for wasting my life ! Yes, I'm one of those lowly individuals who has worked in the public sector for most of her life ! I didn't make lots of money, I didn't drive a flash car, nor live in a big house, nor wear the latest designer gear... but I did, and still do, care.
I began nurse training in the 70s. It was an ambition I'd held since being a child of 7 or 8 years of age. I visited my grandma in hospital and that was that - decision made. I was in awe of those blue angels who wore white caps and white ruffled sleeves! They cared well for my grandma!
But it wasn't just the uniform that attracted me, it was the sense of caring. That was no big deal, it came quite naturally. Indeed, even as a child I would bring home all those who needed care - from the new immigrant girl at primary school whose mother wore a bright jewel in her forehead - to the lame duck I found in the pond. In fact my father referred to all of my 'casualties' as 'lame ducks' ! Then as I grew older and brought several overseas Uni friends home at Christmastime, those individuals were often referred to as being part of Mags' League of Nations ! But I was from good stock - my parents showed the same interest in others. So to enter nursing was no surprise to anyone. I then went on to do other things in life, but always in the public sector and eventually worked for a Member of Parliament during the last 13 years of the Labour government. And I proably learned and shared people's varied struggles more in that job than anywhere !
So here I am today, sitting in front of the TV, waiting for the debate called by Labour to commence. They'll be debating the changes proposed for the NHS - my beloved NHS! I could cry at the thought of desecreation that these proposed changes are likely to bring. What of the nurses and doctors who are going to lose, or indeed have lost, their jobs - all highly trained professionals - far more highly trained than I was ! There is much more to learn today, so much fanstastic technology to assist with healing and recovery. Don't think I'd know where to start if I was put in charge of a ward today !! These people are trained to the highest standards and where to now... apart from their perception of them being on the scrap heap. I never thought I'd witness this. And what of the waiting lists... they were 18 months in some cases when Labour took over in 96. By May 2010 it was just a matter of weeks, in some cases days.
I've been a patient too. And the care I received was wonderful. Should I need chemo again, I hope it's at the hospital and not upstairs in Boots, which is what this govt is proposing I gather. I want to know that highly trained professionals are caring for me and that facilities are at hand, should they be needed! This is one big step too far... privatisation at what cost ? That is just one small example of changes we'll see.
This tory-led government is taking us down a road that I fear we'll all regret. This isn't just about change, it's about ideology. They want to finish off the NHS, in the way that Thatcher's government didn't. But goodness me, I saw the NHS brought to it's knees in the 80s/90s when Clarke & Dorrell were in charge ! This time it's possibly going to be far worse... The NHS needs investment. We are a rich country, despite what the tories say. We can afford a good NHS but whether we have the willingness to invest to make it fantastic is another matter... And respecting that whilst we need people to create money, invest in business, create jobs, we also need a balance. I've always paid my taxes, we need others to pay their's especially those whose businesses can well afford to do so ! That would help to balance things out a little more too !
And will the lib dems, having attended a conference during the last week-end, have really listened to their membership ? Shirley Williams and others made their opinions known, loud and clear, about the NHS. The majority at the conference sided with her. But will the lib dems vote with the tories today or stand up for what is right ? I'll be watching - we're only hours away from finding out...
So, again, I apologise... I'm a lowly individual, like so many others, who has worked in the public sector caring for others ! I realise that just wasn't good enough... those careers are no longer respected or appreciated ! Message received !
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I began nurse training in the 70s. It was an ambition I'd held since being a child of 7 or 8 years of age. I visited my grandma in hospital and that was that - decision made. I was in awe of those blue angels who wore white caps and white ruffled sleeves! They cared well for my grandma!
But it wasn't just the uniform that attracted me, it was the sense of caring. That was no big deal, it came quite naturally. Indeed, even as a child I would bring home all those who needed care - from the new immigrant girl at primary school whose mother wore a bright jewel in her forehead - to the lame duck I found in the pond. In fact my father referred to all of my 'casualties' as 'lame ducks' ! Then as I grew older and brought several overseas Uni friends home at Christmastime, those individuals were often referred to as being part of Mags' League of Nations ! But I was from good stock - my parents showed the same interest in others. So to enter nursing was no surprise to anyone. I then went on to do other things in life, but always in the public sector and eventually worked for a Member of Parliament during the last 13 years of the Labour government. And I proably learned and shared people's varied struggles more in that job than anywhere !
So here I am today, sitting in front of the TV, waiting for the debate called by Labour to commence. They'll be debating the changes proposed for the NHS - my beloved NHS! I could cry at the thought of desecreation that these proposed changes are likely to bring. What of the nurses and doctors who are going to lose, or indeed have lost, their jobs - all highly trained professionals - far more highly trained than I was ! There is much more to learn today, so much fanstastic technology to assist with healing and recovery. Don't think I'd know where to start if I was put in charge of a ward today !! These people are trained to the highest standards and where to now... apart from their perception of them being on the scrap heap. I never thought I'd witness this. And what of the waiting lists... they were 18 months in some cases when Labour took over in 96. By May 2010 it was just a matter of weeks, in some cases days.
I've been a patient too. And the care I received was wonderful. Should I need chemo again, I hope it's at the hospital and not upstairs in Boots, which is what this govt is proposing I gather. I want to know that highly trained professionals are caring for me and that facilities are at hand, should they be needed! This is one big step too far... privatisation at what cost ? That is just one small example of changes we'll see.
This tory-led government is taking us down a road that I fear we'll all regret. This isn't just about change, it's about ideology. They want to finish off the NHS, in the way that Thatcher's government didn't. But goodness me, I saw the NHS brought to it's knees in the 80s/90s when Clarke & Dorrell were in charge ! This time it's possibly going to be far worse... The NHS needs investment. We are a rich country, despite what the tories say. We can afford a good NHS but whether we have the willingness to invest to make it fantastic is another matter... And respecting that whilst we need people to create money, invest in business, create jobs, we also need a balance. I've always paid my taxes, we need others to pay their's especially those whose businesses can well afford to do so ! That would help to balance things out a little more too !
And will the lib dems, having attended a conference during the last week-end, have really listened to their membership ? Shirley Williams and others made their opinions known, loud and clear, about the NHS. The majority at the conference sided with her. But will the lib dems vote with the tories today or stand up for what is right ? I'll be watching - we're only hours away from finding out...
So, again, I apologise... I'm a lowly individual, like so many others, who has worked in the public sector caring for others ! I realise that just wasn't good enough... those careers are no longer respected or appreciated ! Message received !
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