Tuesday 28 May 2019

More Blocks and Digs

I have carried out another round of blocks and digs; I think to celebrate St Theo's Day which is this Saturday coming. In this case I struck down four people, all of whom had badly mistreated me a few months ago when Peter Robbins and others started spreading defamatory lies about me, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-robbinsic-12-document.html and: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2018/10/programme-304-podcast-what-really.html and: http://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2019/06/programme-326-podcast-what-else-really.html. Some of them just unfriended or blocked me quietly on Facebook. One person wrote to me to tell me they were doing so and why. I say "why", but they didn't really explain anything and they refused to listen to my protestations of innocence. They got the first one! There are many others I could name on top of the four I gave blocks and digs to yesterday, and I may find out that there are others I'm not yet aware of. I know I must not let myself become consumed with this or I will become bitter; but it felt good to fight back. I fought back in the best way a hospital porter, or ex-hospital porter, can. I was quite elated after I had done it and I still feel satisfaction at what I did. There will be another campaign in due course.

Tuesday 21 May 2019

Sarah Kuteh loses Appeal

I'm sorry to relate that Sister Sarah Kuteh has lost her appeal in the case of her discharge from the Darent Valley Hospital in Kent, see here for background: https://hpanwo-hpwa.blogspot.com/2016/12/nurse-sacked-for-praying.html. After her dismissal in 2016 Mrs Kuteh appealed through the NHS trust system and then initiated a lawsuit. The court heard that the intensive care sister endured numerous complaints about her "religious preaching". One patient described her behaviour as being "like a Monty Python skit". Despite the fact that with full training and over fifteen years of experience, she should have been an invaluable member of the hospital personnel, she was sacked. I can't help wondering if she wasn't a Christian, would this aversion be reduced? I recall from my own service that there is a wide variety of religious opinions, including non-belief, in the NHS. Some people liked to speak openly about their faith and others were more private. This sometimes included discussions with patients. I myself had some amazing conversations with patients about all kinds of subjects. The complaints made against Sister Kuteh do not appear to be that serious. The worst thing anybody said is that her actions were "very bizarre". Not "harmful" or "abusive"; just "bizarre". That doesn't sound too bad to me. What's more, the statement: "She spent more time talking about religion than doing the assessment" is mere hyperbole. How long did she spend on each? Did you time it? Give it to me in hours and minutes otherwise it is meaningless and should not be submitted as evidence. In her defence, Mrs Kuteh brought up human rights laws about religion that I discuss in the background links below. Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7053709/NHS-nurse-offered-Bible-cancer-patient-LOSES-unfair-dismissal-appeal-tribunal.html. Actually, even if the court correctly interpreted the Nursing and Midwifery Council regulations, the point hanging over this whole matter is that the NHS is incredibly selective in what it chooses to react against. My own case was similar to Sister Kuteh's except that it involved behaviour off duty, yet I was spat out with all the urgency of a mouthful of hot lava. At the same time, the health services shrug their shoulders at far more serious matters, such as appallingly low standards of performance and conduct from operatives. As I said before, my advice to anybody in the NHS is: DO NOT be good at your job. That is unless you want a very short career. Not only will they fail to respect you, they will hate you for it.

Friday 3 May 2019

Peter Mayhew Dies

I'm very sorry to report that the great hospital porter Peter Mayhew has passed away. The enormous seven-foot-three-inch actor was the man inside Chewbacca, the giant "wookie" alien in the original Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith in the prequel trilogy and The Force Awakens from the new trilogy. He was also acted as an assistant to Joonas Viljami Suotamo, the actor who played Chewbacca in The Last Jedi. By then ill health meant he couldn't don the furry suit himself for that final epic. His co-stars Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, as well as the director George Lucas, are very sad at their loss and paid tribute to Mayhew, saying that he was as warm and loving as his character. When he was portering at Kings College Hospital in London they had no uniform in stock to cover his huge frame and he had to wear a special suit. A ward sister from Kings Tweeted: "Star Wars colleagues talk about sweet-nature of Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) who's just died. In 70's I was a ward sister at Kings College and remember the giant porter who was gentle and kind to our patients. I also recall wonderment on their faces as Peter arrived with a wheelchair!" Source: https://twitter.com/JennyDarnley/status/1124219985335848960. Other NHS veterans, as well as actors, have sent their respects. He wanted to be an actor, and appeared briefly in Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, but thought that his career would be limited by his significant stature. How wrong he was! Peter Mayhew, On Eternal Nightshift. Rest in Peace, Brother Porter.