It's hard to believe.......

[davieG]

anyway, and I'd like to think I'm pretty broad minded and sympathetic to people with problems but is it really possible to father 9 children with 3 different women before you decide that you should have been a woman in the first place? The mind boggles!

Sex change sailor gets tattoo op

A former sailor who had a sex-change will get her tattoos removed on the NHS because she feels "unladylike".

Tanya Bainbridge, 57, who was born Brian, wants the laser treatment so she can wear sleeveless dresses and tops.

Miss Bainbridge lives with her boyfriend, Mark, in Middleton, Greater Manchester. They are both unemployed.

A spokesman for Heywood and Middleton Primary Care Trust, which will fund the treatment, said: "We cannot comment at the moment due to data protection."

The procedure is believed to cost £2,500.

Miss Bainbridge, who had nine children - from whom she is estranged - by three different women, had a £20,000 sex-change operation on the NHS in 2001 at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

Now a faded blue, the tattoos, which were done when she served in the Merchant Navy from 1964 to 76 - show a ship and a swallow which includes the names of some of her children.

Her partner Mark, 48, said: "Some women have tattoos on discreet parts of their body - they don't all have pictures of sailing ships and a swallow on their forearms.

"People are probably against it but it has been really upsetting her just lately. It will make her more comfortable." Cosmetic surgery is not normally free on the NHS, but doctors have agreed to go ahead because the tattoos are making Miss Bainbridge depressed.

[The People's Hero]

anyway, and I'd like to think I'm pretty broad minded and sympathetic to people with problems but is it really possible to father 9 children with 3 different women before you decide that you should have been a woman in the first place? The mind boggles!

Sex change sailor gets tattoo op

A former sailor who had a sex-change will get her tattoos removed on the NHS because she feels "unladylike".

Tanya Bainbridge, 57, who was born Brian, wants the laser treatment so she can wear sleeveless dresses and tops.

Miss Bainbridge lives with her boyfriend, Mark, in Middleton, Greater Manchester. They are both unemployed.

A spokesman for Heywood and Middleton Primary Care Trust, which will fund the treatment, said: "We cannot comment at the moment due to data protection."

The procedure is believed to cost £2,500.

Miss Bainbridge, who had nine children - from whom she is estranged - by three different women, had a £20,000 sex-change operation on the NHS in 2001 at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

Now a faded blue, the tattoos, which were done when she served in the Merchant Navy from 1964 to 76 - show a ship and a swallow which includes the names of some of her children.

Her partner Mark, 48, said: "Some women have tattoos on discreet parts of their body - they don't all have pictures of sailing ships and a swallow on their forearms.

"People are probably against it but it has been really upsetting her just lately. It will make her more comfortable." Cosmetic surgery is not normally free on the NHS, but doctors have agreed to go ahead because the tattoos are making Miss Bainbridge depressed.

Strangely this left me unsurprised.

[davieG]

Strangely this left me unsurprised.

So when are you planning to do it then?

[Nationwider]

A spokesman for Heywood and Middleton Primary Care Trust, which will fund the treatment, said: "We cannot comment at the moment due to data protection."

It's no wonder NHS Trusts are on their knees when they pay for stuff like this.

This is an absolute load of crap - it should get a grip and stump up the cash itself if it want's its own tattoo's removing.

Unlike davieG, I'm not being broad-minded on this one. If it feels depressed, it should take a trip to a children's cancer ward and get a dose of reality.

[The People's Hero]

It's no wonder NHS Trusts are on their knees when they pay for stuff like this.

This is an absolute load of crap - it should get a grip and stump up the cash itself if it want's its own tattoo's removing.

Unlike davieG, I'm not being broad-minded on this one. If it feels depressed, it should take a trip to a children's cancer ward and get a dose of reality.

Decision makers need common sense.

The buffoons who've decided this need shooting. Repeatedly. In the groin.

[Dr The Singh]

It's no wonder NHS Trusts are on their knees when they pay for stuff like this.

This is an absolute load of crap - it should get a grip and stump up the cash itself if it want's its own tattoo's removing.

Unlike davieG, I'm not being broad-minded on this one. If it feels depressed, it should take a trip to a children's cancer ward and get a dose of reality.

My Mrs works for LRI (Leicester Royal Infirmary) and has worked for Clinical Audit Dept for a few years b4 working for children services, the amount of money wasted by the Trust through mismanagement and internal bureacacy is ripe, but i do agree on NHS wasting money on cosmetic changes ie tattoo removal, boob jobs etc!!!

[Strokes]

anyway, and I'd like to think I'm pretty broad minded and sympathetic to people with problems but is it really possible to father 9 children with 3 different women before you decide that you should have been a woman in the first place? The mind boggles!

Sex change sailor gets tattoo op

A former sailor who had a sex-change will get her tattoos removed on the NHS because she feels "unladylike".

Tanya Bainbridge, 57, who was born Brian, wants the laser treatment so she can wear sleeveless dresses and tops.

Miss Bainbridge lives with her boyfriend, Mark, in Middleton, Greater Manchester. They are both unemployed.

A spokesman for Heywood and Middleton Primary Care Trust, which will fund the treatment, said: "We cannot comment at the moment due to data protection."

The procedure is believed to cost £2,500.

Miss Bainbridge, who had nine children - from whom she is estranged - by three different women, had a £20,000 sex-change operation on the NHS in 2001 at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

Now a faded blue, the tattoos, which were done when she served in the Merchant Navy from 1964 to 76 - show a ship and a swallow which includes the names of some of her children.

Her partner Mark, 48, said: "Some women have tattoos on discreet parts of their body - they don't all have pictures of sailing ships and a swallow on their forearms.

"People are probably against it but it has been really upsetting her just lately. It will make her more comfortable." Cosmetic surgery is not normally free on the NHS, but doctors have agreed to go ahead because the tattoos are making Miss Bainbridge depressed.

What a lovely story and with a happy ending as well. awwww

[Nationwider]

Disclaimer.

Before I get pounced upon by sufferers of depression, I would like to say that I acknowledge it's a valid medical condition and that it affects 1000's of people.

I just draw the line at sympathising with vomit-inducing wastes of space like Tanya Bainbridge and Kieron Dyer.

Ooh I'm so depressed. Oooh the angst. Ooooh where's my cock gone?

C'est bolloques, je pense.

[Ricey]

9 children or not, I don't think it's right to criticise this person for wanting a sex change. If they feel like a woman in a mans body it can cause severe pyschological damage, however getting their tatoos removed on the NHS is certainly going too far.

[Strokes]

Disclaimer.

Before I get pounced upon by sufferers of depression, I would like to say that I acknowledge it's a valid medical condition and that it affects 1000's of people.

I just draw the line at sympathising with vomit-inducing wastes of space like Tanya Bainbridge and Kieron Dyer.

Ooh I'm so depressed. Oooh the angst. Ooooh where's my cock gone?

C'est bolloques, je pense.

fock that, depression is just attention seeking and self pity, they are mostly pathetic people that have been mothered too much.

[Nationwider]

My Mrs works for LRI (Leicester Royal Infirmary) and has worked for Clinical Audit Dept for a few years b4 working for children services, the amount of money wasted by the Trust through mismanagement and internal bureacacy is ripe, but i do agree on NHS wasting money on cosmetic changes ie tattoo removal, boob jobs etc!!!

Absolutely. Part of the peoblem is that you have large numbers of staff and huge budgets being managed by people (sometimes) with no actual management or financial qualifications who couldn't possibly get a similar job in the private sector.

That's not always the case, but it is a huge problem.

[Ricey]

fock that, depression is just attention seeking and self pity, they are mostly pathetic people that have been mothered too much.

I know you are probably wanting a reaction like this, but oh well...

Don't be such an arrogant narrow-minded idiot

Hope you enjoyed that.

[Strokes]

I know you are probably wanting a reaction like this, but oh well...

Don't be such an arrogant narrow-minded idiot

Hope you enjoyed that.

But being narrow minded keeps me from getting depressed.

[Dr The Singh]

Absolutely. Part of the peoblem is that you have large numbers of staff and huge budgets being managed by people (sometimes) with no actual management or financial qualifications who couldn't possibly get a similar job in the private sector.

That's not always the case, but it is a huge problem.

Agreed!!!

There is an culture where positions are filled with friends and family of budget holders, salaries, promotions are given to those who are 'friendly' with line managers. But the worst thing of all, even after the audit findings etc no one is ever made accountable and nothing is ever resolved!!!

[Nationwider]

9 children or not, I don't think it's right to criticise this person for wanting a sex change. If they feel like a woman in a mans body it can cause severe pyschological damage, however getting their tatoos removed on the NHS is certainly going too far.

In principle, you're right Ricey. Everyone has the right to a decent quality of life, and piece of mind. But I don't think this is about criticising or understanding.

The bottom line with most things NHS-wise is money. It's difficult to evaluate how much a piece of treatment is actually "worth" to someone/society as a whole.

To me (personal P.O.V), a person who has fathered nine children to three different partners has shown a certain lack of responsibility throughout their life. The actual cost to the state of that lot is probably massive, nevermind the knock-on social problems that may have been caused as a result.

At 57, you've got to ask, is this person worth it? Are they value for money? I'd say not.

[The People's Hero]

In principle, you're right Ricey. Everyone has the right to a decent quality of life, and piece of mind. But I don't think this is about criticising or understanding.

The bottom line with most things NHS-wise is money. It's difficult to evaluate how much a piece of treatment is actually "worth" to someone/society as a whole.

To me (personal P.O.V), a person who has fathered nine children to three different partners has shown a certain lack of responsibility throughout their life. The actual cost to the state of that lot is probably massive, nevermind the knock-on social problems that may have been caused as a result.

At 57, you've got to ask, is this person worth it? Are they value for money? I'd say not.

To be fair he/she sounds like a bit of a willy puller to me.

[Nationwider]

To be fair he/she sounds like a bit of a willy puller to me.

Brevity has never been a friend of mine.

[Guest]

One would like to think that people using things like the health service for 'important' things. Some trusts cannot afford to give people potentially life saving cancer treatments, yet others are happy to pay for a someone to have a few tats removed? There's something very wrong with the world we live in.

[Dr The Singh]

I don't know how accurate the news report is but it's another example of waste within the NHS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4926956.stm

NHS 'wasting over £500m on drugs'

A Liberal Democrat MP says the government is overpaying for drugs

More than £500m is being wasted by the NHS on overpaying for a handful of drugs, an MP estimates.

Liberal Democrat John Hemming used government figures on three drugs to show the NHS was slow to react to falls in prices once drugs lost their patent.

The Birmingham Yardley MP said it showed the Department of Health was mismanaging money when many trusts were struggling to balance the books.

But the government said it did not recognise the figures quoted.

The government is slow to react to drops in drug prices once patents end

John Hemming, MP

Mr Hemming's criticisms come as ministers are coming under increasing pressure over their management of NHS finances.

The health service in England is expected to record an overspend of at least £600m for last year.

Over 7,000 job losses have been announced in recent weeks as trusts try to get out of the red.

Mr Hemming used official figures on anti-cholesterol drug simvastatin, angina treatment amlodipine and lisinopril, which is used to treat heart disease.

He calculated that government overspend on simvastatin alone was by £382m from 2002 to 2005.

For lisinopril, it was £106m, while £26m too much was spent on amlodipine.

Patents on all three drugs expired during the period, but Mr Hemming said the subsequent drop in prices was not reflected in the amount the government pays pharmacists for them.

'Slow'

Mr Hemming said: "The government is slow to react to drops in drug prices once patents end.

"Therefore, the money they are paying to pharmacists is way too much. At time when there are real funding problems this is mismanagement of the worst kind."

He said he was writing to the National Audit Office to ask for an investigation into this.

"These are only three drugs, there are no reason we won't see the same trend with others."

But the government said it monitored prices to ensure it was not overpaying.

A spokeswoman said: "The Department of Health does not recognise the claim that there has been a loss of £500m to the NHS in respect of these medicines.

"We have monitored prices of generic medicines after patent expiry and taken action when necessary, to ensure that reimbursement prices reflect market prices."

And Sue Sharpe, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, added: "We do not believe the report to be accurate.

"We have been working with the Department of Health to establish profit levels and ensure that pharmacies are neither over or underpaid for their NHS services."

[The People's Hero]

One would like to think that people using things like the health service for 'important' things. Some trusts cannot afford to give people potentially life saving cancer treatments, yet others are happy to pay for a someone to have a few tats removed? There's something very wrong with the world we live in.

Spot on Lisa.

You keep on telling it like it is.

[The Don]

While we're on the subject, something that really pisses me off is the local gp's.

Is it in someone's upbringing that makes people so bloody hypocondriacal, why do some people every time they have a cough, a twinge in their knee, have to always go to the quacks?? I go to my doctors on average once every 5 years, and i'm normally dragged there. I actually feel embarresed that if I go and there is nothing wrong, I've wasted the doctors time that he could be used to do something more worthwhile.

There's people who I work with who go doctors on average once a fortnight. Always with appointments. I bet I can't get an appointment, no, I have to keep redialling over and over and over to get through. Then they say is it an emergency, I say no, cos it probably isn't, oh come in in 2 weeks. I'd be bloody better by then. So I say yes, I've got an emergency chest infection, yes we can fit you in in 30 minutes I can't bloody get there in 30 minutes, I have to get 2 buses to get there cos I can't enrol anywhere closer cos they're full. And also I've not had a wash or gotten changed cos I've been on the phone all morning trying to get a bloody appointment I can't make. OOh

[Knighton Matt]

While we're on the subject, something that really pisses me off is the local gp's.

Is it in someone's upbringing that makes people so bloody hypocondriacal, why do some people every time they have a cough, a twinge in their knee, have to always go to the quacks?? I go to my doctors on average once every 5 years, and i'm normally dragged there. I actually feel embarresed that if I go and there is nothing wrong, I've wasted the doctors time that he could be used to do something more worthwhile.

There's people who I work with who go doctors on average once a fortnight. Always with appointments. I bet I can't get an appointment, no, I have to keep redialling over and over and over to get through. Then they say is it an emergency, I say no, cos it probably isn't, oh come in in 2 weeks. I'd be bloody better by then. So I say yes, I've got an emergency chest infection, yes we can fit you in in 30 minutes I can't bloody get there in 30 minutes, I have to get 2 buses to get there cos I can't enrol anywhere closer cos they're full. And also I've not had a wash or gotten changed cos I've been on the phone all morning trying to get a bloody appointment I can't make. OOh

Good rant and I agree with you!

[davieG]

While we're on the subject, something that really pisses me off is the local gp's.

Is it in someone's upbringing that makes people so bloody hypocondriacal, why do some people every time they have a cough, a twinge in their knee, have to always go to the quacks?? I go to my doctors on average once every 5 years, and i'm normally dragged there. I actually feel embarresed that if I go and there is nothing wrong, I've wasted the doctors time that he could be used to do something more worthwhile.

There's people who I work with who go doctors on average once a fortnight. Always with appointments. I bet I can't get an appointment, no, I have to keep redialling over and over and over to get through. Then they say is it an emergency, I say no, cos it probably isn't, oh come in in 2 weeks. I'd be bloody better by then. So I say yes, I've got an emergency chest infection, yes we can fit you in in 30 minutes I can't bloody get there in 30 minutes, I have to get 2 buses to get there cos I can't enrol anywhere closer cos they're full. And also I've not had a wash or gotten changed cos I've been on the phone all morning trying to get a bloody appointment I can't make. OOh

I have some thoughts on this but I haven't got the time at the moment as i've got a Doctors appointment. for the twinge in my knee.

[Guest]

I've come to the conclusion that most people are arseholes.

[Master Fox]

I've come to the conclusion that most people are arseholes.

Yep !!