Monthly Archives: September 2015

#TOTW from 14-09-15 ‘Bowel cancer screening can also detect polyps’

Ciao!

Short n’ sweet this week. As per usual i’ve managed to cover a rather wide range of topics this last week, but there was one in particular that I feel deserves a chance to be seen by more people. So here is my #TOTW:

Bowel cancer can also detect polyps. These are not cancers, but may develop into cancers over time

It’s such a simple message. Take a quick look at the link and #GoLearn a bit more about polyps, what they are and how they can be dealt with.

That is all.

Ben 🙂

#TOTW (x13!) Assisted Dying Week

Hey Folks!

Well as it has been #AssistedDyingWeek, there isn’t a single #TOTW but instead a whole week’s worth to highlight (see below).

Where to begin?

Well, I am hugely disappointed at the result of the vote in the House of Commons. However, this Bill was never going to make it any further really as it did not have the support of the Government. I was surprised at how many MPs did vote against it though. I understand that they were allowed to vote as a matter of conscience, but I thought it was an MP’s role to reflect the thoughts and views of their electorate – the vast majority of whom support the calls for progress toward some form of law governing Assisted Dying. Merely sweeping this issue under the carpet for another 5 years will not give the country what it needs in relation to Assisted Dying. If those MPs that were so against the Bill felt it was poorly written and in need of further safeguards, then the right thing to do would have been to vote YES and to send the Bill through to the next stage. Here it would have been scrutinised line by line, where there would have been plenty of opportunity for further debate and discussion on the law, both as it stands and how it may look in the future. Simply to dismiss it out of hand with some of the ill-thought out language used by some of the MPs was a great shame. It was a sad day for our democracy, when the people that were elected to represent our views, got it so badly wrong, being so out of touch with the people that put them there in the first place.

This is of course a setback, but the fight for a change in the law relating to Assisted Dying will go on. What this Bill has done is to get lots of publicity for the issue and to really bring it out into the open. This is what is needed. I believe that this issue is of such fundamental importance that it should be put to the people of this country in a referendum. If MPs are unable to move this forward then the public should be given the opportunity to decide. Surely there can’t be anything much more important than how people choose to end the lives and the support they can and should be given at such a time. If we are going to be having a referendum on an issue such as Britain’s continued membership of the European Union, then surely the matter of how and when we choose to die would merit such a similar show of public involvement?

I hope that I haven’t bombarded you all with too many tweets on the issue this week, it’s just that this is a matter that I feel very strongly about, and will continue to highlight as the fight for a change in the law goes on!

Thank you for all the favourites/likes/retweets etc this last week and for getting involved. It’s been a while since I had a feature week like this, and I enjoyed putting it all together!

If you feel strongly about this issue, then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Write to your MP, join a campaign group, get involved! The law will not get changed unless we fight for it!

Thanks again!

Ben 🙂

  1. It’s great to see so many people using to follow the debate on ! This is what is needed – debate, not inaction!
  2. This Bill does not de-value life, far from it. It values quality of life & choice
  3. – Have you contacted your MP to see if they are attending today’s debate. Mine is and I have tweeted her.
  4. – Beautifully, and soundly-written article in support of the right to choose
  5. – “An “assisted dying” law sends the message that, if you are terminally ill…”
  6. “…taking your own life is something for you to consider….” AND SO IT SHOULD BE!!!
  7. – This letter, written by a Doctor, to me says why we *should* allow debate on this
  8. “More thought needs to go into amending the bill further and looking at the practicalities of how assisted dying could be implemented.”
  9. – Some Doctors say that current ‘ law is dangerous and cruel’
  10. – Welby urges MPs: reject right-to-die bill that ‘crosses the Rubicon’
  11. – Former chief prosecutor says laws must change to allow people to die
  12. – ‘ leaves vulnerable at risk’
  13. With the 2nd reading of ‘s Bill due on Friday, I’m having an

British Society for Gynaecological Imaging Ultrasound Study Day #BSGIUSD15

More and more people are climbing onboard the good-ship #SoMe! Have you yet? If not, what’s holding you back? Give it a try and see what fun it can be!

Angela Bradshaw

British Society for Gynaecological Imaging Ultrasound Study Day British Society for Gynaecological Imaging
Ultrasound Study Day

It was an absolute pleasure for me to be invited to this Study Day as a Speaker to discuss a very important topic – Alexander Technique for Ultrasound Professionals!  This as you may know is a subject very close to my own heart.  Alexander Technique is a powerful method which enabled my own complete recovery from a debilitating WRMSD ( work related musculo-skeletal disorder).  My right shoulder RSI caused me to resign my post as Advanced Practitioner of Obstetric Ultrasound in 2007. So of course I was delighted to share a little of my knowledge with the 90 delegates who were in attendance at this first BSGI Ultrasound Study Day organised by Jacquie Torrington, Mr Joseph Iskaros and Professor Amso. Physical pain and injury need not be an occupational hazard in the imaging healthcare industry!

The Friends House on Euston Road is directly opposite…

View original post 436 more words

#TOTW from 01-09-15 ‘New antibiotic could transform Cdiff treatment’

Ciao!

A little later than usual due to me being on leave and doing other things!

Another brief, but extremely worthwhile of the extra coverage #TOTW:

New antibiotic could transform treatment

A report from BBC Scotland’s Ken MacDonald in which, “Scientists at Strathclyde University, who developed the antibiotic, say it is the first of a new class of drug that could transform the treatment of potentially fatal diseases.”

Not only is this a good news story in relation to C.Diff, but it is also great in terms of the discovery of a new class of antibiotic – not something that happens often.

This is definitely something to be celebrated!

That is all!

Ben 🙂

#TOTM from 02-08-15 ‘Radiographers and #SoMe’

Here we are again folks!

I’m on holiday in Edinburgh for a few days, so it’s a very short #TOTM this time round! I’ve had a trawl through my tweets from August and decided this one to be my favourite!

#TOTW (x3) Radiographers and #SoMe | radiographerben

https://radiographerben.wordpress.com/2015/08/02/totw-x3-radiographers-and-some/

For me it just sums up the current buzz around the use of #SoMe by radiographers and other allied health professionals. This year has seen an explosion in it’s use, with exciting developments such as the introduction of #MedRadJClub, a truly international online journal club for radiographers.

Oh well, it’s time to head off to Harvey Nicks for a cocktail. I’m a firm believer in the importance of quality downtime when off duty!

Cheers!

Ben