Panorama. Disappointing, once again fairly toothless. Terrible shortcomings revealed, some real problems, women being forgotten about down long corridors, units being too full to take labouring women, appalling staff shortages. Interpretation of events from an 'esteemed' Midwifery professor who, on occasions, didn't seem to know her arse from her elbow. For example, much was made of the undercover reporter holding the pick-up in position whilst a CTG (cardiotocograph) was in progress. There is really no problem with that, she was not being asked to initiate the monitoring, she was just being a human belt to hold it in position and ensure a good tracing. My issue with this was a) A CTG machine should not be used as a 'babysitter' because staff are busy. They always are though, I do it, we all do it. It is poor practice, just supposing that 2 minutes after the midwife leaves the room, with the monitor functioning, there really is a problem with baby, it won't be discovered for 20 plus minutes. Terrible, there you are, assessing if a baby has a problem, it has but you are not there to call for the help which would potentially ensure it was born alive and healthy. If a baby is being monitored it is presumably for a reason. In the eventuality that the baby was compromised, and there was an investigation which culminated in a negligence case the lawyers would have an absolute field day b) A student discontinuing the monitoring, helpful, yes, but safe practice, no, for much the same reasons as point a). There were so many points in the documentary that leapt out as requiring more probing by Jeremy Vine that I could carry on for pages, I just felt sad that a good opportunity was lost.
The twins had their cardiac scans on Friday and were pronounced, "text book babies". Hurrah. I had tried beforehand to alert daughter and SIL as to how important this scan was, if I hadn't succeeded then the place itself had managed to impress upon them how serious the results could be. Daughter related how when they arrived the building had appeared really modern and welcoming but that as soon as they walked in there were couples sitting together, some distraught, some just silent and suddenly the enormity of what they could be told that morning hit them full in the face. They were lucky, Van and Lorry are growing perfectly so far.
Friday was the day of my birthday/Christmas treat, off we went to the Sound of Music. Connie was playing Maria, although that was just the icing on the musical, I just really enjoyed the whole evening. Before we went to the Palladium we had a meal in Carnaby Street, that was a journey back to my youth. When I should have been hard at work in school I could be found touring London with my friend with Carnaby Street and Battersea Funfair being two of our favourite destinations.
We stayed up in London overnight, disappointing hotel, The Kensington Park, allegedly 4-star, I'm assuming they grade themselves or it is only assessed every 10 years because there is no way that it should achieve 4 stars with it's current accommodation and service. Anyway, went to Tate Modern on Saturday. Amazing facility, plus it's free. The majority of modern art is lost on me though, I'm one of the boring old traditionalists who pronounce that 'I could do that'. Hubby has decided that many of the artists are like him, they want to be artists and enjoy painting or sculpting, but they really have no talent. However, they carry on anyway, no one has the heart to tell them they are rubbish and some group somewhere has an 'emperors new clothes' thing going on and no one will admit that the work is stupid. I enjoyed the experience though!
Now for a little, salutary tale -
A married couple in their early 60s were out celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table and said;
"For being such an exemplary married couple and for being faithful to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish."
"Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband" said the wife. The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.
Then it was the husband's turn. He thought for a moment and said: "Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me. " The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish.............so the fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - the husband became 92 years old.
The moral of the story: Men who are ungrateful bastards should remember that fairies are female.