dulwichmum

Ah yes! But this kind of thing NEVER happens in Dulwich where it is safe to allow our children to navigate their own way to school under the age of 8. This is a very big city. I rest my case.

Did I mention the pants in the kettle incident on this thread already? It's not good. Bring a travel kettle...

Dear Daisy, If you contact the RCN or the Royal College of Midwives, or even google to see if there is a specialised charity to raise awareness of this issue, you may find that they can put you in contact with an expert patient. This is a terrifying illness, but most midwives will have seen it. Best wishes,

Intexasatthe moment - That is exactly the point I am trying to make - just because the fit and healthy, articulate and feisty people on this forum do not feel fazed by a letter landing on their mat, it doesnt mean that everyone else will feel the same way. Kings should not be contacting vulnerable people without their expressed permission. Our names and addresses are for their use to contact us with regard to appointments etc. I have no problem at all with them raising money through charitable means, but this is unfair and badly thought through.

Sick elderly people can be very vulnerable. A GP friend of mine from another EU member state tells me, that where he works, if you do not "bribe" doctors when you are in certain hospitals, you do not get good quality care. I should imagine that this country is not unique, particularly in our current financial climate. Imagine now if you are an elderly person from that country, you are sick and vulnerable (I know that Sean may be finding this discussion scary so perhaps he should not read any further) and you get this letter from Kings. You may skim read it, you may not be wearing your glasses, English may not be your first language... Now you may think that if you do not donate, your care may not be forthcoming, next time you are sick. People may not like to acknowledge this, but Kings is a hospital, financed by the taxpayer. Our sick are entitled to care, or they were the last time I looked. Nurses are not saints, doctors not angels, they are professionals paid for by our tax. There are other ways to raise money. We need to prioritize as a nation. What can we afford, how much more tax should we pay? This fund raising effort is clumsy and crass and it was badly done. There was no box to tick, this is junk mail and they have no right to access my data to waste tax payers money on the stamp and envelope.

Lovely Fi, Welcome to West Dulwich! Holy hell but some people are smug and need a good slap. I am completely with malleymoo, I have several similar stories of my own, of friends who would never "let the mask slip" - parenting is not a picnic, and if it is easy for one at a particular stage, it may be hard for them when the poppet gets older. My daughter didn't sleep for 3 and a half years, but you could put the vacuum on next to her now and she wouldn't bat an eyelid. Hold onto your hat. It gets better. Be honest about how you feel, not everyone is a Dulwichmum. Do you really want to be around people who make you feel bad? Steer well clear, at least until you feel stronger.

I completely agree. If we look the other way, perhaps he will go away? Lets all ignore him...

Dear Jane Ferguson, I must admit that I am reading this at the end of the day, am I understanding this correctly? Are you saying that you have been given the names and addresses of all patients who have attended Kings within the last three months? ?All fundraisers target their marketing at people most likely to support their cause - for example someone who goes to a music concert would be a more likely support the arts, somebody who buys pet food is more likely to support animal welfare.? That quote makes my hair stand on end. Let me point out to you (just in case you don't watch Holby City)that people do not necessarily suffer ill health by choice. They may not chose to attend outpatients for a jolly, instead of going to the opera or because they like doctors. The consequences of a clinic appointment are not necessarily ?feel good?. Have you considered the possibility that you will be contacting some people who may wish to conceal their appointment from those they live with? How can you be sure that your contact will not cause unnecessary questions and alarm in some homes where, for example, a teenager has sought treatment for an STI and hasn?t told her family, or a battered wife who had a termination because she couldn?t face another pregnancy? It is my experience that many of the patients who attend a hospital would indeed be termed "vulnerable." As someone who has had a long professional association with Kings, I am horrified by this blanket approach you have taken to fundraising. I pay tax to finance the health service. I do not welcome anyone having access to my name and address or contacting me in my home, simply because I attended outpatients. You sound jolly pleased with the response you have had so far. Give a thought for those who may not have contacted you to offer you cash, who could be suffering the consequences of your actions. Best wishes

Well? Fairyuk24 what did you think? Did you buy anything nice? Will you post some pics?

Aah! You see I don't get the mailbox email thingies. Just the invoices and school reports - which this year were not printed, and I think that is a shame. Yes I agree, the assessment for the little girls is all down to performance on the day, luck of the draw.

On the website, it gives all the details on application at 4 and 7. The school is called JAPS on all of the literature I have ever seen and on the website too. My daughter doesn't actually start at the prep until next week, so I should have noticed it over the last three years.

annaj Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If anyone is concerned about where and how > personal information has been shared, or has any > other questions about the letter, I would suggest > contacting the King's Patient Advice and Liaison > Service. Or have a look at the fundraising page on > the King's website. Thanks, that is really helpful. I will wait to see what Ladymuck hears back. I went to Kings for the first time in 8 years last month and then I got the letter. I think it is all too much of a coincidence if they have not used my medical records to contact me.

fairyuk I ADORE Westfield! The parking is a bit steep, but go early and spend the day. It is the Temple of Doom for your credit card! You can find simply anything you want from a designer tote to a fab pair of designer heels - or the cheap as chips immitation pair. There are great places to eat and drink and also, you can pop to Waitrose to do your food shop before you head home. Whats not to love?

My daughter started at 4, I have never heard of JAPPS or seen it written on the paperwork. She is now almost 8 and has had no exam to progress that I am aware of.

Surely they are in breach of the data protection act? How dare they avail of our medical records to contact us in our homes. I think that this is totally out of order.

I just think that fundraising is part of their business model. From what I know of these people, they could just as easily be running a supermarket.;-)

I reviewed The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire last year with my children - I have to say, my children prefer it to Disneyland Paris. They are not cheap, but I promise you, you will have a complete break and the kids will adore it. They have a huge walled garden with an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, and a super creche/kids club. Last year they had a special package where they had decorated the hotel and walled garden in the theme of Narnia for Christmas. They did something similar for Halloween - to do with the Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. In the summer, they turn the walled garden into an inland beech with steel drums and a huge barbeque etc. They couple breaks for parents with full-on entertainment for the kids, so you could do wine tasting (or their spa which won the award for best spa on the planet last year in The Telegraph), your hubby could do photography and the kids could be having a chocolate fight in the kids club - my kids are still talking about it. A recent offer of theirs is here Here is some of the stuff I wrote about it at the time. I have reviewed lots and lots of family experiences and breaks and The Grove is by far the best I have come across.

I don't understand why you are so keen to assume that the Chief Exec of Kings give charitable donations to the trust.

Lovely Sean, I think that it is naive to believe that the Chief Exec of Kings considers fund-raising as anything other than an income stream to the organisation he runs. The previous Chief Exec of Kings came from industry, and went back to industry when he left. I remember his red sports car. Derek Smith is now the MD of London Underground I think. This chap will not be running the trust because of his social conscience.

No Sean, I don't think it was Steve's point. Chief Execs get paid very well for their time.

Congratulations fairyuk24! Being an aunty is lovely, lots of cuddles and love and you get to give the child back... Could I just beg you please, if you promise to take your nephew to Legoland, will you be sure to do it, please? He will remember that you promised and look forward to it for months, if you don't do it, he will probably be crushed and no-one else will do. If you promise to get him a particular LEGO figure or Transformer that he is lusting after, will you actually get it? If you organise to spend bank holiday Monday taking him to Hamleys or making rice crispy cakes with him - will you please remember and not text after lunch on the day to say you have a hangover? My daughter has an aunty - her godmother. She phones and gets my daughter to pick her birthday gift online with her and then she forgets to order it. She forgets to come to birthday parties at all. She makes grand promises and leaves my daughter in tears. All that kids need is your time. It is that simple. Read him a book, listen to him, get down and play on the floor with him. He will always remember you. My aunty - my godmother was brill.

I too received this letter. Kings is a great local resource and an international flagship in many areas, but I think that these letters are a disgrace. Hospital managers and Consultants are incredibly well paid (are they prepared to take a pay cut?) and we pay tax, which finances the NHS, despite the fact that we also have private healthcare. Yes the hospitals may well be in financial trouble - aren't we all. Are we to expect letters from the local state funded schools, the council and the police force next? I shall give Mr Cameron a feel of my pointy elbows at the next available opportunity (stomps foot)! The Chief Executive of Kings needs to look around, does he think that the whole of Lambeth and Southwark is immune to recession? Well, I am clearly, but the rest of you - schlepping down to Iceland in your leggings for your chicken tikka lasagne - you know who you are...

You should register with Elm Lodge Surgery at Burbage Road. All of the receptionists are super and completely lovely. I have been registered at that practice for 22 years, and they are all such nice people, the receptionists and the lovely GPs.

I just fired my aupair. She was salivating at the mention of enormous rodents! I find it simply impossible to check these girls thoroughly enough. That is the last time I hire someone from Bratislava...

RosieH dear heart, this is Dulwich. Be calm. We are surrounded by areas of South East London in which they will be smoked and sold by the pound, hours before they reach us - it is not a problem, trust me!