically answer the phone and make appointments yesterday i took 8 calls to day i took 6 calls in a 8hr shift. Needless to say i read alot todays book was

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A brilliant book and better than the original id recommend everyone gives it a try. Tea then taekwondo for me after that its time for some reading ready for St Johns on monday.

Wednesday, 12 August 2009

St john ambulance

Well I finally got through to them and joined St john ambulance this week, should be interesting. Now to do some back ground reading so i dont look like such an idiot next week

Saturday, 8 August 2009

HCA-job

OMG how much paper work for that HCA job, I don’t think they are going to happy with me tomorrow either…..my occupational health appointment has been made on the day of my aunty Chinese wedding so no way can I go….Balls.

Better post when ive got through all this lot….ie in a few hours.

Im also meant to be back at the hospital tomorrow to see how the muscle in my neck is healing need to ring them and see if they still want me as im still meant to be locked in the house!

Tuesday, 4 August 2009

Swine flu

Booo ive got swine flu feel like shit

Possible broken neck and very sore back – ouch

Today has not been my day to start the day I got stuck in the 9am rush hour on the A1 near Gateshead. For the non northern who might read this the A1 is down from 2 lanes north bound and 2 lanes south with a fixed central reservation to 2 lanes north and 1 lane south both on the north bound carriage way the speed limit is 40mph. So after an hour and half sat in that I got to Newcastle and dropped my car in to be fixed. Now my parents are on holiday so its only me and the brothers in the house hence I had asked my mate to follow me through and take me home.

So after coughing up £500 ouch it was home time we decided to avoid the A1 going back and instead dropped down some back country roads no prize to anyone that guess what happens next.

Que horse running across the road from some field my mate broke heavily next thing I know there a sharp jolt from the back and were spinning into a field (SCARY AS FUCK), eventually we come to rest trapped in the car a good 200m from the road in the middle of no where.

Now the medics on here might think im a bit of a drama queen but by god did my neck and back hurt now being a sensible person we had hit a few object and were locked in the car I decided it might be a good idea not to move and just wait. My mate was screaming her head off so I tried to keep her carm while we waited for help to arrive not very successfully I might add.

Anyway after what seemed like hours at the time an ambulance and the police arrive it only when the paramedic start talking to me I realise

My chest hurts and breathing kills like hell

My neck is really sore

The base of my back and pelvis feels like its done twenty round with Mick Tyson – that’s saying something coming from a fighter.

I think I sore the colour physically drain out of the poor paramedics face. What happened next is a little bit blurry, all I can really remember at this time is the guy placing a collar round my neck and a mask on my face (Medics this could have been pain killing gas or O2 I really don’t know any guess would be nice as im just one of these people that likes to remember everything that happened).

A big thanks go to the fire crew which manage to get us out of the car quickly
We were both transported by road to the local hospital after a barrage scans, Xrays and countless other test it was determined that luckily I hadn’t broken anything major was just rather bruised and have 2 fractured ribs which coupled with my asthma is why breathing hurts.

Ive been let home with a combination of painkillers antibiotics and inhalers. Now I hurt like hell and really wish my neck was still being kept still as moving it in the slightest really hurts. But well live my mate has a few bruises and a fractured wrist she also was allowed home earlier.

Now this isn’t the 1st time ive been immobilised in the last few years last time was after I came off a horse and landed on my head that time I was collard and boarded now this was a rather painful experience. This time I was removed in an inflatable body splint which was a lot less painful that the previous time eventho the bruising this time seems to be a lot worse. Id be interested to here medics views on this and why it isn’t used all the time.

Finally id like to say a big thank you to all the paramedics, police, fire crews nurse doctor etc that helped us to day and kept us both carm a time when we really needed it.

I really need to stop getting hurt ive been in an ambulance 4 time as patient and im only 18

Asthma attack
Horse Accident
Car accident
Taekwondo accident

I know your reading

This blogs had 77 hits today and 152 this week, i know your reading so hit me with some comments let me know what you think, what you would like to see. Anything really

Thanks guys