The Medway Broadside - Latest Comments

Re: Medway Broadside Launch Party Sunday 28 November

Søgemaskineoptimering — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 10:13:08 -0000

The Medway Broadside Independent news and culture for the Medway Towns ... Medway Broadside Launch Party Sunday 28 November ...

Re: Stuart Turner and the Flat Earth Society: ‘On the Brink of Misadventure’ album review

Diablotattoo Ray Hunt — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 09:00:37 -0000

That's our squirrel!! Capitan Spanky!!

Re: Houdini/Frau Pouch Split EP Review

Deathbeans — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:44:37 -0000

ep available here: http://fraupouch.bandcamp.com :)

Re: For Your Attention: Changes to the Broadside

Elj — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:18:08 -0000

Please don't drop Medway from the title

Re: Sweeps Festival 2012: Meet the bands

Djbfinkyfdvju — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:32:44 -0000

The gigs for Fate The Juggler are listed as "Saturday 6 May". I think both of their gigs are on Sunday the 6th.

Re: Introducing: Frau Pouch

Gaspode — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:59:54 -0000

I've seen this band grow from an idea to a slumbering monster. There's a lot of weird at art school and I don't mean the art. Freud and Jung would have had a field day with this lot. Beleive me I do know what I.m talking about. Joe? I blame the parents.

Re: For Your Attention: Changes to the Broadside

Jaye — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:12:09 -0000

Good luck whichever way you go; I'll look forward to reading it regardless - and thank you for the mention :)

Re: For Your Attention: Changes to the Broadside

Philip Kane — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:38:50 -0000

I think it's a good idea, though in honest self-interest I have to say that's as long as it doesn't clash with and become direct competition for The Regenerate. Reading through the suggested changes it doesn't look like it will though - more that the two would be complementary. Of course, if there is a clash, I may have to send assassins... ;-P

Re: For Your Attention: Changes to the Broadside

Mike — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:21:12 -0000

Waghorn always wears a traffic cone!

Re: For Your Attention: Changes to the Broadside

Alan Bourne — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:12:12 -0000

Much, much better. The only thing I don't like is the tagline, since a Broadside cannot be "a shot", and because any gunnery metaphor is bound to look destructive. The new Broadside sounds much more positive and constructive than the old. Maybe the name doesn't fit any more.

Re: For Your Attention: Changes to the Broadside

Julianfarrow — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:07:49 -0000

Love the piccie of Waghorn's hat.

Re: Who cares? Changes to Medway Council’s elderly care services

Colin Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:41:51 -0000

Inholms Cottage

Coos Lane

Slaugham

West Sussex

RH17
6AD

inholms1@btinternet.com main 01444 400481 mobile 07770965347

‘Care’ for the
Elderly in the Medway Towns

Dear Sir,

My parents have spent their entire lives living in Gillingham Kent. My
Father is almost 90 and my mother almost 89. Due to old age, my mother has
recently become severely disabled. She is diabetic and her legs are so badly swollen,
they sometimes burst. She is almost unable to walk and has double incontinence.
She is normally unable to last a night in bed without having an accident, even
wearing the most absorbant pads. Furthermore, she is very unstable, has a fall
history and is virtually unable to make even the short walk from the bedroom to
the loo unaided. When she does she often falls over and my father is too weak to
lift her.

There have been a number of occasions in the last months when my father
has had to call the Paramedics or neighbours to help him get my mother up after
she has fallen in the night. When she
has an accident, as there is no night cover, my father has had to change the
bed and clean and re-dress my mother.

Six months ago after an assessment by their so called ‘Care Manager’, Social
Services supplied a carer to come in each morning for half an hour to shower
and dress my mother.

In recent months my mother’s condition has become worse and accidents are
more frequent and she has now almost lost the use of her legs.

My wife and I do not live in the area, but we visit them and stay in
contact as much as we can.

We visited them a few weeks ago and we were shocked at the deterioration
in their situation, even though we had assurances when we spoke to them on the telephone
that they were coping. My father was both mentally and physically exhausted. He
had been up two or three times most nights of the past week after my mother had
more accidents. In addition to this they now both had diarrhoea, probably due
to the personal hygiene issues due to the constant incontinence. My mother had
become more frail and very upset as my father, who has a violent temper was now
constantly shouting at her and blaming her for their situation.

My father broke down and said he could not cope any longer. It was at
that point where it became clear to us that the time had come for my parents to
consider residential care. We gently raised this with them and proposed that
they should consider a respite period in a residential care home and if they
liked it they could, if they wished, stay there permanently.

My father served in the Royal Navy during the last war, this is very
fortunate as this entitles him and my mother to entrance to Pembroke House, a
residential home of the highest standard (3 star) run by the Royal Navy
Benevolent Fund and it just happens to be in Gillingham. I visited the home
after visiting my parents and made arrangements for both my mother and father
to be urgently admitted for respite care with the proviso that if they liked it
there, they could if they wish, stay permanently.

Then came the shock. The cost per person was £575 a week!

I took the view that this was an emergency and I would pay for the
respite just to give us some breathing space to look at all the options.

I then contacted Medway Social Services and asked if my parents could be re-assessed
with a view to the local authority contributing to their accommodation costs
should my parents decide to stay. A meeting was arranged and my parents ‘Care
Manager’ called round at their house and carried out her assessment whilst I was
present. She asked a few questions, my parents were able to clearly explain
their circumstances, precisely as I have described above. Having only been in
the house for no more than 15 minutes, the ‘Care Manger’ announced that she had
all the information she needed and would let us know of her decision. I
followed her out of the house I asked her for her opinion. I was dumbstruck
when she told me that in her view she didn’t think things were too bad and she
was going to propose; meal deliveries, for which my parents would have to pay
for and maybe a bit of extra help in the evenings. But she was definitely not
going to propose residential care and there was no way the local authority
would contribute anything.

I, at my own expense, arranged for my parents to enter Pembroke House for
two weeks respite. In the meantime, I appealed to the ’Care Managers’ superior
for a second opinion. She seemed quite sympathetic and agreed she would arrange
this.

My parents were now settling in to Pembroke House. I visited them there
after a week and they seemed to be much happier and relaxed. I then gently broached
the subject of staying permanently. My father’s first reaction was naturally,
resistance. ‘He did not want to give up his home and somehow he would manage’.
However, after more discussion he accepted the reality that he could no longer
manage looking after my mother and her staying in Pembroke House was the right decision.
Surprisingly, my mother who I thought would give the most resistance, said she definitely
wanted to stay. My mother and father
will not be separated after 62 years marriage and we agreed that he should also
stay at Pembroke House with my mother. We agreed that I should now formalise
their permanent residence with Pembroke House and should make arrangements to
sell their home, as they appreciated that as the local authority we not going
to pay anything, the money from their home was needed to pay the privately
funded£4,200 a month for their care. I will have to try to find the extra money
(£2500 a month and now less my parents attendance allowance!), in addition to
their meagre income until we sell the house, so that my parents may spend the
rest of their lives in a safe, dignified and comfortable way.

Mum & dad were now happy and looking forward to settling in to
Pembroke House:- Big sigh of relief all round!

The next day, I
was totally shocked , when I received a telephone call from a friend who had
just visited them who told me my parents were going home the next day!

Without informing me, Social Services had visited Pembroke House and carried
out a second assessment. However, it was carried out by the same ‘Care Manger’
as before , contrary to all other opinions, she came to the same conclusion and
told my parents that in her opinion they did not need to be in care and was
going to arrange for them to go back home. She even asked my father ‘what was
he going to do when the funds ran out?’

As you can imagine, this caused a
huge amount of distress. My parents were distraught and confused and I had to
drive over there to calm them. I have since assured my parents they can stay
there and I have told Social Services that my parents are privately funded, so
the decision for them to stay is within the family.

I called a meeting with the ‘Care Manager’ and her manager at Pembroke
House where I and my parents assured them that they had decided to stay. I
asked them not to visit my parents without an appointment and a witness. Once
again my parents started to settle in to their new life.

But, yet again
Social Services visited my parents (this time the ‘Care Managers’ manager) and
once again without consulting me. Again my parents were quizzed and told once
again the best place for them would be at their home. This caused all the stress
and upset all over again for all of us.

This is a totally irrational, unworkable idea. Social Services were
proposing that in addition the morning visit, they would provide meals at £200
a month, and some evening cover. This means in effect that they are back to
square one. If my mother wants to go to the loo in the night, there is no one
to help her. My dad may try or if he fails they both will have to lie in the
bed, in excrement until help comes in the morning. We don’t even treat
animals like this!

I have once again visited my parents and explained that staying in Pembroke
House is the best option for them, certainly for my mother. They again accept
this and have decided once again to stay.

I am now very concerned that Social Services will try to undo this and I
don’t know why. As we are funding privately I do not understand their
involvement. Why are they harassing us like this? I thought they were there to
help!

I have to say I have found the behaviour of Medway Social Services appalling.
The ‘Care Manager’ seems to be devoid of
any compassion or humanity and is only capable of ticking boxes, the same as a
Robot. Her manager is a bit more
compassionate and makes the point that their ‘hands are tied’ by bureaucratic
dogma.

I have to wonder if this is all a set up. You can claim to offer all the
most wonderful care packages possible………..but, to qualify, you have to pass
an assessment. If you don’t pass that you don’t qualify. Could it just be that
to ensure no one qualifies, you employ uncaring uncompassionate people, who
tick boxes and save the local authority money? Or am I being too cynical?

The bottom line is that it is current ‘Policy’ to keep elderly people in
their homes for as long as they can, although a good policy doesn’t always work,
there must be exceptions. You cannot apply unbending ridged dogma to such
matters. There has to be some flexibility, some compassion, some humanity. What
has happened to our ‘Welfare’ State?

Colin Smith

Inholms Cottage

Coos Lane

Slaugham

West Sussex

RH17
6AD

inholms1@btinternet.com main 01444 400481 mobile 07770965347

‘Care’ for the
Elderly in the Medway Towns

Dear Sir,

Six months ago after an assessment by their so called ‘Care Manager’, Social
Services supplied a carer to come in each morning for half an hour to shower
and dress my mother.

In recent months my mother’s condition has become worse and accidents are
more frequent and she has now almost lost the use of her legs.

My wife and I do not live in the area, but we visit them and stay in
contact as much as we can.

Then came the shock. The cost per person was £575 a week!

I took the view that this was an emergency and I would pay for the
respite just to give us some breathing space to look at all the options.

Mum & dad were now happy and looking forward to settling in to
Pembroke House:- Big sigh of relief all round!

The next day, I
was totally shocked , when I received a telephone call from a friend who had
just visited them who told me my parents were going home the next day!

I have once again visited my parents and explained that staying in Pembroke
House is the best option for them, certainly for my mother. They again accept
this and have decided once again to stay.

Colin Smith

Re: Youth is the answer for ailing Gills

Sarah — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:27:30 -0000

The other Gillingham team seem to be doing OK..... http://gillinghamladies.clu...

Re: Hoo Peninsula airport: a green perspective

Rob — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:30:47 -0000

I agree
The idea of this huge airport on our doorstep would be horrific for all of Kent

Re: Trouble on the buses

Elena Butters — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:03:32 -0000

What 'other alternative options' were there? And how is the walk from the shopping area to the bus stop too far to manage? It's hardly three miles away!

To be honest, I think some people are just looking for an excuse to moan. The new bus station looks much better than the Pentagon did, and I personally always resented having to walk through the entire Pentagon or down that weird spiral staircase to go down the High Street. The buses take much less time to go through Chatham now as well.

Re: Medway and The Health and Social Care Bill

Jacqui_berry — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:54:23 -0000

So when labour allow billions of pounds of public money to line pockets of private companies, its a "mistake" because they were rushed, but when the Tories do it, its an ideological attack. How do you square that circle? After all, it was new labour who were "extremely relaxed" about people becoming extortionately wealthy.

Re: Medway riots – the phantom menace

KevinE — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:03:21 -0000

"How does one distinguish a person from London to someone from Medway, do we look any different?"

It's not the look, Sophie, it's the sound: people from London are forever saying 'Gord bless yer, Guv'ner!"; "Strike a light"; "You flammin' Brute"; and of course they shouting "Bullseye! Come 'ere, Bullseye!"

Re: Jim Riley: Local Legend

Trcstap — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:10:37 -0000

Hey Jim, I saw you live many years ago on several occasions and I still have your Wipeout Album.
I haven't seen Jim for years now but would love to catch up again.
Trace

Re: Libraries give us power – Medway library services

Phil Dillon — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:23:01 -0000

Great writing. I think the camera makes us free, too :0)

Re: Hoo Peninsula airport: a green perspective

Tris Osborne — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:51:09 -0000

Great article - despite the local press making a joke of this proposal we should all be treating it very seriously indeed. The government have ruled out expansion of Heathrow and there is a huge lobby from the airport industry for a new International hub airport. The idea of putting it on an island in the Estuary is very expensive - an onsite option could again be considered.

Whether on Grain, Hoo or Cliffe - we need to remain vigilent or suffer a Boeing above our heads!

Re: Medway and The Health and Social Care Bill

Tristan Osborne — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:48:43 -0000

Whilst I accept all governments have had faults. To compare the huge state investment with the wholesale privatisation agenda we now witness is on a different scale.

Labour made mistakes over PFI in a drive to get new hospitals quickly. Tories are ideologically driven to break up the NHS and introduce an insurance-based system bit-by-little-bit.

Re: Medway and The Health and Social Care Bill

Alex — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:02:57 -0000

With too many years of working in the NHS behind me I do wonder if any more money could possibly leave the NHS, lining the pockets of private firms than it already does.

The financial (mis)management of the NHS procurement process has gone on for years and years. It is probably a close contender to that other state monolith the MOD in terms of the billions wasted on rip off contracts that would never be tolerated never mind condoned in the private sector.

If the NHS came even half way to being the NHS the nation so likes to romanticise about then I'd be as scathing about these changes as the next critic. Sadly it is not and hasn't been for decades.

Re: Review: Bill Lewis at The Deaf Cat Cafe

Michael O'Connor — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:56:46 -0000

Great review, Philip. And I agree with every word.

Re: Jim Riley: Local Legend

AJ — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:54:45 -0000

Think you might find the following link interesting: http://www.wrinklyrockerscl... Anyway got to agree - great article - very insightful. Thanks.

Re: Review: Medway Happenings 2011

Frau Pouch — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:20:28 -0000

Thanks to everyone who came, especially those who braved the rain and wind early on in the day during our set! It was lovely to see so many of the medway arts community there. Special thanks to Phil of Medway Eyes and Bob for arranging the whole event, the Dillons for their great photos, Jay for doing such a good job with the sound, Andrew Day and his friend for manning the Oxjam stall, Stuart Turner for giving us a lift with our equipment and Stephen Morris for scribbling away in preparation for this review! Woah, that was a long sentence. Like an Oscar's speech, but with fewer histrionics ;)