George Orwell

Couldn't make an appointment to see a GP when I phoned today. The appointments are currently closed but will soon re-open to allow bookings for . . . . . . . . 1st week in February. It's not all bad - If you take pot luck there are a few same day appointments if booked at 08.00am. Happy Christmas and don't get ill.

bsand Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > AI is going to transform healthcare in the very > near future and GP's are the easiest to replace. A > 24 hour robot that knows all your medical history > has access to all the latest medical knowledge can > test your blood, breath , blood pressure , eye > colour respond to your questions will increasingly > be the first line of healthcare. I for one would > welcome an all hours access GP AI acess booth if > they were to become available. > > > https://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-in-the-nhs-how-ar > tificial-intelligence-will-change-everything-for-p > atients-and-doctors/ I am afraid that we will all be long dead by the time this scenario comes about. An NHS which still uses fax machines and paper files, where staff get viruses on outdated Windows 98 computers will take a long, long time to advance to the world of AI.

Returning to the salaries discussion: don't overlook that GPs need indemnity insurance. Some practices may help with this element and some will not. MDU (Medical Defence Union)insurance can be in the region of ?5000 - ?7000 per year. Some types of cover need to be paid for (on sliding scale downwards) for up to 7 years after leaving the job. Most GPs must hold a driving licence as part of the job too and GPs are at the top of end of risk leading to relatively high premiums as well.

Captain Marvel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > After seven years of study and training, I would > want to be earning twice what a salaried GP gets. > They probably take home less than a black cab > driver. Full time, I.e. 4 very full days per week, around 50 hours or more, You are looking at around ?70k to ?80k pa.

This may help a bit: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/avoiding-stairs-tube-guide.pdf Avoiding stairs guide

In my view, if you are desperate to buy it then request the vendor pays for its removal in full. But, your lender may now refuse to lend and you must disclose it. If it were me, I'd walk away and be grateful I'd only spent on survey fees etc.

"Or does their protected status stop anything like that?" Someone I know who's fond of cockney rhyming slang calls them : Do as you likeys.

" Since the bars went in, both parents more relaxed 2 I hope they have considered means of escape in case of a fire. You don't want to be trapped.

Our house was underpinned in 2000 with the total claim coming to just over ?100k - yes, ?100,000. After this, quotes for insurance were just silly prices. I found and was happy with a broker "Bureau Insure" who sent a chap around to assess the house (5 minutes and not what I'd call a survey). They found an insurance company quoting around half the price I had from my existing one. Bureau Insure have recently been taken over by Risk Alliance who so far have continued with decent renewal quotes for buildings. https://www.riskalliance.co.uk/private-clients.html

Again thank you, I'll give them a call too.

Thank you, I'll give him a call.

The pitched tiled roof on my house leaks - probably in a valley. Does anyone have knowledge of an experienced roofer or company who could investigate and fix it ?

Maybe Aviva aren't available to brokers - I really don't know. All I can suggest is for you to give Aviva a call. If it helps, I have declined Accidental damage cover ( if I crack a basin or stain the carpet it's my problem - we're a careful lot here and I'm happy to take the chance ). My concern is fire, flood and theft. There are contents limits ranging from ?2000 for any one valuable article, ?2500 for contents in outbuildings, ?5000 for home office equipment and even up to ?250 for a tree or shrub. There are a few other specifics, but the actual sum insured is unlimited. It might not work for you as yours is a special case, but Aviva often do good cashback on Quidco if you use the internet.

Our house has been underpinned and has had subsidence. The buildings (only) policy was found through a specialist broker and at a pretty reasonable cost too. That policy covers alternative accommodation but contents was extra. I chose Aviva for contents alone and have requested and got an exclusion for alternative accommodation cover as I don't want cover twice. The current cost for contents is about ?70 pa.

Ah, a revision is needed. I just read that apparently the pub lessee is still paying ?100,000 a year in rent - that helps a bit I suppose.

For a while there were more new doctors and appointments were available, with maybe a 2 week wait or so. The doctors have left, I think the practice manager has left, the surgery is advertising for GPs again and as a result there are NO APPOINTMENTS. What is going on in there ? I am reminded of a football team in disarray, frequent changes of manager, no effort put in by the players and relegation certain. On the theme of atmosphere, have you observed that all the many notices hanging in place around the reception area have a negative slant - Don't do this. We won't have that. You must this.. and barely a kind or positive word to be seen. OK, moan over - I'm off to Doctor Google just now.

The inefficiency of democracy, eh ? Benevolent dictators have their advantages at times. This site has lain empty for years and years. The owners and the council bleat about lack of money and yet they are staring in the face of a huge lost opportunity. Years of no business, no housing, no income, no improvement to the local environment. Probably years of no business, no housing, no income, no improvement to the local environment to follow on too. It makes me want to weep.

From above: "I"m only the Queen". I have landed in a plane at Heathrow many a time, sometimes from the East and sometimes from the West. One direction takes you nearly directly over Buckingham Palace, from the other nearly directly over Windsor Castle. The planes are much lower in either location than over SE London. She can't get the flight patterns changed and so often pops up to Norfolk or Balmoral for peace and quiet - another option is that when she's had enough of the noise she can go on an official visit somewhere too. In conclusion, don't waste your efforts complaining as you won't get anywhere. Learn to love it or move. I wouldn't recommend Richmond or Kew though.

Our daughter thought about the Horniman. It's private-ish, but too many people around in close proximity from the park. Where will your guests park ? It's busy enough in the area on a normal week end. Try Dulwich College (pricey - but excellent). But make sure all the scaffolding is down by the time of the wedding !

It's interesting to note that Dr Knoxley Greaves "retired" about 9 months ago without anybody seeming to know or comment about it. The receptionists say he's retired; he's left the practice although he's still apparently the named doctor for some patients. He's also been spotted doing locum work in SW London.

An Italian hilltop village in South East London. Not for me though. http://londonist.com/london/art-and-photography/the-utopian-italian-hill-town-in-south-east-london

?154 pa for RAC or ?43 pa for AutoAid - your call.

The AA - take a look: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=1739079

A family member has used AutoAid twice now and the service from their nominated local garage has been good. One's spouse is covered in his/her car too. It's about ?42 per year for the full deal: roadside, at home, recovery etc. If you go with a big name, just watch out for the AA / RAC renewal price after the first year sub has expired - they are robbers. Do a bit of googling and you'll see what I mean.

I agree with KidKruger, but you don't have to go that far if you don't want to. An engineer will need to satisfy himself if it is stable or not - if not, in what direction it may be moving. You say the crack seems to have grown - but haven't got evidence. An engineer will only be of partial help to you but may find other clues: cracked brickwork, sloping window sills, door frame not true and so on. If it were me, I'd make sure the ceiling wasn't loose (push it about a bit), then I would use filler in say 3 locations - middle and both ends. When dry, draw a pencil cross with a ruler at each point. Next to it write the date. Forget about for a few months and take a look then - you and an engineer will know much more about what's going on. How do I know ? I've been involved in building subsidence for over 30 years and still bought a place in one of London's most prone subsidence areas.