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Hello Goodbye

A rosy glow adorns this morning’s sky,

today, we regulars pay our respects,

tomorrow, with an angel I will play.

A quiet bloke, he’d been around the world,

of Africa and engineering spoke,

of vintage motorbikes, and automatic cars,

the pros and cons of smart-or not-TVs,

of pacemakers, the NHS, and stuff,

and never took his little trilby off,

a different one from time to ...

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AfricaplanetsstarsangelsNHSPeppa Pig

Support worker

Hoody, vape and tatt

All night I've been sat

Another coffee will wake me up

Here's a magazine, take my cup

 

 

Alone on the ward, feeling bored

My eyes crush a matchstick hoard

Marks and scuffs on the walls

Remind me of times, restraints and all

 

 

Long days and nights settle in my thoughts

Old faces, names, and incidences haunt

Decisions made, young peop...

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mental healthsupport workerNHSworkmind

Strike up

Savouring the solace 

Subverting the scene 

A spectre on the surf 

Sublime and serene  

 

 

Suffering the silence 

Shaping the sun 

Scuppering the smog 

So sane with someone 

 

 

Staffing submerged 

Sheepish and surged 

Scared as the scurried scatter 

Splurged and so shattered 

 

 

Shanked and superfluous 

Serious and stained 

So sad to s...

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NHSmental healthstrike action

Hokey Okay

Hokey Okay - Experiences with the mental health teams 
 

The police bring you in, next thing you’re out,

In out in out, fucks your head about,

They do the okay okay and turn you around,

Claiming that your mindsets sound!

 

Woahhh you’re okay okay,

Noooo, ill chokey chokey,

Woahhh, you’re okay okay

Head hurts, alarms sound ah ah ah

 

Then you’re back in again, out ...

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mental healthPsychiatric HospitalsCMHTcrisissuicidesuicidal thoughtssuicide attemptdepression helpless hopeless self-destructionNHSmental health servicespolicesectionedadmissions

Manifesto of Hope (with quote, not paraphrase)

Rise, like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number!
Shake your chains to earth, like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you:
Ye are many—they are few!

(From the Masque of Anarchy by Percy Bysshe Shelley)

Below is what I consider to be a Manifesto of Hope, to whose motives and principles I wholly subscribe.

 

Public ownership of all public services and infrastructure, including ...

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NHSNationalisationhomelessnessbread and rosesemployment rightswelfare not warfarecivil libertiesenvironmentracismrefugees

Quick & Easy Brain Rapid Surgery

You know what’s wrong

with NHS target times,

they need to take tips

from recipes online.

 

Where nothing’s

difficult or complex

to achieve.

Three ingredients

and ten minutes

is all you’ll need.

 

Ready in a flash,

easy to fling together.

A scalpel, a doctor

and hey presto,

the patient

gets better.

 

Easy as pie,

easy on the eye.

...

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NHSfoodRecipestargets

Screwed!

But sir, it wasn’t us, that’s so unfair!

We’ve only been in power for thirteen years,

It was those nasty Europeans, there,

Made of Britannia such a great pig’s ear.

It wasn't Hunt spelled with a C who wrote

That pamphlet saying “Kill the NHS”,

It was those forinners in small rubber boats,

That made the UK an omnishambolic mess.

Oh look at that, a dead cat in the street!

...

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EuropeBritainNHSexportsStonehenge

Jack's Story

First they came for freedom of speech, but I did not speak out

Because my sources told me what I wanted to hear, 

 

Then they came for the Poor, but I did not speak out 

Because I was not poor, 

 

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, but I did not speak out 

Because I was not a Trade Unionist, 

 

Then they came for the Socialists, but I did not speak out 

Becau...

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freedom of speechthe poortrade unionistssocialistsrefugeesPalestiniansJewsmental health servicesFire ServiceAmbulance ServicePolice ServiceNHSCancer

National Emergency: Life or Death Fight for the NHS!

 

 

General Strike Now!

Mick Lynch + Eddie Dempsey = Absolute Stars! "For the Many, not the Few in the Cayman Isles"

 

The NHS-hating Tory hypocrites said “clap”;

Like the fool that I was, in the cold at our door,

I cheered and I whistled for the Tory claptrap,

While those partying scumbags sicked up booze on the floor,

Set emergency alarms off; and the Met Plod did ...

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NHSNursesAmbulancesToriesGeneral StrikeRMT

Never Mind the Bollocks!

She’s too white!

He’s too ginger!

 

She’s too rich!

He’s too rich!

 

She’s too black!

He’s too white!

 

She’s too slim!

He’s too fat!

 

She’s not white enough!

He’s not fair haired enough!

 

She’s not black enough!

He’s not auburn enough!

 

She’s not rich enough!

He’s not rich enough!

 

I’m not rich enough,

‘Cos I don’t write...

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NHSnursespovertyMurdoch

There's no F in "Beds on the Wards"!

https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=127224

In their desperation and duplicity they're proposing making mask-wearing part of the

"NEW NORMAL" = ABNORMAL = GASLIGHTING!

I'D RATHER DIE THAN WEAR ANOTHER MASK!

There's no F in "Masks",

There's no F in "Pricks"!

There's no F in "Staying at Home"!

There's no F in "Gaslighting me"!

There's no F in "beds on...

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GMB UnionNHSbedsnursesjusticeTory BastardsNHS Pay Review Body

War Declared on NHS

The NHS-hating Tory hypocrites said “clap”;

Like the fool that I was, in the cold at our door,

I cheered and I whistled for the Tory claptrap,

While those partying scumbags sicked up booze on the floor,

Set emergency alarms off; and the Met Plod did nothing!

I couldn’t go to cuddle my new little granddaughter,

The young and the old went un-mourned in their coffins,

Now the...

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NHSNursesAmbulance StaffTory Arseholes

俳 句 General strike now! 1

Poor little match girls.

Can you hear the people sing?

General strike now!

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俳 句haikulittle match girlsgeneral strikepovertynhsfood banks

Claps Won't Pay Bills

In 2005, Jeremy Hunt, as Health Secretary co-authored a policy pamphlet calling for the NHS

to be replaced by an insurance system.

On page 78 the pamphlet says that “our ambition” should be the de-nationalising of the  provision of healthcare in Britain.

The book was put together by Douglas Carswell, and its authors include Tory MPs Michael Gove

Daniel Hannan, Greg Clark, David Gauke, ...

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NHSStrikeNursesfair pay

Etonian Gaslighters

But sir, it wasn’t us, it’s so unfair,

We’ve only been in power for nigh twelve years,

It was our friend le Putain, over there,

Made of the NHS such great pig’s ears.

 

It wasn’t Hunt spelled with a C who wrote

That pamphlet saying “Kill the NHS”,

It’s old gits, and those refugees afloat,

It’s them that’s got the UK in distress.

 

Oh look at that, a dead cat in th...

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PutinNHSJeremy HuntHouse of LordsEUStonehengeelephants

Minch Surgery last Monday

It might be gout, arthritis,
I’ll take some blood.

What for?

To test for uric acid, diabetes
and other things, he muttered.

I might have asked: Like what?
But with his box of needles out

I worked on breathing calmly,
averting eyes from the likely spot;
although there was no pain.

Even at this age there is something
in my look that makes him tell me
I am brave.

Good boy, or...

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old agenhs

Captain Sir Tom Moore

His Walk inspired a nation,

100 yards to a 100 years, what motivation.

From an army veteran to a NHS hero,

Even the Queen came to say bravo.

Knighted and UK number one,

Now "you'll never walk alone".

You will forever remain in our hearts,

To heaven as your soul departs.

Rest in peace Captain Sir...

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CaptainSirTomMooreveteranNHS

Masks And Whiskers

half-dead they do linger

machines tinkle and purr

medics swathed in plastic

distressed humans a-stir

 

beneath ICU wards and

amid odd cavities galore

smaller fauna breathes

distant the muffled roar

 

who considers the mice?

they live in hospital too

a big enough challenge

without this virus stew

 

if you listened carefully

on dozing wards at night

...

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maskswhiskersmiceICUoxygenlungslaboratoriesNHS

#1 (bitter pangs)

 

 

Bitter pangs

Leak puddling

To the floor

 

The GP

Noxiously

Unconcerned

 

By women

Crying 'ouch'

For sick notes

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biaschronic illnessesChronic painmisogynyNHSNHS reformsexismshamesickness

Ode to Covid Carers.

Ode to Covid Carers.

 

To intensive care and virus wards each day

In every town they make their way.

Caring souls, disguised in blue and white,

To fight against the Covid blight.

Shift after shift, through night and light

Brothers and sisters of mercy face up to our plight.

Masked, shielded, smocked and booted

lonely, fearful, solely commuted

on the near empty bus and...

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CovidNHScarerslockdown

Heroes In Blue

Unprecedented times, the like never seen before

This pandemic has shaken us all to our very core

A whirlwind ripping through our cities and towns

The evil coronavirus wearing its invisible crown

It does not care if you are rich or poor

A Royal, a minister or the boy next door

No matter what age, wealth, colour or creed

Affecting us all, and with devastating speed

We have a ...

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NHS

The things that must be done

Encouraged by comments on my latest blog - and reminded that I always intend to post my blogs on WOL and usually get distracted before doing so - I'm repeating a blog from a few weeks ago which I didn't post here. With thanks to those who commented on the last one!

 

I've been thinking about what happens next. There's been a lot of talk in the press, and shared posts on social media, about t...

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lockdownfamilyfriendsfossil fuelsNHScommuterespectcare home

Clap For Key Workers

Ten weeks on,

clapping for key workers is coming to an end

Clap your hands,

in appreciation, for their dedication we commend

 

Every person,

old and young, women, men, girls and boys

Clap your hands,

whistle, shout, cheer, together make some noise

 

At the window,

by the front door, on the step or in the street

Clap your hands,

bang a drum, beep a horn and st...

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key workerNHS

Heroes In Blue

Heroes In Blue

 

Unprecedented times, the like never seen before

This pandemic has shaken us all to our very core

A whirlwind ripping through our cities and towns

The evil coronavirus wearing its invisible crown

It does not care if you are rich or poor

A Royal, a minister or the boy next door

No matter what age, wealth, colour or creed

Affecting us all, and with devastat...

Read and leave comments (0)

covid19nhsheroesthank youlockdownhope

WE live by the hands of others

We live by  the hands of others

Not seen by you or me

 

They pass the parcel

Stand at the till

Nurse the wounded

Or keep order

 

We live  by  the hands of others

Not seen by you or me

 

Our hands scrubbed clean and safe

 

But…

 

We  live by and are grateful to others

Who have to live day by day with that terrible fear

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NHSCorona virus

NHS Workers

All remember and do not forget 
Those to whom we owe our greatest debt. 
They help us when we are in distress; 
It is all of those who work for the NHS.

Around the clock they are always there, 
And all this time they surely care. 
Though it is something that we just expect 
From those who deserve more respect.

Each worker endlessly strives 
To cure and save all of our lives. 
So sure...

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Stuart VannerNHSHospitalsHope

Still life

Noel and Liam have still not made up

And it looks like the millers will
never win the cup
Theresa is still in number ten
And not much has changed since
Maggies den
We are still plagued with mass unemployment
Far too many are becoming insolvent
Everywhere people sleeping on the street
Too many families with nothing to eat
Still we can't bridge the north south divide
People still wait f...

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crimeeconomyliesmaggies denmillesnhsOasispolicethesununemployment

Wake me up

Wake me up when the storm has passed
And the ravens have left the tower
Wake me up when the war machine
Has finally run out of power
Wake me up when the bigots
Have finally opened their eyes
And all of the presidents have given up telling lies
Wake me up when the tables have turned
And lessons have been learned

 

Wake me up when the big game hunters
Have finally paid for their crime
...

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NHSworking classcoal miningfood banksbig game huntesclimate changeBrexit

Unwanted

Unwanted

 

I sit upon a judgement chair

And watch the lights

And hear the sounds

That emanate from over there

Where broken hopes

And dreams abound

 

You pay me well

But do not want me

Sitting there where you could sit

Taking up your place in hell

Amongst the blood

and tears and shit

 

I came from Spain

To ease the pressure

As hospitals began to...

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NHSbrexitforeign nursesICU

Just a Nurse

A daughter, a mother and a nurse, sleepwalks to work
On four hours’ sleep, as the moon peeps above the clouds.
The sun snuggles under the covers.
The familiar uniform bares her arms against the breath of December.
Clinical blue shrouds her worries of money troubles
And ailing family members
She wears a compassionate smile.
There are blisters on the soles of her feet,
From chasing the lost ...

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NHSNurse

Pay the price

Hospitals full 
No beds for care,
Government money 
All too rare.

Dementia patients left to cope
Danger, stranger, lost all hope.
Children waiting months to see,
Counsellors to set them free. 

Schizophrenia, write them off
No one really gives a toss. 
Benefits the only way,
Stop them having any say. 

Depression that's just a joke,
Just a crushing wall of smoke,
Watch it take yo...

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depressionmadnessNhs

National Wealth Service?

National Wealth Service?

I do not want to lie under accountants sheets
when my body rattles out its failing beats.
Nor do I want to pay for every brick
on those, sad days, when I am feeling sick.
I do not want the most important thing
to be the amount of money that I bring.
I do not think the currency of health
should be determined by your misers wealth.

I couldn’t care less where the...

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national health servicenhstory threatVOTE

The Prophet of A and E- this is a poem in my new play

Lulled and startled-

Bleeding by the babbling brook of the caged telly

Lulled and startled-

Snapped bones jar at the swish of the double doors

That shroud the curses of fun loving nurses

 

Skin as raw and cold as corn beef

Some teath broken

From biting the apple

 

This man has been picked on

Battered

And buggered

All his life

You know

He’s been squashe...

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The ProphetNHS

What if the NHS was one of us?

No home, no job, just 12 good friends.

Betrayed by one who swore they never would.

Died too soon for pointless reasons.

What if God the NHS was one of us?

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GodReligionChristianityJesusNHSCameronToriesCutsConservatives put the N into CutsConDemNationConDemQuestionNaPoWriMoLiesGovernmentHealthcareSocialism

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