We'll catch you...

I received a distressed call from my parents last Friday evening. A car had gone through their fence, the third time such a thing has happened. The last time it had happened, the car missed my father by a few inches as he tended his plants in his front garden.

The difference then was that the driver admitted her mistake and apologised. She was insured and details were exchanged. All was good. This time, it was quite different. The driver had stolen the vehicle, crashed it into my parent's house and fled the scene. There was no apology, no exchange of insurance details, just a wrecked fence and garden, and substantial damage to my parent's home. The police were of course very supportive, but there is no help or advice as to what to do next. They're just interested in taking away the evidence and catching the culprit - the victim just has to pick up the pieces, in this case literally.

We have a good description of the driver - early 20's, short ginger hair, slim wearing a blue top and trousers. He was apparently injured and limping. If there was an offence for leaving a vehicle unsecured, then this should apply to the vehicle's owner who idiotically left the keys in the ignition, an open invitation to any passing would be thief.
No doubt the insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding the corner of the house, for having had a structural engineer visit from South Holland Council, this is what we're told is needed. What isn't 'covered' is the shock, distress and damage caused emotionally. My parents are well into their 70's. They don't need this and an incident on this scale is too much for them to cope with.
The mindless idiot who caused this may be laughing now at having caused so much damage and distress, but the police have his finger prints and we have a good description from a witness. It's just a matter of time before you are caught, and you will be.
Yet again, we have another example of just how lawless this county of Lincolnshire is - particularly where driving and road safety is concerned. This isn't an isolated incident - it happens all too frequently. How long before someone is killed...?

UPDATE
This did finally reach the attention of our local newspaper the Spalding Guardian.
The article can be viewed here: http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/latest-news/terrific-bang-as-car-hit-our-house-1-5702001

A Vote of Despair

I really like this cartoon printed in today's Sunday Express. For me, it sums up the events of the last couple of days and their repercussions very well. I didn't vote UKIP, though I was tempted. Instead I plumped for one of our Lincolnshire Independents, Val Gemmel who lives locally and is in touch with local and rural affairs in this part of Lincolnshire. Mine was certainly a vote of despair having lost all trust and respect for the main three parties. As it is, the Conservatives lost control of Lincolnshire though it now has the status of 'no overall control'.
What is clear is the rise in support for UKIP and if this were to be reflected in a general election, where would this leave the other main parties?

A Bad Day for Our NHS

I will start this post by saying that I am proud of our National Health Service. I suppose it could be argued that I am biased in my view as I 'work' for the NHS providing support for mental health services here in Lincolnshire. Whilst there is much good done each day, the report published today into Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust highlights an unacceptable failing in basic care, respect and duty. The report will bring no comfort whatsoever to the families of those who's lives were lost as a result of these failings, but good must come from it. The Prime minster has announced the creation of an Inspector of Hospitals. Frankly this shouldn't be needed if hospital management did their jobs properly, checking the work of their staff and consulting patients on the quality of the care and treatment they have received.
It is a bad day for the NHS. People oversees will read about massive failings within one Trust, but their perception of the entire NHS will be influenced by this. This is of course wrong. Our NHS, although one organisation, is split into regional units which themselves are broken down by county. Each one of these, for the most part, operates independently and management policy can vary from Trust to Trust. I know myself that Lincolnshire operates differently to other county Trusts. There is huge emphasis on ensuring the views of patients are gained and this process is run by an independent body. There is also a programme of hospital inspections across the county, something I have volunteered to become involved with.
The wrongs which were allowed to take place in Staffordshire cannot be allowed to happen anywhere else and those in charge at the time should be held responsible. What would be equally wrong is to assume the entire NHS is riddled with bad practise and poor care.

Andrew Harrison

A couple of hours ago, I learnt that Andrew Harrison of SHINE died Monday afternoon. Many will know him as 'Captain Rainbow' after his AOL email address.
Andrew had suffered with mental health issues for many years and used to work in the NHS until his illness forced early retirement. He decided to devote his time and energy to promoting mental health awareness and lobbied the NHS and health professionals regularly to provide funding and better care for the growing numbers of sufferers throughout Lincolnshire. Andrew did a lot of good work for a lot of people and there will be many this evening who will be shocked and distraught at his early death.
I had met Andrew a few weeks ago when I attended a course he was running at Renew+ in Lincoln with one of my colleagues. I came away in no doubt that Andrew was passionate about mental health, and though a little eccentric, he knew all there was to know on the subject. I was glad that we had had the opportunity to meet him and had begun to form connections between the SHINE Network and our group in South Holland. By working together, I was convinced we could do good things and extend the support we provide to a larger number of people.
It is so sad to think that someone who trained others to look after themselves and spot the signs of depression and mental illness, surrounded by so many supportive people, has himself decided to end his life. It is a reminder that mental illness can take the ultimate toll on anyone, even the best trained and best informed. Andrew's death is an enormous loss to the campaign for better mental health awareness and the fight against the path of destruction this government has set for the NHS and mental health services. I just hope that SHINE and the countless other organisations Andrew was involved with continue his work and maintain the fight for the growing number of people affected by mental illness.

I have sent a message of condolence on behalf of my support group, Blue Skies. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andrew's family, friends and colleagues at this tragic time.

RIP Andrew.

Involve@Lincoln have a dedicated page on Facebook where messages can be read and left;

www.facebook.com/pages/incolvelincoln

There is an Andrew Harrison Memorial site where messages of condolence can be left;
http://andrewmemorial.posterous.com/

Awareness & Prevention

Yesterday I attended my first session of NHS training in Lincoln with my colleague Emma. The subject matter is rather dark - specifically suicide - how to spot the signs and how to prevent it. The numbers of those contemplating or attempting suicide are truly frightening and as life for many becomes increasingly stressful, these numbers are increasing.
The session was very well attended by volunteers, carers and mental health staff from across Lincolnshire. The chap who gave the training, Jeff, delivered the session very well explaining how he used to work in the special forces and having become injured, lost the use of his legs. Coming to terms with his disability after many years of being so active eventually took its toll and he decided he couldn't go on. Thankfully he was saved and has regained the use of his legs following an operation. He subsequently decided to use his experience to help others and prevent needless deaths from suicide in Lincolnshire.
His story was too much for one of our group and she left after just an hour. The subject matter was just too dark and she was clearly unprepared. It is understandable. We all went very dark places during the session, which was necessary to fully understand those we were being empowered to help.
The training 'SafeTalk', is the first part of an initiative the NHS are trying to roll out countrywide. The second part is called 'Asist'. So far, I have learnt how to identify the signs of suicide and how to confront someone I suspect to be suicidal. Once the act has been prevented, the concerned is passed to someone who is 'Asist' trained. These people have the skills to intervene and get the necessary help from specialists who are able to provide long term care and solutions. In effect, the aim of the initiative is to provide a network of skilled individuals who are available to provide help whenever needed. A register provides the details of all those with SafeTalk and Asist skills and this ensures that the help gets to those who need it, and fast.
I think this is a vitally important initiative and one that has been in place in Canada and the US for some time. In fact this is actually Canadian-born, but its concept is one that can be easily implemented in any country.
My involvement and that of my colleagues is important as we will come into contact with people who suffer with mental health problems and thoughts of suicide. I will also be able to provide help anyone in my area and literally intervene to save their life. It sounds dramatic I know, but this is exactly what it is. It is spotting and preventing someone from taking their own life, and showing them there is another way out.
Some would ask why I would want to get involved with suicide prevention. Well, in short, I've been in their position and I was able to prevent myself from following through with the act of suicide. For me, it felt there was no way out of my situation. In truth, there is always a way out and thankfully I found it in time. I understand them as I have been them. If I can save someone then that's a good thing.

Photo of the Day 5

This photo was taken this morning at the Long Sutton Medical Centre here in Lincolnshire. The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening vehicle visits at least once a year and my father and I have our eyes photographed to make sure there is no damage to the blood vessels. Any damage can be an early indication of possible blindness so it's very important to attend regularly.

Because the weather is getting more and more freaky at the moment, I've included a bonus photo. This was taken mid-afternoon and shows a storm front as it worked its way down from the north-west. A wall of cloud literally turned the blue winter sky an orange-grey and brought with it strong winds and horizontal rain.