Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHS
Victoria Turner
Recent activity
Comments (4)
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Comment on: ADHD linked to genetic variants
Having worked as a teaching assistant in primary schools and then training as a secondary school teacher (before returning to nursing), I have experienced firsthand the behaviour and social difficulties children with ADHD experience. I disagree wholeheartedly with the comment that it is 'normal' behaviour and the implication that management of this 'disorder' is a waste of money. For those children with this problem, it is has massive implications for relationships, their own and those of theiir parents who often find it difficult to cope. It massively affects their education leading to underachievement. I recently worked for the police as a custody nurse and a very large majority of young males and females in custody for alcohol, drug and social disorder reasons had a history of 'mismanaged' or late diagnosed ADHD and also Aspergers and Autism. This is a tragedy and anything that can be done to help these people achieve their true potential should be done. If it is genetic, then they can't help it - unlike smokers and obese people who bring it upon themselves.
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Comment on: 'What struck me was the powerlessness many nurses felt'
I currently work with the police as a custody nurse and do 2 x 12 hour shifts per week. Not so long ago I was working on a ward part-time doing 4 x 6 hour shifts. I prefer to do two longer days and have time to go to uni and have a life on my days off. The cost of travelling is also enormous these days. However, I do think the police have it right with set rotas then at least staff can plan ahead what they are going to do and rest days are built into their shift pattern. We have a 4 week rota and I know my shifts for the next 12 months or more which is worth its weight in gold for planning childcare etc.
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Comment on: Calls to ban 'nasty, racist' BNP members from nursing
I think this is a proposterous idea. The UK used to be a country where free speech was allowed. It seems to me that if you are a radical muslim preaching hatred and death to British soldiers, that is OK, but if you are a bona fida political party which may have strong views, but does not preach hatred or death, you can be banned from left wing extremist unions! Free speech means free speech.
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Comment on: Nurses offered 8% pay rise over three years
Having been an RGN for 12 years (pre-graduate training), I was forced to give it up after moving abroad. Since then I have got first class BSc honours and trained as a secondary science teacher, but am earning less than £5.30 per hour in my first year of teaching. I work at least 5 hours outside my contracted hours every day, and on one of my days off, having only Sundays off. I also work at least 70% of every school holiday. Nurses and teachers are both badly paid, but I'm hoping to return to nursing, as I'm sick of being sworn at, having rude teenagers ignore everything and refuse to work, all for less than minimum wage. This government only seems to look after those who have never worked and never intend to, whilst allowing the most highly paid to reward themselves disgustingly obscene payouts just for doing their jobs. I think the nursing unions should also push for better pay and better work conditions to reward nurses and other NHS staff (not managers).
