Looking back at my winter holiday, I realized I have been through a lot of things, and hopefully have learnt somtething from all the whirlwind-like chronology of events.
~ Edinburgh Conference ~The conference trip was a great start for my winter holiday. Did not expect my second year in UK would start off with such an interesting experience to look back on next time. Learnt a lot about international event, presentation, debating, networking, etc...
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~ Newcastle and Sunderland Trip ~This trip gave me a chance not only to tour new places and learn new knowledge, but also a chance to meet up with old friends, getting know new people, and rethink about various issues ranging from international students' interaction to integration of culture, values and traditions.
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~ Finding Accommodation ~
An adventure-like housing crisis popped up just before christmas. It seemed to be the worst time to have to worry about accommodation, but thanks to HF and SS, I managed to face the problem with a positive attitude, and in fact has learnt much from this experience.
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~ Christmas Celebration ~
A traditional christmas celebration with a family in London is much more than what I expected to get for christmas. Was lucky to have their invitation to join their family celebration in London. Learnt much about the celebration and traditions, got to know more about Christianity and enjoyed the games and songs very much!
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~ Vegetarian for a Month ~
A new year start for my housemate and I is a one-month-vegetarian-plan.
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~ Street Market ~
~ NHS System ~
There is a need to look at the NHS system to improve the service and quality. An experience lead me to research on some problems faced by NHS and hopefully there is a solution in future.
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Monday, January 10, 2005
Saturday, January 08, 2005
# NHS - non-helpful system?
A visit to local clinic left me feeling dismayed at the bureaucratic system of the National Health System NHS.
A contstant dry cough and breathlessness for more than 2 weeks raised my attention about my own health so I decided seek medical help instead of recovering by self at home. I hoped to have some professional advice and diagnosis whether my asthma has come back.
Realized my registered clinic was closed so went to the walk-in centre nearby. I remembered enquiring the hospital staff when I first came and she told me that we actually do not have to register at a local clinic since we can 'walk in' into the walk-in centre anytime we need to seek medical help. but i got registered anyway as I did not really feel safe hanging around without a registered health-centre and doctor.
Waited for 3 hours at the clinic and when it was my turn, the doctor told me that they have recently changed the system such that the walk-in centre NO LONGER treat patients who are registered. He declined to treat me and said I should make an appointment with my own registered doctor. I was utterly dismayed and I explained that I have went to my own clinic and since it was closed, I came to the walk-in centre, and I further explained that I was previously told that the walk-in centre provides the service of "Walk-IN".
After some arguing, he reluctantly agreed to take a look at me. Disappointingly, he gave no real help to the problems I raised. Even though I explained my circumstances of prolonged cough and no sign of recovery after long period, he gave the same advice of drinking water, eating fruits and resting. I have been doing that and NOW I wish to get further advice on my dry cough, sir. So I enquired whether I can seek any help of getting check up for asthma, and he promptly answered he was no specialist to do that. when I enquired how I could get a specialist diagnosis, he curtly said "I dunno". such was the manner of a doctor, whose job is to treat patients and provide help to human race.
I was disappointed at the lack of professionalism of the doctors so I decided to research a bit about NHS.
Information from nurse staff in UK revealed that the NHS was facing shortage of doctors so they imported overseas doctor from India, some of whom do not have enough qualification.
From Financial Times 24 Apr 02, NHS Clinical negligence bill rose to 4.4 billion pounds. Cases of clinical negligence is still on the climb, while its financial office is facing strain in funds and budgets.
Report by Lindsay Wise, Alexander Harris Solicitors shows a rise in hospital-superbug infection such as MRSA Contamination (MRSA = Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, infection after hospitalisation/surgery due to bacteria growing resistant to the normal penicillins)
The European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System data for 2002 showed UK has the worst rates of MRSA in Europe, probably due to lack of importance and resources placed on infection control measures.
There are many more issues to be explored and looked into.
I certainly hope that measures to improve the efficiency of health care and medical treatment will be carried out systematically and effectively. A few areas worth looking into are: bureaucracy in medical treatment procedures, ratio of doctor to patient, hygiene and infection control, clinical negligence prevention, etc. British tax-payers have contributed so much to the health system and it is annoying to see such states of service provided.
A contstant dry cough and breathlessness for more than 2 weeks raised my attention about my own health so I decided seek medical help instead of recovering by self at home. I hoped to have some professional advice and diagnosis whether my asthma has come back.
Realized my registered clinic was closed so went to the walk-in centre nearby. I remembered enquiring the hospital staff when I first came and she told me that we actually do not have to register at a local clinic since we can 'walk in' into the walk-in centre anytime we need to seek medical help. but i got registered anyway as I did not really feel safe hanging around without a registered health-centre and doctor.
Waited for 3 hours at the clinic and when it was my turn, the doctor told me that they have recently changed the system such that the walk-in centre NO LONGER treat patients who are registered. He declined to treat me and said I should make an appointment with my own registered doctor. I was utterly dismayed and I explained that I have went to my own clinic and since it was closed, I came to the walk-in centre, and I further explained that I was previously told that the walk-in centre provides the service of "Walk-IN".
After some arguing, he reluctantly agreed to take a look at me. Disappointingly, he gave no real help to the problems I raised. Even though I explained my circumstances of prolonged cough and no sign of recovery after long period, he gave the same advice of drinking water, eating fruits and resting. I have been doing that and NOW I wish to get further advice on my dry cough, sir. So I enquired whether I can seek any help of getting check up for asthma, and he promptly answered he was no specialist to do that. when I enquired how I could get a specialist diagnosis, he curtly said "I dunno". such was the manner of a doctor, whose job is to treat patients and provide help to human race.
I was disappointed at the lack of professionalism of the doctors so I decided to research a bit about NHS.
Information from nurse staff in UK revealed that the NHS was facing shortage of doctors so they imported overseas doctor from India, some of whom do not have enough qualification.
From Financial Times 24 Apr 02, NHS Clinical negligence bill rose to 4.4 billion pounds. Cases of clinical negligence is still on the climb, while its financial office is facing strain in funds and budgets.
Report by Lindsay Wise, Alexander Harris Solicitors shows a rise in hospital-superbug infection such as MRSA Contamination (MRSA = Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, infection after hospitalisation/surgery due to bacteria growing resistant to the normal penicillins)
The European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System data for 2002 showed UK has the worst rates of MRSA in Europe, probably due to lack of importance and resources placed on infection control measures.
There are many more issues to be explored and looked into.
I certainly hope that measures to improve the efficiency of health care and medical treatment will be carried out systematically and effectively. A few areas worth looking into are: bureaucracy in medical treatment procedures, ratio of doctor to patient, hygiene and infection control, clinical negligence prevention, etc. British tax-payers have contributed so much to the health system and it is annoying to see such states of service provided.
Monday, January 03, 2005
# Dark City
It suddenly dawned on me that all the people in the tube were wearing dark colour clothes. Dark suites, dark coats, dark hats, dark umbrellas… Nobody is smiling, nor chatting to the others. Everyone sat in silence, only the rumbling of the train was heard. The atmosphere was so ominous and depressive that I felt like suddenly sing a song to cheer everybody up. :-P I do not know whether the culture of being oblivious to other people on the street is common in all big cities, but I am certainly not used to this kind of culture. I admit I would prefer a small town scene where everyone knows everyone, and there are always peals of greetings every morning we walk on the street.
Why have people in big cities ‘evolved’ to be non-talking strangers to one another? Where has the warmth among people gone? This is an issue to be looked into by all the big cities, not only in UK, but throughout the world. People are behaving like strangers, or worse, like robots in cities, and most do not even care to know what is happening around them. People are only focused on the things they do themselves, and the atmosphere is ever stiff, and cold, and unfriendly.
On my way to leave the tube station, I gave a big smile and greeted the tube attendant by the checkout machine. He was surprised, but I saw his lips curled up into a smile and greeted back. I wonder, if we can get everybody to do these kinds of simple little gestures, wouldn’t our lives be happier and the days less gloomy?
Smile, and the world smiles with you.
Why have people in big cities ‘evolved’ to be non-talking strangers to one another? Where has the warmth among people gone? This is an issue to be looked into by all the big cities, not only in UK, but throughout the world. People are behaving like strangers, or worse, like robots in cities, and most do not even care to know what is happening around them. People are only focused on the things they do themselves, and the atmosphere is ever stiff, and cold, and unfriendly.
On my way to leave the tube station, I gave a big smile and greeted the tube attendant by the checkout machine. He was surprised, but I saw his lips curled up into a smile and greeted back. I wonder, if we can get everybody to do these kinds of simple little gestures, wouldn’t our lives be happier and the days less gloomy?
Smile, and the world smiles with you.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
# Vegetarian For A Month
My housemate Huifang initiated the idea of becoming vegetarian for a month to celebrate the New Year 2005.
I am awed by the idea and happily joined in her new year resolution. A one-month-vegetarian would be a great way to train ourselves to be disciplined, to reflect on ourselves and also a good way to start a fresh year without killing.
Preparing vegetarian food was challenging, creative and very rewarding! It leads us to think up of new varieties of food and find new substitutes for seasoning and flavour of the food.
I realized that I can actually survive without meat. and at the same time realizing that I love vegetables much. It's a good start for a year.
I have actually taken a series of photographs to record our progress.
For more please follow link:
Vegetarian Series
## Follow-up:
15/1/05 - Half a month passed and we are still continuing this practice without any desire to have meat. GANBATE!
we are starting to walk more frequently to and back from school. Maybe our next challenge would be a Walk-A-Month-to-school. who knows? *^_^*
I am awed by the idea and happily joined in her new year resolution. A one-month-vegetarian would be a great way to train ourselves to be disciplined, to reflect on ourselves and also a good way to start a fresh year without killing.
Preparing vegetarian food was challenging, creative and very rewarding! It leads us to think up of new varieties of food and find new substitutes for seasoning and flavour of the food.
I realized that I can actually survive without meat. and at the same time realizing that I love vegetables much. It's a good start for a year.
I have actually taken a series of photographs to record our progress.
For more please follow link:
Vegetarian Series
## Follow-up:
15/1/05 - Half a month passed and we are still continuing this practice without any desire to have meat. GANBATE!
we are starting to walk more frequently to and back from school. Maybe our next challenge would be a Walk-A-Month-to-school. who knows? *^_^*
# New Year 2005
Fireworks in the sky over the Thames River, Countdown at Trafalgar Square, ringing bells of the Big Ben... A new year has arrived. A new beginning has started.
New year celebration is interesting in London. A few main locations such as along Thames River, at the Westminster near Big Ben, and Trafalgar Square, have always been the main locations for New Year Eve Countdown. The places are always EXTREMELY crowded, and I found it no different than last year countdown - still jammed with people as usual. :-)
This year, 2 minutes of silence were dedicated to the recent Tsunami victims. It was touching to see everyone quietened down to give their sympathy to the suffered ones.
Wish everyone a Happy New Year. Have a great year ahead.
New year celebration is interesting in London. A few main locations such as along Thames River, at the Westminster near Big Ben, and Trafalgar Square, have always been the main locations for New Year Eve Countdown. The places are always EXTREMELY crowded, and I found it no different than last year countdown - still jammed with people as usual. :-)
This year, 2 minutes of silence were dedicated to the recent Tsunami victims. It was touching to see everyone quietened down to give their sympathy to the suffered ones.
Wish everyone a Happy New Year. Have a great year ahead.
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