tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post5854985004586880740..comments2023-07-18T07:27:08.516+00:00Comments on Siren Voices: virusSpence Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-90026367346641874912008-04-09T10:31:00.000+00:002008-04-09T10:31:00.000+00:00Thanks for the blog tip, UHDD. I'll check it out.Thanks for the blog tip, UHDD. I'll check it out.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-42212382219762001902008-04-09T09:28:00.000+00:002008-04-09T09:28:00.000+00:00If you are intersted in mental health issues, have...If you are intersted in mental health issues, have a read of Mr Mans Wifes blog<BR/>http://the-wife-of-a-schizophrenic.blogspot.com/<BR/><BR/>and the links in her blogrolluphilldowndalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426833972060254592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-70724408681792656162008-04-08T20:56:00.000+00:002008-04-08T20:56:00.000+00:00Oh it makes me so sad how poor we are as a countr...Oh it makes me so sad how poor we are as a country, at helping people with mental health problems.<BR/>judithb, if you subscribe to a free RSS feed, like Bloglines http://www.bloglines.com/<BR/>It will gather together all your favourite blogs and tell you when they have published a new post, so you only have to check in one place, it saves a lot of time and you don't miss any thing :)uphilldowndalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426833972060254592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-78275850168350540112008-04-05T12:23:00.001+00:002008-04-05T12:23:00.001+00:00May I ask why you do not print these stories into ...May I ask why you do not print these stories into a book. They are both endearing and amusing. It makes you realise that there are people like Mary out there who are not "nutters" but people who cannot help their situation. I admire peoople like you and your colleague for your ability to care and assure them. I would be in tears seeing someone so vulnerable. I look forward to reading more.S1sterBl1sshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18154489793969902051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-28197990899925398242008-04-05T12:23:00.000+00:002008-04-05T12:23:00.000+00:00Although it might seem heartless for the Dispatche...Although it might seem heartless for the Dispatcher to laugh about it, she's only doing what we all do at various times, which is to take the sting out of a situation by finding the humour. In fact, the ambulance service - and no doubt all the emergency services - is renowned for its grim sense of humour. Mostly this is never heard by the public (we're just sensitive enough to hold back in company), but sometimes I might touch on it in the blog. It's difficult to understand if you're not doing the job, I suppose. But it's all about finding ways of coping with the relentless pressures of sick, damaged and otherwise disadvantaged people. <BR/><BR/>The police will section someone in public who is a danger to themselves or others, but they have no jurisdiction once they're in their house (unless there's a breach of the peace - there are always ways round these things). <BR/><BR/>I've never really thought about the phrase 'How are you in yourself?' - quite a strange way of asking how someone is, when you look at it!<BR/><BR/>S :)Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-73503974926027579992008-04-04T20:47:00.000+00:002008-04-04T20:47:00.000+00:00It's hard to know what to do for the best in cases...It's hard to know what to do for the best in cases like these. I understand that the dispatcher can't possibly allow herself to empathise with everybody's troubles, still, it seems a bit heartless to laugh about it. The lady's delusions are quite real to her, after all. She feels genuinely threatened and misunderstood. <BR/><BR/>I'm Belgian, by the way, so I don't really understand the intricacies of British mental health legalities (and I apologise for any mistakes I make with English grammar and word usage). It just seems odd to me that the police would have the authority to have her sectioned if she was on public property. That is, if I understood you correctly. How is it that non-medically trained police officers would be expected to be able to make that kind of assessment?<BR/><BR/>By the way, I love the way you put this question: ‘Are you well in yourself, though?’<BR/><BR/>I've never heard it put like that before.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-82506743888621355072008-04-04T20:05:00.000+00:002008-04-04T20:05:00.000+00:00Oh dear, reading this makes me sad. There's so muc...Oh dear, reading this makes me sad. There's so much need out there. Poor Mary. <BR/><BR/>Like Tsitsi I check every day and I am always glad to see a new post. Good stuff Spence, but look after yourself and don't burn out. JBJudithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13974206679853189199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-51905477610911215202008-04-04T17:19:00.000+00:002008-04-04T17:19:00.000+00:00Hi BG. How are you?It's another example of how thi...Hi BG. How are you?<BR/>It's another example of how thin emergency psych provision is at the moment. If the patient has hurt themselves we can take them to hospital, (although some refuse), but otherwise the hospitals don't really want to know. They don't consider themselves a place of safety, in that there's too much equipment and vulnerable people around (and they're hard pressed to cope with A&E stuff). So if it's a 'breakdown' with low risk to the patient or the public, they're pretty much left to it. It'd be nice if there were some kind of out of hours service, expert help like a CPN or ASW, who could come in and assess. Too much is left for the police to mop up (and they've been told to hold back on Sect 136s). I certainly didn't feel easy that Mary (and her son) were left to it for the night.<BR/><BR/>Tsitsi - Thanks for your lovely comments!Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-41212416329327875662008-04-04T16:35:00.000+00:002008-04-04T16:35:00.000+00:00I'm so happy to see a new post up. I kept checking...I'm so happy to see a new post up. I kept checking every day! Your writing is wonderful. <BR/><BR/>By the way, I'm the first anonymous from the last post's comments. I've decided to unlurk, because your blog is totally worth it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-133211073065452662008-04-04T12:07:00.000+00:002008-04-04T12:07:00.000+00:00The joys of care in the community! BGThe joys of care in the community! BGBenefitScroungingScumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08939136229593231935noreply@blogger.com