Funding the NHS?

Jen i noticed that the last petition you put a link to (uk-health-department-stop-seeking-advice-from-junk-food-producers) was started by an American woman, and most of the signatories have addresses in the States.
That makes me slightly suspicious

As I said, that was finished anyway. That was given as an example of what we could collectively try with regard to the previous posts. However, I took MD to mean managing director. I now realise it means Maryland.
A signature from Germany too.
When I did a search on www.change.org for petitions to do with the food industry, I put uk in the search. However, I then started to think about the TTIP. Perhaps the people in the US who care about what's happening to food also care about that too.
If the TTIP gets passed, companies like Macdonalds and Coca-Cola will be able to sue the NHS if they enact laws that will affect their profits.

It seems that alot of us agree on the detriment to health of hidden dangers in manufactured food. It would be nice if Gransnet would make a campaign out of it.
durhamjen Yes it is surprising how difficult it is to get signatures for some of these petitions and as you say it was amazing to only get 770 on the one you've highlighted.
I find in unfathomable how, with the warning given at the end of the 90's about the consequences of the nations diet, were now in this situation.
My next look is at the FSA. My stupid MP said to me just yesterday '' Well we've got the FSA to regulate the food industry" What a joke!!
There seems to be much momentum now on this subject - I wish we could mobilise into an effective force. How about a march on Westminster??

I understand that some people feel that some cases of diabetes are self inflicted but so are some heart attacks, accidents etc etc..should we stop treating the guy who lost concentration and slipped off a ladder because he should have been more careful? Once you agree to drawing a line it is hard to decide exactly where it should go! A friend's son fell off a climbing frame recently and broke his arm. Should she have been more careful and be charges for the tratment he required? Many cancers are linked to diet...the list goes on!

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/62209

Here's the e-petition for you, gangy. I've just signed. It closes just before the election.
For those of you who do not like signing petitions because you do not want to put your name and address on the form, believe it or not the government knows where you live.
They will not send you any more emails apart from the one to confirm it's you, because they do not want you to sign these petitions.
I do not fancy doing a march on Westminster, not with those water cannon having been bought.

Not all cases of diabetes, even type two are self inflicted. As shown in some posts above, some are caused by medication. So how much extra would it cost to go through everybody's lifestyle to sort out which are the undeserving?
I notice that one of the links on statins says that it is possible to stop the extra risk of geting type two by taking another tablet on top of the statins.

Just what we need - yet another tablet, to counteract the possible side-effects of the others we're being prescribed willy-nilly...

Well said pen.

With regard to petitions, perhaps some of them don't get many signatures because they are not very well thought through, and the aims not clearly expressed.

gangy5 Sun 15-Jun-14 15:04:04
THE FOOD MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND THE HEALTH OF THE NATION
All HAIL to thee, gangy5
And to ''Cap and Gown'' it all - There seems to be much momentum now on this subject - I wish we could mobilise into an effective force. How about a march on Westminster??
With your abilities, I reckon that you'd be able to raise even more than the 2 000 000 who marched against the Iraq war.
Shall I start organizing Busses from West Yorks? Say 50 to start?
No, I'll charter a TRAIN

AAA_Fan

Jane it was a cause célèbre locally. Once this operation was funded by the NHS now it isn't. And yes, it's all to do with finance.

Jane a link to the case

It is claimed funding for the operation has dried up completely. That’s despite the National Institute of Clinical Excellence stating the operation can dramatically improve quality of life.

Sorry Aka I hadn't heard of this girl's plight. That's shocking.

Quote: "Changes to funding arrangements mean this treatment is no longer available on the NHS. But we continue to meet with the family as they explore self-funding Sophie's surgery.

– NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS TRUST"

I would really like to know where these budget cuts have come from, whether it is the Dept of Health, the University Hospitals Trust or local funding arrangements.

It's such a small amount too Jane

gangy That was a very useful summary of what has happened re food standards and regulation over the last few decades. Thank you.

Yes Aka it is, and it's not as though by making it available, it would unleash an unmet demand IYSWIM, as might be the case with NHS-funded cosmetic surgery for breast reductions or eyelid-lifts.
It's hard to avoid the conclusion that this particular cut has been made because the group of patients is quite small and not very vocal - can you imagine the outcry that would attend cutting back on breast screening for example.

That's probably correct

This is what NICE stated :
www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11220/52084/52084.pdf

.... about :
Selective dorsal rhizotomy for spasticity in cerebral palsy: understanding NICE guidance

Thanks AAA

The fact that NICE thinks this can dramatically improve the quality of life makes it even worse that it can't be funded.

Just think of that £1,000,000 per hour!

AKA is there any links by which a donation can be given to help in a small way, I would be heart broken if she was my child

Sorry Aka

try this Newist

Why sorry? I think it's a lovely gesture

Thanks, I did Aka in capitals

AAAHappyMan you've made me laugh - thanks for that! It's strange how petitions on these foodie subjects don't go viral - not like some other useless subjects which in proportion are of very minor importance. I only wish I knew how to spread the 'gospel' on this here internet!! Thanks to you all for your supportive words.
I have put my epetition link on here before for them in the 'control room' to relegate it to the epetition department. I shall do my best to keep introducing it into any discussion I think appropriate.
I apologise for butting into this one and going off course and not keeping to the original subject.
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/62209

PS durhamjen Yes I agree - we've a water cannon to contend with now so perhaps the Westminster idea wasn't so bright.

Aka What I was trying to say was I'm sure the majority of people cannot, hand on heart, say that their lifestyle does not contain several elements that may adversely affect their health.

Of course, for smokers and heavy drinkers it is a bit more clear cut. But what about people who: don't eat the seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day; don't engage in moderately vigorous exercise three times a week; fly several times a year; drink several cups of coffee a day; drink full fat milk; don't breastfeed their children; eat meat several times a week; eat some processed foods;

So far as nutrition is concerned, many foods highly processed foods are heavily marketed. Some foods which on the face of it are natural, are likely to have undergone processes that are unnatural (e.g. meat from animals that have been given hormones and antibiotics). Even certain sorts of food packaging have been found to be potentially damaging to health.

Also, other elements of people's lives are likely to be damaging to their health but largely beyond their control:

Jobs that are, for example:
sedentary/screen-based; (office workers)
involve contact with chemicals, dust, etc. (factory workers, cleaners, hairdressers, florists, construction workers, pharmaceutical workers, etc.)
involve high levels of stress (e.g. ambulance workers, health workers)
involve working nights/long and/or irregular shifts

Environment:
Areas with high levels of air or ground pollution
Areas with high levels of naturally occurring radon
Homes that are cold, damp, badly ventilated

Genetic predisposition to particular illnesses

I know many people who are not smokers/drinkers/over eaters who have been unfortunate enough to be struck down with cancer or other serious illnesses. I feel that, whilst many of us could be more vigilant about our lifestyles, it is too simplistic to say that most illnesses are wilfully self-inflicted, firstly because there are so many other factors that contribute to illness and secondly because it is too convenient to blame the individual rather than to strictly regulate the food industry and clean up the environment.