CREATING A HEALTHLY LIFESTYLE FOR THE 50 PLUS GENERATIONS

CREATING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE - A Personal Case Study - Learning from Experience

Ray Williams MA MPhil MBA DIPM

To Appreciate Your Present, you need to understand Your Past


For the 50 Plus Generations a few reflections from one 79 year old Male.
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano. Romans Philosophy. A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body.

My Intergenerational Perspective comes from the age 79 years, soon to be 80 in November.
A recent Research Study from Bucks County Council Wellbeing Board  concluded that the average lifespan of a Man in Buckinghamshire was 80 years 5 months. I am hoping to buck the trend !
To understand where I am coming from......I have identified 3 life phases......so that I can present to you factual evidence from one person.....me. I think that I am typical of the Businessman fraternity up to the age of 51 but I am untypical of people in the 50 Plus Generations. Perhaps after hearing my views, you might agree that more people should follow my example ? You will decide later.

3 Phases of My Life cycle

Personal Research Study
Characteristics - psychographics - lifestyle study. 4500 Campers and Caravanners. Invented the word ZOISTICS - statistical study of Lifestyle characteristics. Greek Zoi...Life..Statistics.
Campers were much more physically active than Caravanners. ( Reference University of Lancaster
R J Williams 1984 ).  I wonder if campers live Longer than Caravanners ? Maybe a future research study ?


FOUNDATION YEARS
9 - 21 Phase -  Active sports. Rugby, Rowing LSE, Cycling, Swimming, Walking , Educational mental exercise. Vegetables. Steaks. Beer.
12 stone. Friends. Girlfriends. Social life. Sense of achievement.
Goals. Self esteem. Overcoming grief. Father kia  RAF Bomber Command

VERDICT - Healthy Lifestyle.

MID LIFE YEARS
22 - 50 Phase - Married, 5 children. MD. Entertaining. Parties. No sport. Lots of food and drinking. Self esteem.. Health concerns. 14.5 stone. Type 2 Diabetes. TIA mini stroke. Death of wife and son -high stress levels. Resilience. Inner strength related to 9-21 experiences. Learnt how to cope with Stress driven by need to perform well in Chief Executive Role and to look after young children. I had to survive.

VERDICT -Unhealthy Lifestyle.


LATTER YEARS
51- 79 Phase. Joined Wycombe 50 Plus Club. Past Chairman. Executive Committee, Chairman User Panel - Wycombe Leisure Centre. Volunteering. Music Composition. Keyboard player.Writer of 103 Articles on Political, Social and Cultural Affairs in Britain Today.
Mental exercise. www.eurekys.blogspot.com  Google EUREKYS..
Weight 11.7lbs. Regular active exercise.

VERDICT - Healthy Lifestyle.

EXERCISE REGIME
Profile weekly schedule is -

Monday - 50 Plus 3-4 hours table tennis, short tennis, social interaction.
Tuesday - volunteering at Wycombe Swan
Wednesday - Tennis, social 2 hours
Thursday - Tennis and social 3 hours
Friday - 50 Plus 3-4 hours table tennis, short tennis, social
Saturday - Allotment 2 hours, Volunteering at Wycombe Swan
Sunday - Tennis and Social 3 hours.

PROFILE OF WYCOMBE 50 PLUS CLUB
An excellent example of how to remain Active in later Life.
Current Chair - Maureen Dover. First Lady Chair in 34 years. Excellent Leader.
Wycombe 50 Plus Club
400 Members. 80 on waiting list.
Operate at Wycombe Leisure Centre Handy Cross. New £30 Million Wycombe Leisure Centre opened March 2016 by HRH The Duke of Kent. State of the Art facilities.
Winner 2015 - Pride of Buckinghamshire Award for Healthy Lifestyles. The Club was described as .....A Beacon of Inspiration in the Community.
www.wycombe50plus.org.uk Google for full details. Website created and maintained by Member - Managing Director Penn Computing Services - John Finnemore.
Activities........yoga, tai chi, swimming, muscle strengthening, keep fit classes, Zumba, spinning. Table tennis, badminton,short tennis, short mat bowls, racket ball.
Demand from Over 50 Generations is very strong in Wycombe District,

React games winners -South of England Champions 2015 - all sporting activities against 50 Plus Clubs in South of England - Reading, Woking, Wellimgton, Winchester, Alton amongst others.
Key Activities at 50 Plus - Exercise Classes - Social Events - oversubsctibed most of the time.
Monthly Walks 3-4 miles local. Organised bt 50 Plus Members.

Structure of Management Wycombe 50 Plus 10 Committee Members Volunteers for Duties.
Self funding.No external funding.  Places for People sponsorship for sporting polo shirts.
Executive Committee - Strategy and Operations
Social Committee - organising monthly trips.
Gazette bi monthly 8 pages magazine. Free to Members. Created, Maintained. Published and Managed free by Member Sue Fowler.
User Panel - WDC Places for People Plc Users Activities - Ray Williams Chairman. Regular input from Maureen Dover and other 50 Plus Members.
Places for People cooperation. PfP is one of the leading and most successful Leisure Management Companies in the UK. Stuart Lee General Manager Wycombe Leisure Centre and his staff have excellent relations with 50 Plus Club and regular communications and feedback - a key requisite for maintaining a high level of Member satisfaction.

Recent Features -new website, new logo, new motto ( Creating a Healthy Lifestyle ) new poloshirts, PfP sponsorship, Awards. REACT games Champions.
Blueprint for Government Suggested to Minister of Health.
50 Plus Schedule at Wycombe Leisure Centre - list activities.Refer to website for full information.

WEEKLY PROGRAMME
Monday pm
Wednesday am
Friday am
Social programme - list of  activities - trips, dinners, quiz, dances, carols at Christmas. Offshoots - dinner parties, holidays, races Ascot and Windsor. Manor House Ashbury hotel complex - sports and artistic activities. 34 people 2016. All enhancing a feeling of Belonging and Wellbeing.

Members Volunteering for -
National Trust
Theatre Ushers
Cancer Research
Red Cross
Hospital support

MY CURRENT LIFESTYLE
Personal Activities
Holidays 6 weeks Spain, plus Devon, Bournemouth, others Australia
Sun. Vitamin D important
Skin Cancer dangers to be avoided

The Indiana University recent research study found that Omega 3 fatty acids in oily fish, vitamin D from sunshine and resveratrol from red wine plays a key role in affecting longevity.
My wife and I spend some 3 months of the year in Spain or Australia and we get plenty of vitamin D
We also eat the Mediterranean Diet when in the sunshine and also regularly at home in the UK.

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research Australia after researching 1,600 adults aged 50 and over found that  Eating the right amount of fibre in Bread, cereals and fruits can help us avoid disease and disability in old age.

Food typical Regime - Ray Williams

Breakfast - shredded wheat, porridge, banana, coffee

Lunch - Small salad ham sandwich on brown seeded bread, coffee. Olive oil dressing.

Dinner - various meats plus range of vegetables, yogurt, fruit
1/3 glasses per week red wine these days. No beer.

No smoking. Sopped smoking some 10 years ago.
Regular Sleep pattern - 8/9 hrs per night.
Retire no later than 11.30pm each night.
No coffee after 7pm.

KEY PRESENT HEALTH INDICATORS

Weight 11.7 lbs
Blood Sugar 6.7
Chloresterol 3.2
Average Blood Pressure 125 / 75
Biological Age - 62

Medication has helped in addition to a Healthy Lifestyle regime.

OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF 50 PLUS MEMBERS
Adventurism - camping, caravanning, mobile homes
Home Life is core - family connections, happy marriage, loss of a partner
Hill walking. Allotments.

KEY FACTORS
Balanced Lifestyle
Social Activity
Self Worth
Believe in yourself
Collective support activities

SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Do Breathe: Calm your mind. Find focus. Get stuff done. Author Michael Townsend Williams book - Do Breathe - available from Amazon, Foyles, Waterstones and other bookshops.
Do breathe App  Called Breathe Sync
50 Plus Club Website
Leisure Centre facilities
Writing articles, Books
Music Composition
Painting Clubs
Uni of the 3rd Age
Bridge Clubs
Tennis Club
Swimming aerobics.
Walking Programmes
National Trust - Social interaction
Manor House Sports Hotel
Ashbury Hotel Golf Sports Hotel
Travel
Hobbies - music. Model Making, Painting, Fishing
Mindfulness - Michael Thownsend Williams - game.
Reading - passive

Food and Drink programmes - Guides to Healthy Living.
Weight Loss Clubs

You cannot get bored in Retirement - it is up to you !  The 50 Plus Generations in an Ageing British Population can play a key role in the Community. There are so many options to play a positive role and to remain healthy.

Preventative Healthcare rather than Remedial Healthcare.
Reduce the demands and costs of NHS.

DEALING WITH ILLNESS
Typical illnesses for 50 Plus

Hip replacement
Knee replacement
Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Anaemia
Athritis
Tia / Strokes
Skin cancer
High Cholesterol
Smoking problems
Dementia
Depression
Stress
Cancer

As indicated earkier, The Bucks Health and Wellbeing Board in one of their Health Reports stated that Women in Buckinghamshire had a Life Expectancy of 84.0 years and Men had a Life Expectancy of 80.5 years. It should be remembered hat in any statistical sampling there may be errors ranging from +/-3%.....+/-5%.....even +/-10%. depending on the size of the research sample.
Since I am 80 in November, I better enjoy my few months left of my Life on Earth !
However, the good news is that Life Expectancy rates are rising all the time. Wonderful !

In the Wycombe 50 Plus Club, we have many Members who are still active late in their 80s and some in their early 90s, They are a joy to behold and they are very inspirational and alert people.They may suffer from various aches and pains but they have a very positive attitude to life.
We should remember the Romans - The Mind and body functions are interconnected.

 I recommend the WOW. Leaflet from Wycombe District Council highlighting Health and Fitness Clubs in High Wycombe - Quite a wide range of activities. Movers and Shakers are one of these Clubs who offer exercise regimes for the 50 Plus Generations.

PROPOSAL TO GOVERNMENT
RJW has written to -

• Minister of Health
• Chief Executive NHS England
• Chief Executive Chilterns NHS
• Chilterns Commissioning via Sue Hyward Agent to Wycombe MP
• Rt.Hon .Steve Baker MP Wycombe
• Chief Executive Public Health England.

RJW Proposal to the Government - Promote 50 Plus Clubs. Use Wycombe 50 Plus as Blueprint. Good example with new £30 Millions Leisure Centre at High Wycombe.
This would be a low cost high impact Promotion including a Video, Literature, Case Study from Wycombe 50 Plus Club, Testimonials emailed and posted to Local Authorities throughout the UK.
Objective - Establish 50 Plus Club like Wycombe. Improve Healthy Lifestyles.

Collective Inertia is  a barrier to decisions.
Each one passed the buck.
Public Health England - Chief Executive wants proof statistics There are already a Myriad of statistics in the Public Domain - Exercise is good for you, smoking is bad for you, too much alcohol is bad for you, loneliness can affect your health,
.
REGULAR EXERCISE HELPS CONTAIN THESE ILLNESSES
Health Challenges - 50-90 Generations
Diabetes type 2 Control
Hip replacements Recovery
Knee replacements Recovery
Importance of exercise is Key
High blood pressure ....BNU work ,,,is there a correlation between exercise and lowering high blood pressure.
Loneliness ....50 Plus essential for people contact.
Muscle and joint pain.....exercise does help..... arthritis is  better with exercise.
Little and Prevention of Dementia.
Cancer
Stress

CONCLUSIONS
My Conclusions - 11 Key Positive Outcomes of 50 Plus Membership

1- There is a direct health correlation between people who join the 50 Plus Clubs with all the benefits - exercise and social and those who remain static lifestyles. Creating  Healthy Lifestyles motto.

2- Table tennis is a proven way of stimulating the brain...recent BBC study programme. Maybe helps prevent dementia or delays dementia.

3- Wycombe 50 Plus has many members still active in their 80s and 90s. Many still play and go on walks.Evidence ?

4- 50 Plus involvement is helpful in bereavement.Welfare Officer Collective support in illness and bereavement.

5- Helps prevent loneliness.Coffee mornings. Social events. Singles catered for not left out.

6- Helps recovery from operations hips knees examples.

7- Improves healthy mind
and attitude. Doers not takers. Volunteering.

8- Lowers weight.

9- Lowers blood pressure BNU study yet to confirm. I believe that it does help to control high blood pressure.

10- Improves energy levels after exercising.

11- Special classes improves circulation and muscle strength.

Theses are my views.
Maybe one day more people will realise the benefits of an active lifestyle. My views may be unscientific but a good pointer.

However, still difficult to escape Ageing Process and hereditary illnesses.. One day perhaps.


Challenge for the Future to everyone interested in Creating Healthy Lifestyles...........

HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE THE 50 PLUS GENERATIONS
TO CREATE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE RATHER THAN AN UNHEALTHY
SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE -

To reduce health problems such as Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Attacks, Strokes, TIAs, Joint Failure, Depression, Loneliness.

ANSWER......Exercise on a regular and enjoyable basis. Socialise on a regular basis. Participate in Volunteering.

HOW ?

Here are some current methods that need to be expanded.

1- Recommendations from friends and family who have achieved health benefits from joining a Club such as Shakers and Movers or Wycombe 50 Plus Club.

2- Offer of Free Trial Sessions from Health Clubs of all kinds

3- Open Day invitations from Active Health Clubs

4- Recovery from operations needing exercise to achieve full recovery and normal physical movement of knees, hips, muscles.

5- Doctor's Recommendation

6-  Local Authority Advertising benefits.

7- Government Advertising, a Promotion and Funding.

8- Recommendation from NHS and Private institutions such as BUPA.

9-  Direct Promotion from Health Clubs

10- Champions of Healthy Lifestyles - Seminars, Conferences. BNU work and promotion via Press Articles.

11-  Government to promote Nationwide network of 50 Plus Clubs

12- Continuation of Research by Universities and NHS into Healthy Lifestyles. Publication via Media. Case Studies.


RECENT RESEARCH

Professor Chenki Wu of Oregon State University recently concluded a Study into Longevity as follows -

It shows Working Longer brings older people a lot of economic and social benefits that could have an impact on the length of their lives.

This Conclusion needs a lot of reservations. It all depends on the type of work involved.

For example -

It is a known fact that Teachers suffer from considerable stress and many leave the Teaching Profession or retire early.

NHS staff suffer from stress if they are asked to work too many hours which gets worse after the age 60.

Workers who have sedentary jobs such as in  Banks, Civil Service, Insurance Industries who sit for long hours in front of a Computer Screen, suffer from a variety of illnesses as well as stress.

Business people who suffer the stress of meeting Monthly Sales and Profit targets also suffer from many illnesses and need to retire early.

Workers in Heavy Industries suffer back pains, lung problems and other illnesses. They cannot work beyond 65.

Long Haul Airline Pilots also suffer dangerous stress is they work long hours and work longer.

So, we must take these Research Conclusions carefully.

High durations of Work mean less Leisure Time. I believe that it is the Active Exercise Regimes and Sensible Healthy Food Regimes as indicated earlier in this Article that is the cause of a longer life.

MY PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS -:

1 -People in the 50 Plus Generations need more Leisure Time to take up more Active activities in Sport, Social Affairs and Personal Challenges to lead a Balanced Healthy Lifestyle. 

2 - Future Government Monetary Policies should increase Pensions considerably because the
65 Plus Pensioners will spend most of the extra Pension Monies. This is good for the Economy and not a drain. 

3 - Using some past Economic Theories as a guide - The Multiplier Effect on the GNP will be maybe 5 or more times the extra rate investment of pension monies provided. This will increase Consumer Demand and Increase the Level of Employment.

4 - Active enjoyable Leisure Time for the older generations is more important than Work to improve Longevity.


5- Any future study of the benefits of Working longer to increase longevity Must take into consideration the negative factors of time taken to travel to and from the Workplace.

Otherwise, I believe that the results of the research can be biased and to be frank, totally misleading.

For example 

In all the major Cities in the World - London, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney  - it takes workers on average 3 hours to travel to and from work. each day. This causes lots of stress.
As the pressure mounts for better Sales and Profit results, Managements expect Workers to work overtime - another cause of stress and lack of Family involvement - sometimes leading to friction within a marriage with disastrous emotional and financial consequences.
On Public Transport, such as Underground Transportation, there are large risks of germs and illnesses like colds and influenza.
Working well into latter years is not a good thing for longevity. On the other hand Volunteering locally can be good for Morale, Personal satisfaction and Personal Esteem - all  factors that contribute to Healthy Lifestyles - in my view.

The Oregon State University latest research says that there are economic benefits from Working Longer. Yes, for the Government maybe by prolonging Pension Payments to 67, 70 or more.
For the individual, it also means higher travelling costs - on the Train, Underground, Cost of Petrol consumption, Car Insurance Costs, Maintenance expenditure  and Stress !
Less Leisure time is bad for Health and Family Life.

MY PERSONAL ADVICE

Love yourself and Know yourself as the Ancient Greeks said - not in a vain, self centred, self flattering way but to appreciate your amazing human body. Look after and cherish your gift of life.
This will make you strong in mind and spirt so that your will overcome stress and achieve a happy Lifestyle.
The Romans did get it right after all.  

MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO should be your goal in Life - it does Create a Healthy Lifestyle. 


NOTE
For Circulation for academic purposes please Google EURKEYS.
Copyright Raymond Williams
Permission is granted for reprinting in Full or part.

Eurekys in the Registered Trade Mark of the Writings and Music Compositions of 
Ray Williams

2016 

BREXIT -THE FUTURE OF BRITISH PEOPLE LIVING IN SPAIN

BREXIT - The Future of Limited Free Movement of people in the European Union.

I think that we all must agree whatever way you intend to vote in the Referendum that so many lies and exaggerations are being made mainly by the IN supporters.
Recently on BBC Question time, a Labour supporter made the comment....If we vote OUT, what will happen to all the British
 people living in Spain ? They will be designated Migrants. They may have to leave Spain.
What a load of Rubbish ! It shows the ignorance about British people living in Spain.

Most of the British people living on the Costa del Sol for example are property owners. Some are designated Permanente Residente and some are designated Non Residente.
We have had a property in Spain for 15 years. We are not Migrants.
We pay Spanish Wealth Taxes even though we do not rent out our property and we have no income in Spain. We pay IBI and Basuras - local taxes including refuse collection. We pay into the Spanish Economy for all food and drink, meals at restaurants, petrol. In addition we pay for a Spanish accountant to pay our wealth tax annually to the Spanish Tax authorities.
At our Complex, we pay for all services - the Spanish Gardener, Spanish Energy, Spanish Painters and so on.

In other words, we and millions of other British residents contribute to the Spanish Economy. Oh, do not forget we have poured some €200,000 investment when buying our property and in doing so provided employment which Spain badly needs in the Building Industry.
So, we are not Migrants. We are beneficial to the Spanish Economy.
We do not claim benefits.

What will happen then to the millions of British people living either permanently in Spain or who have a holiday home ?

Absolutely nothing !

The IN people who frighten us should take note. You are speaking Rubbish. There is a world of difference between Migrants who are dependent on Welfare Payments and become a burden on Housing, Healthcare, Schools, interpreters and live in ghettos and People who invest in a EU country, pay their way and create employment.
The same situation also applies to investors in France, Portugal, Italy and Turkey to name just a few countries where British people have holiday Homes.
If we leave the EU Britain will continue to welcome inward investment if it contributes to the British Economy in a positive manner. So will Spain.






















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THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE GLUTTONS

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE GLUTTONS
Passive Shareholders need to wake up.

I am totally fed up with Recruitment companies and Headhunters saying - You must pay the market rate in the Global market for Senior Executives.
Great is it not for their fees !
Well, I am one who thinks that it is a disgrace and scandal that BP Board of Directors proposed to pay their Chief Executive
£14 Millions a year remuneration package for producing poor annual results - a loss of £3.4 Billion. His salary goes up 20%. Even if BP recorded good results, this level of remuneration is perverse. Thank Goodness that the shareholders rejected the proposal. However, BP are not alone. Most of our Top 100 companies and Banks overpay their Top Directors. Of course, the Remuneration system is a vicious circle. All the Directors are Gluttons. If they agree the top salary for the Chief Executive, there is a cascade effect on their own Gluttonous remuneration packages.
The same Gluttonous statement applies to the Civil Service, although on a more modest scale. Most of the Permanent Secretaries and Top Scale Civil Servants are all overpaid. The same self perpetuating circle of salary assessments is at work in all Government Departments. We must not forget the other Gluttons - The NHS Chief Executives and the Chief Executives of Quangos.

Just consider this for a moment - with an income of £14 Millions, after allowances, how much tax will the Chief Executive pay ? Do they pay 40% tax rate or is this watered down in some way ?
Instead of hounding MPs, how about hounding Chief Executives who earn £1million plus per annum for tax ? Or for that matter, check and double check those people earning £500,000 plus per annum.

I want to make my view crystal clear - these Chief Executives and Senior Executives do NOT deserve these grotesque levels of remuneration. They are not worth it and do not deserve it.
Teams of workers make profits for companies. Consumers make profits for companies.

The pyramid of high salaries for some of these arrogant, aloof, poor Directors has gone high enough. Time for a 70% tax on salaries over £200,000. If they want to leave the UK in search of more money, let them and good riddance.

See my previous Article - The Gluttons of our Society. Google EUREKYS and scroll down the Menu on the right.
Britain, USA for example have produced a Society where some people earn £6,700 in pensions, many workers earn between £12,000. - £25,000 less taxes and a top echelon earn £500,000 per annum. Is this a fair, decent Society ? No it is not.
The trouble with the Labour Party is that they think that £30,000 per annum makes someone rich so they are candidates for more taxation. For goodness sake Labour wake up and concentrate on the Gluttons.
Conservative Party - do not overvalue these Gluttons. Remember that there are dozens of Executives who will willingly step into Director shoes if the Gluttons wish to leave the UK. They will not be missed so do not talk up their value.

Today in Britain we live in a very unbalanced, unfair Society. No-one is doing anything about it.
You will hear Politicians say - We must reward initiative. Yes, of course we must. But, do we have to pay Chairmen and Chief
Executives £1 Million plus a year ?

Corporate Governance is a Team effort. It has many layers. Hundreds of people contribute to the success of the company.
Shareholders to not create success. So, they must take equal shares with the Workforce in Financial returns. Yes, a revolution in thinking about Returns on Capital Employed and Returns on Worker Efforts. At present there is s massive imbalance.

Time to start reviewing  the rewards of success, high income taxation and the rewards of stakeholders.

Tell the Inspector of Taxes at the HMRC to concentrate on the Directors of the Financial Times Top 1,000 companies and to concentrate resourses on this sector.
Investigate - Remuneration packages, investments, tax paid, money transfers to companies, offshore investments.
Priory Two - investigate Football stars, Music stars.
But, also tell the Government to provide the right level of staffing for the HMRC to be able to do the job. This is key priority. Also, the staff must be trained to do the thorough investigation.

IMF AND BREXIT

BREXIT - The Doomsday Economic Forecasts from the IMF

If the UK vote Leave in the Referendum

If the UK vote to leave the EU, no wonder Economic Bodies such as the IMF predict uncertainty, disruption and economic trading setbacks for the UK.
The IMF have good reason to take this stance. Why? Because if the UK cease to be a net contributor of £Billions into the EU funds, who do you think that the EU will turn to for bail outs if they need an injection of funds to support Greece and maybe Portugal, Romania, Bulgaria and others ? You have guessed it......the IMF and the ECB.
The IMF have a vested interest in seeing the UK remain in the EU.

Why should there be disruption and uncertainty ? Surely the EU want to continue to trade with the UK ? Surely, If the EU impose tariffs of say 10 per cent, the UK will retaliate ? In that case everyone is a loser.
Surely prosperity in Europe is dependent on good trading relationships with the UK.
Now consider this...the UK is the 5th largest economy in the World. It is one of the few stable countries with strong efforts to balance the books by 2020. If not by 2020, the trend is favourable and better than other countries in Europe.
Do you think that the USA, India, China, Commonwealth countries, South America will not want to trade with the U.K ?
Do you think the EU will want to press the self destruct button by limiting the flow of trade with the UK ?
Do you think the Management of EU companies will act as sheep if the EU makes it difficult for them to trade with the UK ?
High Employment is directly related to the level of trading profitability. The EU and UK have common interests as far as Employment is concerned and economic prosperity.

There may be a period of uncertainty but surely the people and business organisations have the determination, the skills, the innovation and the spirit of internationalism that will make the UK a strong Global trading country ? Are we so timid that we do not believe in out own strengths ?

Remember this key fact - if the UK leaves the EU, we will not be leaving Europe. We are Europeans, we love our European neighbours, we want good peaceful relations with everyone and we are not frightened to believe in ourselves.

Stock Markets go up and down. The UK will remain a safe country to invest in. It is a decent, democratic, peaceful country.
So, Doomsday economists, you get so many forecasts and predictions wrong, why should we believe you this time ?
My own predictions are as good as yours.
Take note, BBC Newsnight !

If the UK vote Leave, I predict that the EU will make substantial new offers to placate the UK Electorate particularly on Migration and Welfare Policy. This will encourage the UK Government to put these New proposals to the UK Electorate. The result........
The UK will remain in the EU because the vote to leave was so close.... 2016 result prediction

Leave EU -    52%

Stay in EU -  48%

GOVERNMENT LEAFLET ON THE EU REFERENDUM

THE GOVERNMENT LEAFLET ON THE EU REFERENDUM

Why the Government believes that voting to remain in the European Union is the best decision for the UK.

The view of one ordinary British Citizen

A leaflet costing some £8 Millions arrived at my door this morning.
It is a one sided opinion that recommends that we vote to stay in the EU when we vote in The EU Referendum, Thursday 23rd June 2016.
These are my views.

The Government should have given a balanced Pros and Cons about the EU.
£8Millions on a leaflet is too much for a one sided viewpoint.
The Government has plenty of opportunity on TV and the Press to put across their point of view, For example, Andrew Marr Show, Question Time, Newsnight and all the Press.

There is no doubt that there are Pros and Cons about the EU.
It is a question of balance and what the people want - even if they get it wrong. This is the fundamental principle of a Democracy.

Let us get one thing right - The UK is one voice amongst 28, soon to be more if Turkey, Macedonia and others join. More less prosperous countries wanting to get on the gravy train. I have lost count of the number of votes that the UK has lost in the EU Parliament.

As far as my MEP is concerned - I have never seen him, heard from him, had any feedback....nothing. He is the phantom MEP enjoying a large salary, expenses and doing very little for me and my fellow citizens. If he says that he is doing things, then he is a very bad communicator.

Now let us take a look at the Government's leaflet......

It says that we will keep our own border controls. This is laughable.
Take a look at the Migration statistics, the number of criminals that enter the UK, the denial of the European Court of Justice for the UK to expel convicted criminals....Human Rights are at stake. What about our Human Rights to be protected from known criminals.
The truth is that we do not control our own borders.

The Government says there will be tough restrictions on access to our Welfare system for EU migrants. Yes, delayed phased access, then they are on our gravy train. They will have access to healthcare, schooling, welfare , jobs- at our expense.
We need practical controlled borders such as the Australian System.
If we need migrants and they do not take UK citizens jobs, let them in by all means.

The Government says - we have a commitment to reduce red tape. How many times have we heard this before.

The Government claim that we will have a stronger economy if we stay in the EU is patently wrong. I question the validity of the claim that the EU buy 44 per cent of everything we sell abroad. This does not match the statistics provided by Cardiff Business School and the Parliamentary Committee that assessed trade between the UK and EU. The Government are implying that jobs will be lost, like in Steel, Fishing and other Industries ? The U.K. is an important market to the EU. In any case the EU and UK are signatories to the World Trade Organisation, OCED and other Trade links. Free Trade and Globalisation for better or worse is the name of the Trade game !
The U.K. Is in a very strong bargaining position for the future. Business people make trade deals and if Governments make bad and restrictive trade deals, they will not re main in power long.
Caveat Politicians.
Jobs will increase if we leave the EU.
The U.K. entrepreneurs will take advantage of the Global Growth Markets. UK innovation, quality, skills will match any EU competitors.

Cost of Living. The Government leaflet says.......Losing our full access to the EU 's Single Market would make exporting to Europe harder and increase costs. A big assumption. I disagree.

Travel abroad...The EU has made this easier and cheaper. Really ?
I thought that it was competition between Easyjet, BA and others that has led to cheaper flights.

What happens if we leave ? All propaganda. The Government are using scare tactics to frighten us.

A decade of uncertainty say the government. Well we have Four Decades of a EU system that we did not vote for, we do not like and we do not like the overpaid, accounts not approved, gravy train MEPs, A Commission which is undemocratic and millions of pages of words about trivial matters.

Immigration. Everyone knows that the EU has led to a flood of Immigrants, Migrants and undesirables entering the UK.

The U.K will continue t o work closely with International Police Agencies to fight Terrorists and Criminals. Leaving the EU...the UK will remain as safe as it can reasonably be. There is no perfect solution.

Finally, the Government quotes some benefits of EU membership as follows :

Special Status - which is subject to EU Parliament approval and is not enshrined in EU Treaties

Opportunities for your children to study abroad - this brings substantial income - so do you think for one moment, the EU would bar UK students ? The UK is host to many thousands of EU students. Why ? Because the UK has the best academic learning facilities and standards in the World.

UK Leading force  - Of course the UK will remain a powerful force in the World outside the EU.

Climate change - the UK is and will be a strong partner to avoid climate change - note the £Millions of taxes for Green Energy in the UK.

EU helps to prevent nuclear weapons spread, So does the UK, USA and the UN.

EU brings economic security - like the collapse of the Euro, the decline of Greece, admitting poor dependent Nations.

So,what about my vision ?
I see Britain as a leading Nation in the World... Strong in Trade, prosperous, friendly partners to all European and Global countries and with the freedom to chart its own future.

My conclusion....

EU...............   NO

EUROPE.......YES

THE APPOINTMENTS SERVICE IN THE NHS IN ENGLAND

THE APPOINTMENTS SERVICE OF THE NHS IN ENGLAND

Well, is it a Service ? I do not think so.
However, let us be fair. The NHS suffers from a number of hurdles. These are -

- Increased demand unmatched by Human Resources.
- Lack of Consultants and Doctors.
- Poorly trained Support Staff.
- Culture of Consultants and Doctors work schedules more important than the patients needs.
- A Prima Dona attitude from many Consultants.

These are not excuses but reality and we must bear these factors in mind when judging the Appointments System.
There are a number of irritating defects that should be addressed.

I have already suggested some solutions to the problems facing the NHS in previous articles on my Blog - Google EUREKYS.
Scroll down my Profile and read Future Strategy of the NHS.

Here is Case Example -

Day 1 - your Doctor submits an urgent request for an appointment for you to a hospital department, such as Urology. There is suspect infection or maybe a cancerous lump.

Day 14 - The Urology Appointments Department posts a letter to you offering an appointment 16 days later, or Day 30.
Although the date is Day 14, you receive the letter in Day 18. Yes, they have predated the latter. It may be the fault of the Postal Service.
So, it has taken 29 days for you to see a Consultant for your URGENT condition.

This is quite a normal procedure. For some urgent illnesses, it may take much longer. If you need follow up surgery or treatment, you may wait months for an appointment.

If you telephone the hospital to change the appointment, you are greeted with a voice recognition message.....Speak the name of the person or department which you want to speak to....you say clearly....Urology. The reply is.....you want to speak to Pathology ? No you say .....Urology. Maternity the phone replies. You hang up.

 Either perfect Voice Recognition or let us speak to a human being again. This example is taken from Bucks NHS Hospitals.

Some of the excuses for lack of convenient or urgent appointments are -
Unavailability of Consultants at your hospital of choice, so you have to shop around.
Inefficiency of the appointments service. Why should it take 14 days to reply to a Doctor's letter sent by email ?
We live in a fibre optics broadband world of rapid response computer systems. They should be able to respond instantly.

Another problem is that if you cannot accept the date of appointment you are offered, you night have to wait another 4 weeks or more.

OK, let us assume that you have been lucky and you disagree with my views. Consider this......
You go to the hospital 15 minutes before your appointment at 10am in the Eye Department.
At 11.00am you are still waiting ! Why ? The Nurse tells you that you were advised in your letter that you must be prepared to wait up to 4 hours !
You them ask - why are you running so late ?
This is the answer that I once had from the Nurse:
We had a few patients who turned up late and we had to wait for them ! That is why we are running so late.
I told her that this is crazy. I arrive well in time for my
appointment but late comers are still given priority.
I proposed this solution for the future.

Letters of appointments should say that the patient should arrive 15 minutes before their appointment let us say 9.45am for a 10.00am appointment. If they are more than 20 minutes late ie they arrive at 10.05am then they go to the back of the queue.
The latecomers should be inconvenienced not the early birds!

There is one final shortcoming that needs to be highlighted .
There is never any feedback from the Nurse on duty to advise patients in the waiting room why there is such a long delay.
No feedback, no apology, no regular updates.
Patients are treated in a manner which exudes the feeling....
We are doing you a favour. Just sit there, be quiet and be grateful. The Doctor will see you when he is ready.

Now for the worst part of the appointments service. They book up to 10 patients in at the same time. Their reasoning....
Some patients do not turn up so we overbook to compensate for this. True but a rubbish explanation.
This overbooking means that on average you could wait for about 45 minutes, that is my experience.

So, NHS, you are a wonderful facility for us frail human beings. Probably, the best in the World. But, you need to improve the Appointments Service.