Patriotism

Subject: RE: Patriotism
From: GUEST,Some bloke in Scotland
Date: 07 Dec 14 - 05:36 AM

Patriotism has many faces, and I am proud to live in The UK where tolerance of others and universal healthcare is still a given. Although that said, and mainly due, according to The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the recent independence uncertainty, over 10% of all consultant doctor posts remain vacant in Scotland.

That said, and whilst I could never vote for them anyway, The SNP and their / our first minister have reiterated that two main focuses drive their strategy.

Equality and business.

If they drop this silly independence that was emphatically rejected, the day to day policies could be ones that I could take an interest in. Patriotism goes beyond party politics I suppose, and yes, I can be proud of my adopted region of The Uk, Scotland. My husband and I are pleased that our vote helped thwart a piece of gross stupidity. Most of our neighbours seem to feel the same.

Mind you, the man the SNP sent door knocking here in Inveraray in the run up to the vote seemed a bit disturbed. I couldn't work out whether that was the party line or a personal issue...

Subject: RE: Patriotism
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Dec 14 - 06:36 AM

Well you could make the selection system for training doctors more up to date. A while back there was a documentary about people applying for medical school in this country. it seemed to me that perfectly suitable and qualified candidates were being knocked back on pure grounds of snobbery.

the process was blatantly class based.

Subject: RE: Patriotism
From: akenaton
Date: 07 Dec 14 - 06:52 AM

My point Steve, is that Ian believes that the Cuban strategy is criminal.

He refers to "the rounding up of hiv sufferers and subjecting them to invasive medical procedures"

Which to be "slightly fair", is current "liberal" ideology.

Subject: RE: Patriotism
From: akenaton
Date: 07 Dec 14 - 07:07 AM

"But he also admits to cultural differences between the two countries that would make it difficult to implement the Cuban model. "In the US, the rights of the individual are foremost, but in Cuba the individual is expected to do what is necessary to protect the collective society."

Do you understand what that means when applied to the current hiv epidemic amongst MSM?

Subject: RE: Patriotism
From: GUEST,Some bloke in Scotland
Date: 07 Dec 14 - 07:41 AM

Al. The system is designed to take the best and only the best. There are never enough places, granted, but having enough A levels and A* GCSE or equivalent isn't the only issue.

We have a system, that doesn't quite work, of planning for twenty years hence. Today's 18 year olds will, in many specialties only become consultants by 36+ and the attrition rate is high, as medicine is by far the most demanding profession in terms of training. I am bemused by how many top barristers turned to law after not getting a training number at some part of their career. Don't forget, over 70% of doctors in your average hospital are junior, meaning they are employed on behalf of the post graduate deanery of a local university. They may yet not make the grade.

Me? I'm a doctor, but failed to get a registrar training number and am now a reader at a medical school at a university.

The documentary rightly points out that the attrition rate is lower with students from public schools. I was taught at a comprehensive and my public school colleagues were, on average, far more prepared for the intensive training. I did my uni' and ten years of junior doctor training before being tempted by academia. The early learning curve was steep and my school qualifications of thirty five years ago wouldn't get me in medical school now, not by a long way.

I don't think we choose on background and although I am not involved in admissions would argue we go out of our way to be inclusive, but yes, class base is a realistic assessment if educational attainment is deemed to be class based as medical schools can, should and will only put the very best through for training, and rightly so. Don't blame the medical schools for choosing the best, blame the education system for where the best are delivered from. We just need to get smarter in specialty training and that doesn't start till seven years after starting 'uni. How many GPs? How many Cardio Thoracic surgeons? Ten years ago, elderly care physicians were deemed to be the wrong way of doing things, now we realise they are a good thing... Advancements and circumstance, crystal ball gazing to give it another title.

Just a point for the criminal from round the loch. Nobody in Cuba, not known for liberalism, has rounded up anybody. The real Musket (I am one of the Muskets but most of the sexual health posts have been dealt with by Ian) may answer himself, but I know the Cuban screening was based on the UK system in place that has resulted in huge success, especially with gay people. Ed has given the facts above. People told they have a duty to attend screening, just as we say.

People who engage in unsafe sex should in both their interest and the interest of others volunteer for screening. Whether they be gay or straight. The latest report clearly shows the huge success in encouraging gay men who are sexually active to come forward. The high early detection and low late detection in that demographic shows the way forward. More people living with HIV got it from heterosexual sex but if you are sexually active and don't use a condom, gay men stand a slightly higher chance of becoming HIV +

I do wish the monster would stop lying all the same. He says he hates gay people, so having said it and never explaining why, not that anybody is interested, perhaps he could stop vilifying us? He is known where I live, and sadly, it isn't just Mudcat that has to put up with him. He is known locally as "here he comes" and "there he goes."

Subject: RE: Patriotism
From: Musket
Date: 07 Dec 14 - 09:24 AM

Cuba worked hard to remove stigma, introduce public and school education to recognise gay people as equal members of society and a screening programme for anybody who is sexually active, gay or straight to volunteer for screening.

Other than young girls who are sex workers, the WHO sponsored screening has seen excellent results and as it is based on the UK model in part, comparisons can be made. The only difference is that their results are not taking into account those who test positive but fall through the net result treatment. Sadly.

Why is Akenaton mentioning Cuba? It is an excellent small example of the present UK screening programme and demonstrates how The UK is dealing with this problem.

The main issue for The UK is getting sub Sahara origin men and women to engage. If the rest of the at risk people engaged as well as gay men who happen to be at risk do, we might be able to reduce HIV further. It affects a very small but still significant number of people. More people living with HIV on The UK got it from Heterosexual sex than from gay sex.

Full stop.

Akenaton and his far right websites that he gets his ideas from need to find different lies because these are busted.