sillywoman

Because idealism must be balanced with realism.

Ugh, not the CPZ thing again? :( However it does seem short sighted in the extreme to plan a health centre and a secondary school with only 10 or so parking places for the whole site. Realistically teachers will drive, visitors to the site will drive, admin staff, cleaners, ill people, doctors, nurses, physio's and on and on. If there's no parking then they will park in our already crowded local streets forcing a CPZ - something the majority of local residents were clear they didn't want. I am really positive about these proposals on the whole and it will be a delight to see the site finally serving it's intended purpose, but the parking issue MUST be addressed for the proposals to be palatable to local residents.To ignore it will be to create a whole heap of misery for us.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3159193/Just-safe-HPV-jab-Health-experts-launch-review-amid-concerns-cervical-cancer-vaccine-s-effects.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/thousands-of-teenage-girls-report-feeling-seriously-ill-after-routine-school-cancer-vaccination-10286876.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-33504211 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardasil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervarix My daughter (also 19) and I decided against vaccination at the time it was offered (when she was 12). She wasn't sexually active at that point (!!) and we researched as fully as we could the implications. We decided that when she was considering becoming sexually active we would revisit the decision - which we did. I think our girls were the first ones to be offered this in school? I felt uncomfortable at the time about the 'guinea-pig' nature of this, all the more so as there was the possibility of choice between two vaccines. This was only offered for a short while then the NHS decided it would only fund Gardasil, despite Cervarix showing better results. Cervarix is now only available privately. There have been deaths linked with both vaccines, but I take the view that death is a risk of life. On the whole I am pro-vaccination, but I delayed with this one as I felt 12 or 13 was too early for my daughter to have it, and that she was sensible enough to make the decision for herself when she felt the time was right.

littlethistle, Sailor asked first so it would be polite to aster her question. I'm intrigued too - what is it you think Clapham offers that ED doesn't?I don't see it myself. And by 'nappy central' do you mean Clapham or ED - both have been known as 'nappy valley' for many years now - so it's hard to distinguish?

I'm in Trossachs Rd (off Glengarry road, opposite ED hospital) and for the last few weeks have noticed several times a day some kind of crazy dog-barking. It sounds like multiple dogs (kind of like a dog rescue centre at diner time). I'm not normally bothered by dog-barking kind of things, and I get that I live in a crowded city so need a high noise tolerance level, but I must admit to curiosity about this as it's happening every day, several times a day and I've not noticed it before. Can anyone shed some light? The gardens here are pretty tiny so I can't imagine that anyone has a dog-rescue concern going on, or any other kind of dog sitting thing? So what is this repetitive, mad-dog barking from multiple dogs?

I heard it from the comfort of my kitchen!!! :D

Thanks Susan, I wondered about them, but wasn't sure if anyone had ever used them for such a thing? They couldn't repair my leather belt a few years ago, when I took it in (didn't have the right needles for their machines or something) so I wondered whether there was anywhere else anyone knew of?

Each to their own then Otta :D

Both Kings and Tommies are in Lambeth so in theory all babies born in those hospitals should be registered there. In reality it means that Lambeth registry office is inundated and waiting times can be lengthy. Due to this Lambeth have done a deal with neighbouring boroughs so that if you live in Southwark or Lewisham (for example) you can register at your own (quieter) register office (plus Southwark RO is prettier ;) ).

I know it's not strictly family oriented (though it could be considered that the amount of crap I have to keep in my handbag due to kids and a husband who doesn't carry one is a 'family' issue!), but I have two handbags which I love but have had to stop using because they need repairing. One needs a replacement zip, and the other needs handle repairs. Can anyone recommend somewhere that can perform this kind of repair on my handbags? Thx

Sorry - was at work and so couldn't reply. Yes, Simonetheb has it - that's the plan I heard. I also heard a rumour that the caseload teams will be caring for women on a priority basis i.e social or medical need - in which case you won't be able to just ask for a referral because that's the gold standard of care and it's what you'd like to have (a reasonable request I think!), but it is a rumour, so I can't confirm how much truth there is in it?

Yup, September I think (though everything is a moveable feast in the NHS? KCH is moving all the community teams around to offer a more 'equitable' service. I should think the Lanes midwives feel very sad - the Lanes has been such an amazing and integral part of the ED community for so many years now - I know that I feel sad just thinking about it :(

Bestleg Taekwondo at Jags (and other places). Makes my boy happy and seems to be popular. highly recommend, plus Luki, the administrator, is lovely to speak to. :)

Nope. 3 teens and a preteen here. I am craving green space and some 'capital release' that we could have by moving out of London, but I can't do it to my kids. Having spent my teens on the edge of a big county town bored out of my skull and, like simonetheb, feeling that life would start once I was elsewhere (which in fact it did) I just wouldn't put my kids through that. I had the bike/pony/countryside thang and it was boring as hell. My kids lead a much more independent and full life than I did at their age because they can access everything they want/need here. I figure they're just as likely to get stabbed, mugged, into danger/trouble anywhere else in the country as they are here. They're not (to my knowledge) a part of any gang so the risks of any of the rot that someone was mentioning upthread (metal detectors???! someone's been watching too much telly or reading the SUN ...) is the same for them as any other kid anywhere else in the country and my main health concern for them is the long-term effect air pollution. Each to their own of course, but if you are happy here it's silly to leave such a great place through misplaced, and unfounded fear. As long as you've raised 'em right (well, as right as you can - I appreciate there's no magic formula to that), and they've got a good friendship group of kids with similar values then the rest is down to good or bad luck, and that can happen anywhere.I love that my teens have the best of both worlds here - a feeling of community and that they are known, and know people, plus being a part of this magical, beautiful, dirty old city that is London. They are proud to be Londoners, they own it, and I delight that they have that it's very valuable.

I've had four through DVIS/ Hamlet now. Both schools have gone from strength to strength since we started out primary school journey. They've both become really lovely, well rounded, creative and encouraging schools and we shall be sad to leave them at the end of this year. Two of my four have had handwriting/ SEN issues. We had ups and downs but their issues were definitely picked up in DVIS, and were managed as well as could be hoped in both schools. DVIS in particular is an absolute delight, I feel - like tadpole39 with Besssemer - very blessed and lucky that my children were able to attend such lovely supportive, nurturing and caring schools, with such a strong community ethos.

We go several times year to a place near to Avranches (South Normandy/SW corner of the Cherbourg peninsular). When the children were younger we used to take the ferry: Either Portsmouth/Cherbourg (if we were feeling flush), or Dover/ Calais if we weren't (much cheaper). We reckoned on 2 hours from London to the English coast (especially if we left early in the morning), then once on the ferry the kids could stretch their legs a bit, play in the play area, or whatever. Once in Calais it's 5 hours to Avranches, with a food break factored in (again - good for kids to stretch their legs. My aim was for them not to sit in the car for much longer than 2 hours at a time when they were little - otherwise we risked WW3 breaking out en-route!) Cherbourg is 2 1/2 hours to Avranches. St Malo is another 40 minutes drive from Avranches. Now they're older we take the eurotunnel - I don't like it as much because it's dull, and doesn't break the journey up so well, but it's cheap and at Easter we did London to Avranches in about 8 hours (maybe less - I can't recall exactly). Cost was always a key factor for us, If it hadn't been we'd have done overnight ferries Portsmouth/St Malo, or Portsmouth/Cherbourg - with little ones that would have been much the best route/option to my mind. Hope this isn't too ramble, and that it makes some sense. Road tolls Cherbourg to Avranches are a bit under 30euro's - if you go that route don't forget to factor those in. SW x

Bumping, because I think it's worth it ;)

Hmmmm, all epidurals given for pain relief in labour are low dose (used to be called 'mobile') epidurals. It is standard practise and certainly all the midwives I've met have been aware of it. The name was changed from 'mobile' to 'low dose' as women's expectations for being able to walk around with an epidural were too high. Each epidural works on each women in a slightly different way - it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with skill of the anaesthetist either - we all metabolise medications in different ways, our bodies have individual responses. There are a very small number of women for whom the epidural works in the way you describe EmilyPie, and I have encountered one woman (in the last 3 years) for whom a urinary catheter was not needed after epidural- a similar situation to you. The large majority of women I've attended with epidurals have not maintained mobility and have definitely needed, and had catheterisation. I know that EmilyPie's description is epidural at it's best, and this is how an epidural CAN work, and I am aware that I'm only describing my observations, not evidence based anything, but I would be cautious. In practice I've only it seen them work this way very rarely indeed.

Hmmm, tricky one. My observation has been that an epidural really changes the nature of the labour: It makes it much more likely that you'll need forceps/ventouse (harder to push and causes weaker pelvic floor muscles meaning baby doesn't get into right position and so makes birth too difficult/impossible vaginally so needs help) which can in turn make tearing or episiotomy more likely. Mal-positioned baby can make caesarean more likely. Not forgetting the stuff that comes along with epidural such as reduction in oxytocin so need for CTG monitoring and a cannula in the hand in case of needing sytocinon, bladder catheterisation which increases the risk of infection and means you have to stay longer in hospital as it doesn't come out until after the epidural's worn off, then medic's like you to pass sufficient urine twice before you can be signed off as good to go by the Dr. There's a shed load of other stuff, too but these are only personal observations. I'm sure evidence can be found to both prove and disprove what I see if I was to go looking for it... Having said this, I've had two (three if you count the one that didn't work) myself at KCH. I'm well aware that if you need it you need it, but if I had my time again I'd avoid them like the plague and look at much better ways of managing the contractions - starting with a hypnobirthing course. I'd add a rider that my avoidance like the plague is only relevant for spontaneous labour. If I was having a medical induction with syntocinon I'd strongly consider one. For me - they have their place, but not as a part of normal labour process they don't. But I'm not the one having your baby, so only you reader can decide what's right for you in the moment. Just rad around carefully and don't fall for the 'PAIN FREE LABOUR' banner headline of the drug - nothing comes without risks or consequences.

I haven't read the whole thread, so apologies if I'm repeating something that's already been mentioned. I came across this and thought it might be of interest to some: "The CQC are inspecting a cohort of GP practices in Southwark during April, so if you have any issues relating to any GP practice please let us know so that we can feed into it before the inspection. Thanks Sec-Chan Hoong Healthwatch Southwark Development Officer d: 020 7358 7005 t: 020 7358 7020 f: 0845 305 2160 | www.healthwatchsouthwark.co.uk" A chance to have a say maybe?

Just came across this and thought it might be of interest to some: "The CQC are inspecting a cohort of GP practices in Southwark during April, so if you have any issues relating to any GP practice please let us know so that we can feed into it before the inspection. Thanks Sec-Chan Hoong Healthwatch Southwark Development Officer d: 020 7358 7005 t: 020 7358 7020 f: 0845 305 2160 | www.healthwatchsouthwark.co.uk

I think that Southwark council will only put your name on the council tax bill if you are registered as living in the property (electoral role maybe?), hence the complex system adhered to by the Charter. I guess if your admissions are primarily based on local catchment, you have to be as certain as you can that those taking up places really are local children. I agree with born-again - it can be irritation to those of us who are legit (I had to go back three times one year, very frustrating), but worth it.

Yes, they require i) Proof of child benefit letter ii) Proof of council tax letter with the same name as the person child benefit is paid to on it iii) child's birth certificate. It's been that same for all four of my children each time. It's not complex. If you're not on the Council tax (I'm not, hubby is) then you call them & ask them to either send a letter to that effect, or send a renewed bill with our name added to it - they can do that. To be fair the Charter did send a letter nearly three weeks ago now, with very specific details of what they needed and contact numbers for CHB & council if you needed them. In it they do tell you to call them as a letter "can take up to 10 days to arrive'. Not sure what more you'd have them do for you Dadof4? (To answer another poster's question - they also state that if you've opted out of CHB you still need to provide the redemption letter from HMRC).

SLad Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > If you are a real moment of panic then one good > posture is to lie on the floor with your bum > against the wall and your legs flat against the > wall so you're almost sitting on the wall. Make > sure your feet are flexed (like in walking > position) and concentrate on breathing through > your nose in for 4 counts, hold your breath for 4 > then breathe out for 6 until you feel calm again. > Should help getting through those moments of > panic. As most of my moments of panic are work related, and my work is in a busy local maternity unit, I'm not sure how well this would go down with those I work among (would it be off-putting if your student midwife suddenly adopted this position while she was with you)?! :D I'm sure it's lovely & very effective, but maybe not so practical for everyday working life? Still, the image gave me a chuckle and for that I thank you :D

vesti Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Surely, given the limited catchment area, the > pupils can just walk. Yup, my thoughts exactly. Bad weather? Wear a coat.