http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/prescribe-cheaper-drugs-gps-told-8433635.html Prescribe cheaper drugs, GP's told Medical benefit or cost? The decision to prescribe any drug should be based on medical benefit, not on cost. The people at NICE, Open Health Care UK and Mastodon C, Government, Jeremy Hunt and all the others really should grasp that essential truism. There is justification for prescribing a less expensive alternative drug, but only where the doctor is absolutely convinced that the medical benefit to the patient is at least as beneficial as the more costly option.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/12/28/hector-sants-knighthood_n_2375455.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Hector Sants, Who Presided Over Collapse Of Northern Rock, Awarded Knighthood Hector Sants A clear demonstration of how corrupt and debased the "Honours system" has become. Not only do we reward failure with huge cash bonuses, but we also bestow Knighthoods and other awards for incompetence. The sooner this patronising and discredited lunacy is dismembered the better.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/can-these-men-restore-trust-in-our-public-institutions-8433201.html Hopes are high for lasting change as the Bank of England, the BBC and the Church of England welcome new heads in 2013 Mark Carney, Tony Hall and Justin Welby We should all, by now, have realised that this game of "musical chairs" amongst the upper strata of political/economic/religious personnel in this country is designed and implemented purely as a means to fool the rest of us into believing the old chestnut that "new brooms sweep clean". In fact, when the music stops and all the available chairs have been grabbed, it very soon becomes abundantly clear that nothing has changed, the status quo remains and it becomes necessary for the music master to play the old record and start the whole process again. Unfortunately, there are far too many people in this land who actually believe that this charade is for the benefit of the country rather ...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ios-special-report-families-hit-by-freeze-in-child-benefit-8433331.html Failure to match inflation will affect those on low and middle incomes new child benefit rules unfair Yet another report saying what many of us have been saying since this ill conceived and knee jerk "policy" of "welfare reforms" first saw the light of day. The Child Benefit system may well be in need of reform, but this arbitrary and unfair hash up of rushed, politically expedient sound bites is not the answer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/dec/24/households-gloomy-2013-survey-economy Consumers are braced for another year of austerity George Osborne Osborne is wearing that conceited smug half smile that he is famous for, because he knows that his "austerity measures" will nor really affect him or his Downing Street chums. In his insulated position, the smirk is not surprising. Merry Christmas George. I would wager that his turkey did not come from the local foodbank either.
Welcome to the new look New Agenda ! As the new year approaches, it seemed appropriate that "New Agenda" should have a new look. The content remains unchanged, but the background has been refreshed and there have been a few small adjustments to the format. 2013, promises to be a momentous year of change, both on the domestic scene with the political divisions within the coalition and changes to the NHS and social fabric of our society, and internationally with the continuing uncertainty within Europe and the daily heightening tension in the Middle East. The elections scheduled for January in Israel could change the dynamic between the new Palestine and the Israeli's continued expansion of their settlement building programme. While in Europe the question of Greece and the growing number of European countries seeking economic assistance remains unresolved. 2013, will be a year of significant challenges for all in the resolution of the problems already evident,...
Royal Mail making extra money. Royal Mail Large Letter Postage Template Size Guide We were handed a standard non delivery card yesterday by our postman. It read, "Unfortunately we cant deliver your item because there is a fee to pay". It is worth noting at this point, that the Post Office had already been paid some postage by the sender and was now demanding a further £1.09 (including handling fee) to deliver what was probably a card which did not quite fit into their little plastic template full of tiny slots to arbitrarily "measure" standard and non standard postings. Very apologetically, our postman explained that he had been given no information as to what it was, or where it had been postmarked. Remembering that we had been caught by the same little Post Office scam on two occasions last year, I rang the Royal Mail Dorchester Delivery Office and asked the question. I was informed, rather abruptly, that it looked like a card and was not postmarked...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20820648 ( The BBC's Jeremy Cooke reports.link to video) Number of UK food banks double in 12 months More and more food banks are opening every week This is 2012 soon to become 2013 and foodbanks have doubled in number over the past 12 months. In 2013 foodbanks will feed more than 200,000 people across the country, double the number of 2012, and the expectation is that this number will grow. It is a situation about which we should all feel angry, uncomfortable and even ashamed that we have collectively allowed this situation to come about. Some people will no doubt have such emotions, but sadly there are many others who will not. Watch the video and remember that we have been told that "we are all in this together". as usual, there are those who are more "in it" than others. As we lift our glasses across the table full of Christmas dinner with heat rising from the turkey, roast potato's gravy and all the other goo...
December 21st in the year 2012. Winter Solstice at Stonehenge Today is the 356th day of 2012. It is also the day which coincides with the end of the 5,125-year "long count" cycle of the Mayan calendar. (ie. The end of the world. The day has arrived, but as someone once said, “Aye Caesar, but not gone”) However, enough of this gloom and back to the point. Today is the 356th day of 2012. December 21st 2012. The winter solstice. The day which heralds the return of sanity to the northern hemisphere. As from tomorrow, the hours of daylight begin to get longer. The days of lengthening darkness are gone (for another year) and we can look forward to the prospect of not having to turn on the lights at 4 O'clock in the afternoon. Another great source of happiness and joy, apart of course from the Christmas and New Year celebrations in a few days time, is the thought that in a few short months, the television and newspapers will be full of the advice “And don...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/was-tory-chief-whip-framed-police-officer-accused-of-posing-as-member-of-public-to-help-force-andrew-mitchells-resignation-8424603.html Was Tory Chief Whip framed? Andrew Mitchell If this is some sort of conspiracy to frame Mitchel, it has to be the most inept piece of subterfuge ever devised and executed by incompetent morons who should have realised that exposure of the "plot" would take as much time as it takes to say "ello, ello, ello." Who is trying to deceive who in this infantile farce?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-18/celebrity-chef-recipes-less-healthy-study/4434688 Experts turn up heat on celebrity chef recipes Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson But, the "experts" fail to mention (as always), what additives, E numbers and assorted other rubbish are crammed into the "ready-to-cook meal bought from a supermarket." The labeling to enable us to make "informed choices" is confusing and as much use as a chocolate teapot, while the excessive packaging on the supermarket product ensures that the item is expensive as well as irritating. Are these "experts" on a retainer from the supermarkets and the packaging manufactures?
Unsecured creditors to Comet, primarily landlords, stand to lose more than £200m from the collapse of the electricals chain. Henry Jackson . OpCapita Comet stores closing down An additional 6,600 people today join the statistics of those unemployed in this country following the closure of the final 49 of the original 236 Comet electrical stores. The collapse of Comet is one of the biggest failures in high street outlets since Woolworths closed in 2008. Comet was placed in administration by owners OpCapita earlier this year and Deloitte, was appointed as administrator to Comet in early November. OpCapita purchased Comet in 2011, just 9 months ago, for a price of £2. and at the same time received a £50 million "dowry" as part of the deal. Following the collapse of Comet, the government will be faced with a bill of £50 million to cover redundancy payments for 6,800 staff and unpaid VAT. OpCapita, as one of the top "...
http://www.dawncrystal.co.uk/index.htm Dawn Crystal, Stourbridge West Midlands We recently sent a lead crystal candle stick to Dawn Crystal in Stourbridge in West Midlands for a repair. The item was returned to us yesterday (14th December 2012) and I have just sent the following e-mail to Dawn Crystal: Thank you for returning the repaired candlestick. I am very disappointed with a number of aspects of your service. 1. The glass was returned without any cleaning or polishing and was covered in greasy marks and prints. 2. The repair itself was/is visible and the glass had residues of adhesive around the repaired area. 3.The packing of the item seemed to have been done in a bit of a hurry as all the original foam appeared to have been stuffed into the box without care or attention as each piece of the foam had been specifically cut to fit around individual pieces of the glass by the manufacturer. 4.The box for the item was the original box with packaging, as supplied by the m...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/15/piers-morgan-newtown-kids-die-gun-control_n_2307357.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Piers Morgan: 'How Many More Kids Have To Die' Before New Gun Control Laws (VIDEO) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hA4827iQWY Piers Morgan Takes Down Gun Lobbyists Firstly, let us understand one thing. It is not guns that kill people. It is people who kill people. Having established that simple fact, there is undoubtedly a compelling argument for having the strictest gun control legislation, not only here in the UK, but every other country where gun crime is epidemic. Unfortunately, the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, (and confirmed by in rulings by the Supreme Court in 2008 and 2010), ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State says: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringe...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/google-boss-im-very-proud-of-our-tax-avoidance-scheme-8411974.html Google boss: I'm very proud of our tax avoidance scheme Google's Chairman Eric Schmidt said £2.5 billion tax avoidance 'is called capitalism' Google chairman Eric Schmidt This arrogance is mind blowing. The practice of tax avoidance may not be illegal, but it certainly is repugnant, particularly when obnoxious morons such as Eric Schmidt brag about how clever they are by getting away with it. Conceited bastard.
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=295553 Israel to withhold NIS 1.6b. of PA tax revenue Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman “They can forget about seeing a single agora for the next four months,” Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman: Tel Aviv Tuesday. Liberman, terrorist, bigot, war criminal and now thief. Stealing money to punish Palestine for obtaining status at the United Nations, and retaliating against Palestine and Europe's criticism of Israel for announcing planning for homes in E1 in Ma’aleh Adumin, and other new construction plans beyond the Green Line. The Jerusalem Post of course seems to endorse this theft and probably considers that Liberman's activities will contribute to finding a solution to the Israeli/Palestinian problem. the Jerusalem Post is as warped as he is.
http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_jerseynews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=502856 A former Jersey Centenier has been found guilty of child sex abuse. Child Abuser & Ex Cop Ralph Mauger Some Jersey victims at least, obtain a degree of closure. There are other perverts in addition to Mauger, in Jersey society who remain hidden and protected by the on going cover up of the historic child abuse scandal. It may take a while, but with the growing exposure and comment on numerous blogs, and other social media from sources both in Jersey and elsewhere, public pressure must eventually overcome the conspiracy of silence within the Jersey "establishment" and inaction from the States and investigative bodies.
"Inside Out", the South West Channel Islands version, was shown on CI BBC One last night at 19:30 (Monday 10th December 2012) and contained a 15 minute report on the Savile/ Haut de la Garenne connection, together with interviews with victims, Lenny Harper and Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlDsA8_1uJY&feature=g-high-u This programme was screened last night. It was "missing" earlier this morning leading me to speculate upon sinister activities at the BBC in cahoots with the "authorities" in Jersey. Perhaps I did, on this occasion, do them both an injustice, for which I am truly sorry. The content of this video, covers in the first section, more revelations on the Savile/Haut de la Garenne connection. The interview with Senator Ian Le Marquand is fascinating as he turns evasion and waffle into an art form. Unfortunately, the interviewer allows him off the hook. We have not heard the last of the Je...
"Inside Out", the South West Channel Islands version, was shown on CI BBC One last night at 19:30 (Monday 10th December 2012) and contained a 15 minute report on the Savile/ Haut de la Garenne connection, together with interviews with victims, Lenny Harper and Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand . Home Affairs Minister Ian Le Marquand . I have been trying to find the recording of the Channel Island's "Inside Out" which was shown on BBC Television last night at 19:30. It contains the full report of the lead item on the CI News and has an interview with Senator Ian Le Marquand. His wafflin g and evasion of the questions is indicative of how the whole issue of historic child abuse in Jersey has been dealt with by the authorities in their attempts to cover up facts, discredit witnesses, victims and investigators and protect the perpetrators of the abuse. I shall continue with trying to find a video of the programme as it also has interviews ...
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/10096865.Weymouth_and_Portland_families_turn_to_food_bank_facility_as_food_prices_rise/?ref=mr AN INCREASING number of families in Weymouth and Portland are turning to a food bank because they cannot afford to eat. CRUCIAL ROLE: The food bank at Weymouth Baptist Church The consequences of the ConDem coalition and Osborne's economic policy, and its effect on one small corner of the Britain in the year 2012. It will only get worse. These "Food Banks" are opening across the country at a rate of more than 20 very week. The time was that many people thought that only those "up North" were in such economic difficulty as to be in need of such a facility. Now, even the affluent South is feeling the effects. Sandbanks, in Dorset, is one of the richest places in Britain and yet, food banks are open in Bournemouth with more planned. The need for food banks in the United Kingdom, is a stunning indictment of a political system ...