I tried to contact @Bupa a week ago with a very simple question – “If an NHS hospital does not have a spare bed available is it possible to use BUPA to get a private one?” I have never experienced such a complete service failure in my life. I can only describe @bupa in metaphor.Continue reading “The Mystery of Bupa”
Author Archives: radiobeartime
Taking the Train
It’s now a week since my first chemotherapy session. I am having adjuvant treatment which happens after the tumour has been removed and is intended to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. As per my last two posts I thought I would give a flavour of a medical experience in the hope that others might findContinue reading “Taking the Train”
One Month On
In my previous blog post I wrote about my experience of going into hospital for an operation for the first time ever. The operation was a month ago now and I was discharged a week after that. I am doing ok 🙂 I had my first meeting at the Royal Marsden yesterday to run throughContinue reading “One Month On”
Hospital Tips
So, I am back after a week in hospital. My first ever hospital stay. I’ve been an outpatient and had day surgery as a child but this was the first time I had ever been in hospital for longer than a day. And it was a deeply confusing experience. So some tips and reflections. IContinue reading “Hospital Tips”
A Classical Tale of Keats and Chapman
Chapman walked in to find Keats standing amid piles of musical scores which sprawled over table and chairs. “Have you joined a band?” Chapman asked dubiously. “No! This is all for the prize!” Keats tripped over a teetering pile of what turned out to be the complete score of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, scattering the pagesContinue reading “A Classical Tale of Keats and Chapman”
Stars stole the night away
Book of the month Visuals of the month Food of the month Tech of the month Bear of the month The beariest place on Earth Ringtone of the month Music of the month
Westminster Thinktank Scene – 12″ Dub Mix
This one goes out to all the junior ministers being reshuffled in and wondering just what the hell is going on. Here are a few common tropes you will see come up again and again in Westminster. “WTD – Will This Do?” Most commonly seen as a response to a minister making a commitment whichContinue reading “Westminster Thinktank Scene – 12″ Dub Mix”
Being Served
We were discussing public service delivery on Twitter earlier, as that monument to techbro hubris continues its rapid collapse into the sea, and the question was asked as to why the UK has “digitised” so many services in a way that they are an opaque online form or call centre where hope goes to dieContinue reading “Being Served”
Dusk has hidden the bridge in the river
Book of the month Visuals of the month Food of the month Tech of the month Look upon my works ye mighty and despair Bear of the month Music of the month
Daisy Daisy
So the Tony Blair Institute have done another of their Marvel/DC team-ups this time on AI. I was not going to discuss it but on second glance it does have some interesting aspects. The report is good but suffers from many of the same issues that such reports always have: the belief that the UKContinue reading “Daisy Daisy”