Weather
Have Your Say with our Blogs and letters from St Albans Review
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news & views by texting st albans to 80360, or email us
David McNeil »
Busyness As Usual
Posted on 12:53pm Friday 19th March 2010
It’s been a busy week in our hospitals. I know that’s not particularly unusual as our hospitals are always busy, but this week seems to have been relentless. I’ve been looking back at my diary to see why it has felt different this week. Before I describe my week, remember I am not a clinician, so there will be no stories of heroic deeds by me – maybe others, but not by me.
David McNeil »
Putting things off makes it worse
Posted on 3:47pm Friday 12th March 2010
I’ve just had a couple of weeks off work trying to catch up on the jobs I’ve been putting off for a while – not an unfamiliar story in our house. One of those jobs was to re-roof my shed. We all know that a shed is a great place for men to hide and mine is no exception. I have been putting off the dreaded moment; patching up where I can, putting buckets where I can’t. So I book the last two weeks off in February. What happens? It snows, it rains and it’s freezing. I manage to empty the shed of all those ‘you never know when you might want one of those’ items and the old bits of wood, half full tins of paint, the old fridge that was going to contain the sly bottle of beer, about a dozen huge spiders and off-cuts of carpet that must have been in my house one day but I don’t recall when. I put them all in a heap in the garden (and under a tarpaulin of course because it’s still raining). Now I have a shed with a leaky roof and an eyesore in the garden – I’ve made things worse.
David McNeil »
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Posted on 10:56am Tuesday 22nd December 2009
Hospitals are busy places, made even busier when there's bad weather. Getting to work has been difficult for many people, but if our staff don't get here there is no health service.
David McNeil »
Struts dash up the M1
Posted on 4:20pm Friday 13th November 2009
Following a routine operation a dash up the M1 to see a specialist, another opration, slight panic over blood transfusion and all in 24 hours
David McNeil »
The Struts
Posted on 3:28pm Thursday 15th October 2009
We left it last time with Olive keeping the news of her hospital visit a secret from the family. Only George, her husband, and family friend Uncle Bert knew the visit was pending. On Sunday morning the immediate family gathered at Olive’s house, as they do every Sunday, for a cup of tea and a chat and, if they’re lucky, or not on a diet, a bit of cake. This ritual has proved useful to Olive over recent years, because she now ensures that all the jobs that involve lifting, climbing or are generally messy, she leaves until her sons, Andrew and Brian arrive. This week it’s taking down the remains of the runner beans that have finished for the season and cleaning out the pump in the fishpond.
David McNeil »
Family Health
Posted on 5:54pm Friday 9th October 2009
This is the first of a series of blogs examining the Health trials and tribulations of a mythical family of mine. Join them over the coming weeks as we laugh, cry and just sit back in amazement at what they go through and how the NHS copes with them.
David McNeil »
To Sleep a chance to Dream
Posted on 8:00am Friday 2nd October 2009
I heard a noise in my house at 3am, a noise I attributed to the dog. But I lay awake thinking of all the things it could be. Sometimes it's better to confront things than leave them until it's too late.
David McNeil »
Should we charge for people not turning up for hospital appointments?
Posted on 8:00am Friday 25th September 2009
People do not turn up for their hospital appointment, particularly in outpatients. This means other patients are not given an appointment on that day, which they may desperately need. Is this right? Is it a reflection on society? Should we charge them for not attending?
David McNeil »
We made the national finals!
Posted on 9:17am Thursday 17th September 2009
And the nominations are: West Herts for Hospital of the Year; West Herts for Leadership Academy; West Herts for Improving Patient Experience. The only Trust in the country to be nominated for three national awards
David McNeil »
Why did I buy a grand piano?
Posted on 8:30am Friday 11th September 2009
Impulses can be very dangerous to your health and well being. Examine your impusles, think through the consequences and work out the angles and you might make the right choice.
Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here.
