kristen

What about the elderly or people that need to see a GP but can't battle through the 1hr phone queue or stand outside waiting for an on the day appointment? My dad - in his 90s - doesn't see his GP when he really should for these reasons resulting in him needing more care and "costing" the NHS more. Also ?20 is a massive amount if you're on a low income. I have a chronic condition but I suspect if this was a condition for seeing a GP for free then the GP (or whoever decided this) would argue the case on that one. I'm currently in a situation where the GP is saying they have not seen any of my consultants notes since 2012 and are refusing to prescribe medication (despite me having copies of letters sent from the hospital to the GPs). So because they can't my diagnosis on their system apparently I'm cured! Great! Added to this I got a phone message a few days ago telling me I was an "inactive" patient so they were taking me off their list. There is an issue with people thinking that GPs can solve/prescribe something for all their problems but I think there is a much bigger issue with GPs being under resourced. So it's impossible to get an appointment and when you do get an appointment most of the time it's a battle to get any quality of care. I have now seen my GP three times trying to get a referral - which they say I need - but each time they have given some kind of reason to delay this. This is just a waste of time and resource in the long run but in the short term it saves them money and I think they probably just hope I'll give up and go away. What is a freeloader anyway - we all pay for the NHS. Most people aren't hypochondriacs - they're worried or concerned and don't really have anywhere else to go. If there was a better system of walk in clinics and pharmacists who were able to prescribe for simple conditions and give good advice this would help relieve the GP surgery. steveo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've wondered of late if there isn't a tacit > agreement among surgeries to make getting > appointments increasingly difficult so that people > give up and go away. > > If there is, I kind of approve

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What happens at midnight? Your bike turns into a pumpkin

I contact Tessa Jowell - about a month ago & then followed up recently and I haven't had anything back except an auto reply

not sure where things are at with the petition but this is the response I got from Jenny Jones - or her colleague (none of the other people I contacted got back to me local councilors/MP etc) ********************************************************************* Thanks for your recent email. I am writing on Jenny's behalf, I cover housing issues for the Green Party Group at the London Assembly. I am happy to support the petition, and will publicise it on Twitter. I have long supported the campaign against the unnecessary demolition of the Heygate Estate, and the development of thousands of luxury flats in its place. The estate should have been refurbished, and the council should have explored opportunities for new social housing on some of the unused car parking and garages. I featured it as a case study in a report I wrote about the Mayor of London's support for schemes like this, called 'Crumbs for Londoners', which you can download here: http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Crumbs_for_Londoners.pdf As you'll see in that report, I have also been calling for a major overhaul of the private rented sector, with new regulations to give tenants far more security of tenure, stability in rent levels, and better housing conditions. It is a scandal that a quarter of Londoners are expected to live under the constant threat of eviction and rent hikes, in the most damp and energy inefficient homes in London. You may find this 'rents map' interesting, which I published to illustrate how unaffordable private rents are in London and why there is such a desperate need for more social housing: http://www.londonrents.org.uk

@teddy - there is a relatively safe cycle store just by Peckham Rye station I think it's open till midnight everyday - http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/peckham-rye-cycle-hub-open-for-business/ Some of the fixtures are a bit problematic in terms of getting your bike locked securely but I've never had anything taken from my bike (would be interested to hear if anyone has had a different experience) I've left my bike overnight when had to come back a different way due to train problems and all OK. I have also left lights on my bike (something I never used to do before) & all OK. It also can be a bit of a playground for kids - I quite like that. I think the trees and planting are lovely too - they've been there since summer I think? reminds me of the skip garden in King's Cross - http://globalgeneration.org.uk/kings-cross-skip-garden on a smaller scale

@cjanker - the woodland trust have a scheme where you can apply for a community tree planting pack https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/in-your-community/ - I tried to attach the FAQs but they're too large - they're on the site though @Penguin68 - that's really interesting to hear - lots of adv & disadv to silver birches - maybe more suitable for a school/nursery/park than street planting? I wonder whether 80/90 years life span is an adv though as urban spaces change so much that it might be that a different type of planting/species of tree is needed then. I have a friend who is a coppicer and stone mason and remember him telling me how carpenters/shipbuilding families used to look after trees for generations - growing the branches into just the right shape for the hull of a ship etc. Would be lovely to think of some kind of similar stewardship of trees in urban spaces - obvs not for shipbuilding but in terms of our local environment - so when families move out the care is handed over etc etc Possibly London Wildlife Trust could advice regarding the suitability of tree species they have a project called Living landscapes which I think includes creating wildlife corridors in urban spaces - there might be certain trees that are needed in this area for wildlife - or to support the local ecosystem - or certain ones that although lovely aren't that great - http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/living-landscape/schemes Outside of the council scheme would anyone be interested in applying for a community tree pack with me? I need to read the FAQs first! as might not be eligible but you can get up to 400 trees for free

Please can some thought be given to the size/future growth of new trees planted. I am so fed up of seeing beautiful trees turned to sawdust because they're considered too big - or their roots are suspected of causing property damage It's sort of what's being suggested here but it would help to plant trees were they're wanted and local residents look after them - rather than choosing areas - so have an adopt a tree(s)scheme for a street/area/businesses - on my road I'd love some edible fruit trees - cooking apples, etc (but I'm not sure if these are the best practically) Silver birch are supposed to be amazing at absorbing pollution they did a study recently at Lancaster university - but again I don't know how practical these are in terms of size/grwoth

Many years ago I knew the person that lived in this house. I always thought the added to the property - keeping out the noise and making it more private I am so sad that it's been chopped down - over the past few years it seems like lots of the large trees are disappearing in the area. Outside my back window the view is very changed. On my road nearly all the trees have been chopped down - recently a lovely little tree that I used to watch turning beatiful colours at this time of year. The trunk looked like an open wound for weeks - v.orangy red - I wish I'd known and had time to take a cutting. Only one tree remains & is hopefully far enough from anyones property not to be chopped.

It feels like calling on some outlandish rule in a game of Mornington Crescent but isn't Hinckley Road in Peckham So couldn't this thread be lounged - or deleted as deviation from the purpose of the forum

Ah that's great - glad to hear he lives nearby - thanks for the update tshor Not sure what your getting in your last sentence though "SHOCK HORROR!! . . ." etc Cat looked ill - someone was concerned he might need help - people expressed concern on forum - turns out cat has a home nearby - wasn't a massive drama - although I think if I'd seem a cat wandering around with an eye falling out I might have been had a bigger reaction tshor Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I know this cat his owners live in next door us > for years he looks rough but has definatky looked > like that for many years it was worse when his eye > was falling out. he fights foxes and dogs his > owners live at number 29 Marsden Road and he is > pretty much always been wild. Thier other cat Toby > is a nieghbour hood hero and a street favorite. > Its not for a lack of trying to care for him. the > black one has just always been wild. SHOCK HORROR > !! SOME ACTUAL FACTS ON THE FORUM FOR A CHANGE. > NOT EVERTHING IS RELATED TO BAD PEOPLE THAT > NEWCOMERS ARE SCARED OF. he he

The shop has been around for as long as I've been in ED (about 15 years) I think over the past few years it's suffered from the Sainsbury's effect & the food items have a much longer turn around. I'm really grateful that it's there & use it for travel card topup, cigarettes - & occasional grocery items. I know it's really frustrating to get home with an out of date item. But they always seem happy to swap it or give me my money back & I now know to check - but tbh I don't pay much attention to "best before" or "display until" dates - sorry just noticed this has all ready been added ((Also legally - I think there is a difference between "best before" & "use by" I don't think it's an offence to sell goods past their "best before" date also "display until" has no legal significance. But "use by" food must not be sold or displayed after date. It is an offence to sell or offer for sale food past its "use by" date - I guess cos these are perishable (meat, cheese, milk) items and can make you ill if they've gone off))

I'm happy to take to vet to check for a microchip if anyone sees him I can pop down with car & cat basket. I had a look round last night & couldn't see him. I felt like the pied piper of east dulwich at one point as I was rattling a few cat biscuits in my hand and tchu,tchu tchuing and ended up being followed by several tabby cats - no black cats though - I'm hoping I didn't look too suspicious - there is probably a thread on me now "strange person walking up and down Oglander road making hissing noises looking into gardens" I will have another look around this afternoon I've also asked Jphobia to give me a bell if she sees him. As Kalamity says could just be an elderly cat with an eye problem who is now safely tucked up at home after a wander round the street yesterday. Though, I think if he's spotted still out and looking poorly it's worth getting the vet to check for a chip & that he's OK

Am going to have a look around - but it's probably too dark & if he is injured & hasn't gone home he might have gone to ground somewhere - will update thread if I find him

and they sometimes have Ricola sweets for 60p - also a bargain

Jphobia, do you know if he's still about - I've sent you a PM

Hi Sue, yes there probably was a better way of handling it - I reacted very quickly - I saw what he was doing & in the spur of the moment ran into the bar to ask them to call the police (they didn't) & ran out to confront him. When I did this I wanted him to know he was being watch & that someone would come along (so I said the police had been called) - this was partly because I was on my own & was worried about the possibility of being attacked. I possibly stopped him nicking stuff from that particular road - but he might have gone round the corner & done the same - or he might have felt sufficiently watched & with the prospect of the police coming along & potentially driving round he might have cleared off for the night. But who knows! I could have just left him - called the police and waited for them to arrive or followed him at a distance with my phone but I wasn't sure how long they'd take to turn up & as I said I reacted in the moment.

I spotted a man trying car doors starting from the Lordship Lane end of Colwell Road at 10.00pm Sunday 4 May. I thought at first he had forgotten his keys but he progressed along the road trying each car as he went. He was tall - grey clothes with cap/hat only saw the back of him. He had a large Sainsburys bag with him I was outside the Patch having a fag - I ran in asked the barperson to call the police And then ran across the road & spotted him round the corner of Colwell doing the same. I yelled at him as loudly as I could to pack it in & that I'd called the police. He didn't turn round but stopped & walked off down Playfield Crescent. Sorry not to post sooner - to warn people - I guess now it's just to remind people to lock car doors etc etc Reported to 101

- in response to Sue - In theory it's possible to see the same GP. But the appointment system doesn't support this. This has meant I have the choice of either waiting 3 to 4 weeks (or longer) to try to get some consistency of care or taking pot luck on the day I manage to get through (via phone or going ot surgery) to book. Also not sure really how to take the statement "I'm obviously not suggesting that you didn't have poor experiences, kristen, but I must say I'm very surprised and disappointed" Did you miss the comments on here - & on the NHS board? I'm not sure why you would find my experience very surprising. Also if you're very surprised I think that is saying (indirectly) that you're questioning what I'm saying (although it's late & I might be reading too much into this)

My experience of DMC is that it's dreadful. I don't know how the surgery works but I wonder why most of the GPs seem so disinterested, unhelpful, bordering on the neglectful. There's no chance of building a relationship or understanding for patients as the appointment system works against seeing the same GP. I understand why big surgeries do this (gets people seen quickly). But think it's counter productive especially if you're supporting people with long term conditions. Most of the GPs I've seen there don't have a clue & I've given up expecting anything from them - I don't see them for medical advice/opinion anymore just for checking in on repeat prescriptions medication - or a referral. I know mistakes happen in a busy surgery but in my case they've just been endless - for example it took a year to get referred for a possibly cancerous lump - I brought this up a number of times in person during appointments throughout this time. I have a long term condition no support in managing symptoms offered (except standard issue anti-depressants) Every referral I've had to push for/chase up/chase up again etc etc - which when you're ill is difficult. Not forgetting the lost letters, muddled repeat prescriptions requests & inability of any doctor there to read and follow up on a consultants recommendations. & to have the pleasure of all this you have to go through some kind of hunger games trial to get an appointment - it's maddening. I know I'm just repeating what's been said before BUT - I don't know what happens if you are old, frail, vulnerable & have to deal with all this - who follows things up for them or chases referrals - or are they just sitting unread in inboxes of doctors who have left etc. & it's really easy to see all these complaints as just words on a page - but they're not. They're pain, misery, frustration exacerbated or caused by people who are supposed to help & support. When you have to go through this - when you're sick/tired/despairing it's awful. DMC make being sick/ill a nightmare for some people. & as far as I can see they don't appear to care - or worry about the complaints - & I think this means that things are just going to get either continue or get worse.

Hello Sorry for the very specific request but I need to get to Norwood Road vets with my sick cat. I don't want to take her on the bus & can't afford a cab there and back. On the off chance that anyone is going that way I'm just off Barry Road - the end near the library & can walk the other end I thought maybe someone might be going for a trip to the park or Brixton in the next half hour or so I need to be there by 11am but any time from now is fine & there's normally a bit of a wait so I think it's OK if I'm a few mins late as well PM me if you can help & I'll send through my details Thanks - & sorry I realise this is probably the wrong section K

Anyone going to the die-in on Friday 5pm @TFL HQ? I think I will be - mainly because it's on my cycle home anyway (very lazy - only if it's convienient activist) details below - also on FB & website: Stop the killing of cyclists Join the mass protest ? cyclists, drivers, pedestrians all welcome Campaign to make London safe for all road users @TFL Headquarters, 197 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NJ 5.00pm Start 5.30-5.45pm - Die-in 5.45-6.30pm - Rally and vigil http://stopthekilling.org.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/events/568751353179586/575204982534223/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

There's one in London Bridge - 2020 Archery http://www.2020archery.co.uk/ Haven't been so don't know what it's like Keep meaning to take not so small one down there - as got handmade bow for birthday - but haven't found the time yet They do ?20 drop in sessions & then more for longer courses

Thank you DonGee My dad is slowly improving and all is well at home They'd just misplaced the home phone and it had run out of charge - as well as not answering their mobiles! Thanks for everyone who offered to help and the lovely person who popped over and got my daughter to give me a ring

Edited to say some kind soul is checking for me and so hopefully I'll be feeling very silly soon and all will be well __________________________________________________________________________________________________ I'm away from home looking after my father who is in hospital. I haven't been able to get through to my family all day and I think because I'm away and stressed I'm really worried - probably totally unnecessarily about them. I thought someone might be able to help by quickly popping round to my house and ringing the bell - I suspect they've just left the phone off the hook but in my stressed state I'm imagining carbon monoxide poisioning etc etc My mobile was stolen - so I've lost all my contact - which is why I'm asking on the forum. Please PM me if you can do this and I'll send you my address - and I'll make a chocolate cake for you when I return!!!

Yes this is similar to something that happened to me - I'll pm you more details