Things have been getting me down this week, a bit. Partially due to the lack of wheels (which will have to wait til I get paid again), partially due to the crap public transport down here, partially due to missing things and stuff and a bit of fluff at home. But, perhaps most of all due to living with people who have no life outside of World of Warcraft.
Thing is, it looked a very promising house at first, a hundred yards from work, fifty yards from the chip shop, two hundred yards from the Liquor Store. All bills, and interweb, included in the rent as well. No mention was made of World of Warcraft at all. To be honest though, I'm just too damn lazy to look for somewhere else, dismantle my bed, and move everything again. So I'll probably stick it out, and it will probably get better.
The other thing is that working with all women, while it has its advantages (which I can't recall right now) can make for a rather bitchy atmosphere, which pisses me off no end. Also, I know I'm not as good at my job as I should be, which is worrying. A weekend of revision awaits I think. Well, apart from the Super 14 semis. And while we're at it, just what is the purpose of the ELVs?
In other news, I bought Madden 06 for the PC yesterday, and promptly made Green Bay lose to the Sea Devils. I played Madden obsessively for six months on the Wii, and it's a lot harder with a "proper" control pad.
In other, more serious news, hospitals over here seem much better than hospitals over there (admittedly based on a sample size of n=1 for both countries). Here, there is a lot more space per patient bed, there's six nurses covering thirty beds (as opposed to three covering thirty back home), everything is a lot less stressed. And cleaner. There just seems to be adequate staffing full stop down here, which is not always something I could say about back home.
Friday, 23 May 2008
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Further Proof That Boots Are The Republican Party Of Pharmacy.
http://www.allianceboots.com/main.asp?nid=108&pid=1607
Boots buy centre for "alternative medicine". Boots uses influence to decide that alternative medicine is a good thing. The Centre for the Study of Woo decides that Woo treatments are good. Because people are idiots, and Woo is natural (like dogshit), sales of Woo go up.
Pharmacists hit the bottle, former presidents of the RPSGB who are too thick to understand how science works will be delighted.
Boots buy centre for "alternative medicine". Boots uses influence to decide that alternative medicine is a good thing. The Centre for the Study of Woo decides that Woo treatments are good. Because people are idiots, and Woo is natural (like dogshit), sales of Woo go up.
Pharmacists hit the bottle, former presidents of the RPSGB who are too thick to understand how science works will be delighted.
Caffeine in pain management?
Anyone know anything about this? All I could find, during a brief search today was mention of it's use to counteract the effect of opioids. Anyone got any experience with it?
Words fail me*
http://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=259751&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=653367&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=653367&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=653367&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=653367&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=653367
*Of no interest to anyone not in the tablet-counting business.
*Of no interest to anyone not in the tablet-counting business.
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Beers of New Zealand
1) Speight's Distinction. Darkish, quite bitter, really nice. Bit nutty. In my limited experience of New Zealand pubs, you can't seem to get a "normal" pint of bitter, they've all got a bit of fizz to him. It's different, but it's pretty good.
2) Speight's. Sipping beer, good for an all-dayer, like Grand Slam Day 2009. Well, maybe. Bonus sports related trivia questions under the bottle cap!
3) Tui. Exactly the same as Speight's, except the bonus sports related trivia questions are harder to read. Good stuff.
4) Steinlager. Drunk this on the plane, not impressed.
240,000,000) Waikato. Described by the guy who put my bed up as a drink for Bogans, and I tend to agree. Horrible, shitty, bog-standard Carlingesque crap.
That's pretty much all the beer I've tried here. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
TheWelshPharmacist-pining for a pint of SA Gold since 25/04/2008
2) Speight's. Sipping beer, good for an all-dayer, like Grand Slam Day 2009. Well, maybe. Bonus sports related trivia questions under the bottle cap!
3) Tui. Exactly the same as Speight's, except the bonus sports related trivia questions are harder to read. Good stuff.
4) Steinlager. Drunk this on the plane, not impressed.
240,000,000) Waikato. Described by the guy who put my bed up as a drink for Bogans, and I tend to agree. Horrible, shitty, bog-standard Carlingesque crap.
That's pretty much all the beer I've tried here. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
TheWelshPharmacist-pining for a pint of SA Gold since 25/04/2008
Monday, 19 May 2008
Two nations, four languages
What the hell is toast bread, and how is it different from normal bread that gets toasted?
You have a paddock, I have a field.
Chips are crisps, unless they're chips, in which case they're hot chips.
You have gumboots, I have wellies.
You do vacuuming, I do hoovering.
You have good quality beer, we poison our natives with Carling.
You have a paddock, I have a field.
Chips are crisps, unless they're chips, in which case they're hot chips.
You have gumboots, I have wellies.
You do vacuuming, I do hoovering.
You have good quality beer, we poison our natives with Carling.
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Quack Quack Quack!
The Quack never bothered to get round to any of the emails I sent her asking her what the justification for her selling overpriced lactose pills was.
The Quack was also a former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Do we get the leaders we deserve? Is this why no-one take pharmacists seriously?
If anyone has any reason why I should not label Christine Glover a Quack, I'd like to hear them.
Go here for a whole lot of shite http://www.glovers-health.co.uk/
The Quack was also a former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Do we get the leaders we deserve? Is this why no-one take pharmacists seriously?
If anyone has any reason why I should not label Christine Glover a Quack, I'd like to hear them.
Go here for a whole lot of shite http://www.glovers-health.co.uk/
Saturday, 17 May 2008
Why I Escaped Retail
This American chap (I assume) has written one of the best pieces of literature I have ever seen. Anyone who has worked in retail will be familiar. The reason I escaped was because I was fed up of being treated like shit by a bunch of thick arseholes.
Read this now: http://www.theangrypharmacist.com/archives/2008/05/friday_start_of_the_month_very.html#comments
Read this now: http://www.theangrypharmacist.com/archives/2008/05/friday_start_of_the_month_very.html#comments
My Secret Obession
Yet another Brett Favre update, courtesy of The Onion this time
"We know you loved Brett Favre, but he wasn't happy here. He couldn't stay here," Packers general manager Ted Thompson told hundreds of quiet but tear-streaked Packer fans assembled at the televised Lambeau Field press conference. "And he loved you, too—he loved you very much indeed—but he needed to go someplace where he could run and jump and throw his favorite football around. And he couldn't do that here anymore."
More here: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/packers_tell_fans_they_gave_favre
GREEN BAY, WI—The Green Bay Packers addressed questions concerning the current status, future plans, and whereabouts of recently retired quarterback Brett Favre by announcing Monday that they had sent him to the country to live on a beautiful farm with a very nice family.
"We know you loved Brett Favre, but he wasn't happy here. He couldn't stay here," Packers general manager Ted Thompson told hundreds of quiet but tear-streaked Packer fans assembled at the televised Lambeau Field press conference. "And he loved you, too—he loved you very much indeed—but he needed to go someplace where he could run and jump and throw his favorite football around. And he couldn't do that here anymore."
More here: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/packers_tell_fans_they_gave_favre
Friday, 16 May 2008
Winter Is Coming*
People of New Zealand. If the temperature outside is 20C, the sun is shining and everyone is walking around in shorts, then it is NOT FUCKING WINTER!
Thank you.
*Bonus points if anyone gets the nerdy reference.
Thank you.
*Bonus points if anyone gets the nerdy reference.
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
FA Cup Final!
Still the most important football match of the year, whatever Sky may tell you. Well, unless it's between Manure and Chelski, in which case, fuck 'em.
HOWEVER, this year's cup final has two teams who, collectively, have not been to a cup final for 240,000,000 years. So, it should be a bit more exciting. And there's the chance to tweak the nose of the English again. Here's a proper crap traditional cup final song http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lApivPlPhkg.
Could have done without the reference to that shitbag Ridsdale though.
HOWEVER, this year's cup final has two teams who, collectively, have not been to a cup final for 240,000,000 years. So, it should be a bit more exciting. And there's the chance to tweak the nose of the English again. Here's a proper crap traditional cup final song http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lApivPlPhkg.
Could have done without the reference to that shitbag Ridsdale though.
Saturday, 10 May 2008
Where's my bloody Journal got to?
£395 for a weekly comic, and it hasn't turned up yet. Although I would expect nothing less from a "governing body" that allows homeopathy to exist, unchallenged.
Pharmacy in the colonies.
Based on a whole five days experience, a lot of which was taken up with explaining where the toilets are, and where I hang my coat, I can safely say that pharmacy in Aotearoa is 240,000,000 times better than it is in the shitpit that is the Rhondda.
Down here, as I understand it, there is this strange and mysterious beast known as the PHARMAC committee that evaluate each drug on the basis of price and usefulness, and then decides if it is "allowed" to be prescribed. So, for example, the only ACE inhibitors here are cilazapril or quinalapril, neither of which are used to any great degree at home, where there are several hundred ACE inhibitors. Also, there's none of this " I WANT LOSEC!!1111I'M ALLERGIC TO OMEPRAZOLE111!!!1" shit here, you get what's subsidised by the government, and lump it. So far, I think it's a good system.
Every pharmacist I've met has said to me
"So you worked in retail did you?"
Me: "Aye, two years"(not wishing to say anything controversial, on account of being a new chap)
"It's shit, isn't it"
Me: "FUCK AYE, it's like scrubbing my scrotum with sandpaper."
So that's good. So far, so good. It's very quiet though, dispensary wise, so a lot of afternoons are spent warding, scratching, gossiping, or compiling a list of TOP 5 WOMEN/MEN YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WERE GAY. Sweet.
Down here, as I understand it, there is this strange and mysterious beast known as the PHARMAC committee that evaluate each drug on the basis of price and usefulness, and then decides if it is "allowed" to be prescribed. So, for example, the only ACE inhibitors here are cilazapril or quinalapril, neither of which are used to any great degree at home, where there are several hundred ACE inhibitors. Also, there's none of this " I WANT LOSEC!!1111I'M ALLERGIC TO OMEPRAZOLE111!!!1" shit here, you get what's subsidised by the government, and lump it. So far, I think it's a good system.
Every pharmacist I've met has said to me
"So you worked in retail did you?"
Me: "Aye, two years"(not wishing to say anything controversial, on account of being a new chap)
"It's shit, isn't it"
Me: "FUCK AYE, it's like scrubbing my scrotum with sandpaper."
So that's good. So far, so good. It's very quiet though, dispensary wise, so a lot of afternoons are spent warding, scratching, gossiping, or compiling a list of TOP 5 WOMEN/MEN YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WERE GAY. Sweet.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Observations From Home.
Wales training squad:
Backs: Morgan Stoddart, Lee Byrne, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Tom James, Sonny Parker, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Andy Williams, Warren Fury.
Forwards: Duncan Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Alix Popham, Ryan Jones.
Who is Warren Fury? (Fantastic name though).
Sonny Parker. Hurrah!
Two tests against South Africa. I wonder if they'll be on New Zealand telly?
Backs: Morgan Stoddart, Lee Byrne, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Tom James, Sonny Parker, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Andy Williams, Warren Fury.
Forwards: Duncan Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Alix Popham, Ryan Jones.
Who is Warren Fury? (Fantastic name though).
Sonny Parker. Hurrah!
Two tests against South Africa. I wonder if they'll be on New Zealand telly?
New Zealand Observations (2)
1) Rugby rugby rugby Carter Carter Carter Carter Carter
2) Netball, far from being a sport solely played by schoolgirls is MASSIVE here. It's on TV and everything. I think this is a bit... odd, but haven't said anything yet in case I get yelled at.
3) Watching TV news is a bit like watching an extended Wales Today, in terms of the sheer 'localness' of it all.
4) All the trees look like something out of prehistoric times.
5) It's bloody beautiful.
6) I might have a ticket to see New Zealand play England in June, thanks to a nice girl who has a rather unhealthy obsession with Nick Evans ("He's the back up first five, you know?". "Er, you mean fly-half?")
2) Netball, far from being a sport solely played by schoolgirls is MASSIVE here. It's on TV and everything. I think this is a bit... odd, but haven't said anything yet in case I get yelled at.
3) Watching TV news is a bit like watching an extended Wales Today, in terms of the sheer 'localness' of it all.
4) All the trees look like something out of prehistoric times.
5) It's bloody beautiful.
6) I might have a ticket to see New Zealand play England in June, thanks to a nice girl who has a rather unhealthy obsession with Nick Evans ("He's the back up first five, you know?". "Er, you mean fly-half?")
Monday, 28 April 2008
New Zealand Observations
1) Buying a phone is tricky. I went into the shop, naively assuming that phones came with SIM cards. Not so. You have to buy a separate SIM card. I have been to five shops so far, and they are all out of SIM cards. Is there a great telecommunications crisis in this country that I am unaware of?
2) Shortland Street (crappy daytime program that used to be on at the same time as Neighbours) is MASSIVE here.
3) It is really, really hot and really, really humid. This makes me really, really uncomfortable.
4) Petrol prices hitting $2 a litre is front page news here. This made me giggle, compared to prices back home.
5) Los Angeles is a fucking shitpit that I am never setting foot in again.
2) Shortland Street (crappy daytime program that used to be on at the same time as Neighbours) is MASSIVE here.
3) It is really, really hot and really, really humid. This makes me really, really uncomfortable.
4) Petrol prices hitting $2 a litre is front page news here. This made me giggle, compared to prices back home.
5) Los Angeles is a fucking shitpit that I am never setting foot in again.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
VISA!
Finally got my visa for New Zealand after a long and protracted battle that made the Wars of the Roses seem like a genteel game of cricket on the village green. Unfortunately, I've off on what promises to be a rather rambunctious stag weekend thingy in Poland this weekend, so if I lose my passport, I'm buggered. I'm thinking about sewing it under my skin, like that sadistic bloke in The Invisibles who kept razor blades under his skin...
Anyway, it should be a good weekend, and no doubt gallons of beer shall be drunk by all.
Also, the new Wisden is out, and everyone should go and buy it. I haven't had the chance to do more than scan through it, but there's a fair amount on Bradman, which is always interesting to read about. 99.94. Incredible. Surely the most dominant sportsman of any sport, anywhere, anytime.
Anyway, it should be a good weekend, and no doubt gallons of beer shall be drunk by all.
Also, the new Wisden is out, and everyone should go and buy it. I haven't had the chance to do more than scan through it, but there's a fair amount on Bradman, which is always interesting to read about. 99.94. Incredible. Surely the most dominant sportsman of any sport, anywhere, anytime.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Fuck the Welsh...
...Assembly.
Because those cunts are directly responsible for this exchange I had today.
"WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR MY INHALER WHEN IT'S FREE?"
Let's think about that for a moment.
Serevent inhalers cost about £30 a pop. The packaging costs money. The raw materials cost money. The plastic the inhaler is made out of costs money. The factory it was made in has heating and lighting bills to pay. The poor sod of a doctor who had to speak to you and prescribe for you does not work out of the goodness of his heart. Neither do I.
Funny how it doesn't become an emergency when I tell you the trade price, isn't it?
Because those cunts are directly responsible for this exchange I had today.
"WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR MY INHALER WHEN IT'S FREE?"
Let's think about that for a moment.
Serevent inhalers cost about £30 a pop. The packaging costs money. The raw materials cost money. The plastic the inhaler is made out of costs money. The factory it was made in has heating and lighting bills to pay. The poor sod of a doctor who had to speak to you and prescribe for you does not work out of the goodness of his heart. Neither do I.
Funny how it doesn't become an emergency when I tell you the trade price, isn't it?
Nine hours left.
Nine hours left in the retail grindhouse (5.30 finish today, 9-5.30 tomorrow). Unless me and the New Zealand visa people have another falling-out, that will be it.
I can't wait.
Off to Hay-on-Wye for the weekend, to look at books.
Also, best luck to Portsmouth (Hi, Stu!) and Cardiff in the cup this weekend.
Also, FUCK OFF MK DONS!
I can't wait.
Off to Hay-on-Wye for the weekend, to look at books.
Also, best luck to Portsmouth (Hi, Stu!) and Cardiff in the cup this weekend.
Also, FUCK OFF MK DONS!
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Crimes Against Humanity
Fake Plastic Team 2
Grimsby 0
There is no more depressing sight in football than seeing MK Dons win. This abortion of a team are a fake, a charade, a tacky abomination.
http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/
Grimsby 0
There is no more depressing sight in football than seeing MK Dons win. This abortion of a team are a fake, a charade, a tacky abomination.
http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
The Quack's Back!!
Well, fuck me sideways, the Quack has got a nice new shiny website. She still hasn't got round to answering my question though.
Let's have a look.
Firstly, I think it's fair to say that "very well known pharmacist" is a bit of an oxymoron. I'd never heard of her until a couple of months ago, and would frankly struggle to name any pharmacists. Well, apart from people I was in university with, which doesn't really count. Physicists, we are not. Also, I am not sure what an all round sense of balanced wellbeing is. I guess it has something to do with not wafting at balls pitched outside off stump. Or not.
But wait! There's more! The Quack has managed to write a second paragraph. Fuck me, if only I had homeopathic training! I could also write two paragraphs!
Well whoop-de-fucking woo. I also slog through the retail trenches, although I would bet my right elbow that I see a lot more drug addicts than any fucking quack. This is why:
HOMEOPATHY DOES NOT WORK. IT IS A CUNT'S TRICK, FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RIPPING OFF THE GULLIBLE AND DESPERATE AND STUPID. FOR FUCK'S SAKE, HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU HAVE A SCIENTIFIC DEGREE AND BELIEVE THAT A FUCKING MAGIC WATER POTION WILL CURE CANCER? ARE YOU THAT FUCKING BRAIN-DEAD OR DO YOU JUST HAVE NO FUCKING MORALS WHATSO-FUCKING-EVER?
Oddly enough, all the drug addicts I see are treated with evidence-based medicine. Also, drug addicts are, in the main, poor. Poor people cannot afford homeopathic "consultations".
Also, how the fuck the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain can continue to let this woman peddle her crap while still being a practicing pharmacist, and proudly advertising herself as a former President of the Society is beyond me. How the flying fuck a known homeopath got elected as president is completely beyond me. I blame the voters...
Edit: Point and laugh at the Quack here http://www.glovers-health.co.uk/index.htm
Let's have a look.
"Christine Glover is a very well known pharmacist with
homeopathic training offering an holistic integrated approach to healthcare. She
neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine
uncritically. She believes that emotional happiness is a fundamental part of
physical health for an all round sense of balanced wellbeing."
Firstly, I think it's fair to say that "very well known pharmacist" is a bit of an oxymoron. I'd never heard of her until a couple of months ago, and would frankly struggle to name any pharmacists. Well, apart from people I was in university with, which doesn't really count. Physicists, we are not. Also, I am not sure what an all round sense of balanced wellbeing is. I guess it has something to do with not wafting at balls pitched outside off stump. Or not.
But wait! There's more! The Quack has managed to write a second paragraph. Fuck me, if only I had homeopathic training! I could also write two paragraphs!
"Christine Glover worked for fifteen years in her own community pharmacy in the
West End of Edinburgh, with a wide range of clientele ranging from bishops to
drug addicts. Since then she has spent the past seven years focusing on an
holistic approach to health issues through homeopathy. She was President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain from 1998 to 2001."
Well whoop-de-fucking woo. I also slog through the retail trenches, although I would bet my right elbow that I see a lot more drug addicts than any fucking quack. This is why:
HOMEOPATHY DOES NOT WORK. IT IS A CUNT'S TRICK, FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RIPPING OFF THE GULLIBLE AND DESPERATE AND STUPID. FOR FUCK'S SAKE, HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU HAVE A SCIENTIFIC DEGREE AND BELIEVE THAT A FUCKING MAGIC WATER POTION WILL CURE CANCER? ARE YOU THAT FUCKING BRAIN-DEAD OR DO YOU JUST HAVE NO FUCKING MORALS WHATSO-FUCKING-EVER?
Oddly enough, all the drug addicts I see are treated with evidence-based medicine. Also, drug addicts are, in the main, poor. Poor people cannot afford homeopathic "consultations".
Also, how the fuck the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain can continue to let this woman peddle her crap while still being a practicing pharmacist, and proudly advertising herself as a former President of the Society is beyond me. How the flying fuck a known homeopath got elected as president is completely beyond me. I blame the voters...
Edit: Point and laugh at the Quack here http://www.glovers-health.co.uk/index.htm
Monday, 24 March 2008
Fucking Easter (2)
You have no job and, in fact, very little to fill your days with. Well, apart from getting on my wick, that is.
So do you
a) think to yourself "My word, my friendly local chemist will be closed for a day over Easter. I should prepare for this apocalyptic event by TAKING RESPONSIBILITY for MY MEDICATION, and making sure I order a script from the GP because it is MY MEDICATION and it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to take care for MYSELF"
b) Walk into your pissed-off tamping chemist at five to six the day before Good Friday and kick up a stink because you forgot to order YOUR OWN MEDICATION, and it is, apparently, my fault.
So do you
a) think to yourself "My word, my friendly local chemist will be closed for a day over Easter. I should prepare for this apocalyptic event by TAKING RESPONSIBILITY for MY MEDICATION, and making sure I order a script from the GP because it is MY MEDICATION and it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to take care for MYSELF"
b) Walk into your pissed-off tamping chemist at five to six the day before Good Friday and kick up a stink because you forgot to order YOUR OWN MEDICATION, and it is, apparently, my fault.
Fucking Easter.
I would like to thank the fucking moronic pharmacist who has been sitting on a Meff script that has not been adjusted to take account of the Easter bank holiday. I just love the way it has been sitting in the pharmacy for three weeks, and then you leave it for me to deal with on Saturday morning. You fucking shithouse little twat.
Thaat aside mind, I had a cracking weekend.
Thaat aside mind, I had a cracking weekend.
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
"ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS, EXCEPT EUROPA. ATTEMPT NO LANDINGS THERE"
A truly great man died today.
Rest in peace, Arthur C. Clarke, who proved that physics is the sexiest science there is.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09w
Rest in peace, Arthur C. Clarke, who proved that physics is the sexiest science there is.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09w
Sunday, 16 March 2008
Friday, 14 March 2008
MURs
Medicine Use Reviews, apparently. Supposed to be carried out on patients to make sure they are taking their tablets properly.
In practice, this is not the case.
Patient A has fucked lungs, diabetes, depression and would be an excellent candidate for an MUR, that is if I had a spare 30 minutes, which is a whole different story.
Patient B takes 75mg of aspirin every morning and is fairly intelligent. Does he really need an MUR?
The fact is, patient B will always be chosen, because he is easy, and he can be a box ticked, and another step on the ladder towards a target. There is shit-all patient care involved in this.
Fifty thousand ploughshares produced, comrades!
In practice, this is not the case.
Patient A has fucked lungs, diabetes, depression and would be an excellent candidate for an MUR, that is if I had a spare 30 minutes, which is a whole different story.
Patient B takes 75mg of aspirin every morning and is fairly intelligent. Does he really need an MUR?
The fact is, patient B will always be chosen, because he is easy, and he can be a box ticked, and another step on the ladder towards a target. There is shit-all patient care involved in this.
Fifty thousand ploughshares produced, comrades!
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers (1992-2008)
So long, and farewell. Everything I love turns to dust, in the end.
Most TD passes: 442
Most passing yards: 61,655
Most passing attempts: 8,758
Most wins by a starting QB: 160
Most consecutive starts, quarterback: 253 (275 including playoffs)
Most 3,000-yard passing seasons: 16
Most consecutive 3,000-yard passing seasons: 16
Most pass completions: 5,377
Most seasons with 30-plus TD passes: 8
Most consecutive games with a TD pass, postseason: 18
Most NFL MVP awards: 3
I haven't been this gutted about anything sport-related since Jonathan Davies went to League.
Monday, 3 March 2008
Journal Review.
Some interesting points in this week's Journal (yes, really)!
An interview with Paul Gimson, who taught me a few times in university, and is a thoroughly decent chap. However, he's wrong on this though, I think.
“The fact that patients now do not have to pay means they can appreciate the service pharmacists provide more clearly. That can only be a good thing for patients and for pharmacy.”
Wrong. In fact, giving out paracetamol and ibuprofen for free only serves to make pharmacists seem even more like shopkeepers.
There's also an early April Fool's joke, whereby students at Keele "university" get their own computer generated character to talk to throughout the degree course. Apparently, this will help students counsel patients. Call me old-fashioned, but in my day we, er, talked to patients! It all sounds a bit World of Warcraft to me, and no doubt there will be CGI characters with improbable breasts who go out digging for gold.
Full bizarreness here. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/articles/p249atavars.html
Interesting letter, full of kindness and compassion, from a Mr. Matousek. I rather suspect that he is a better pharmacist than I will ever be. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/comment/lett08.html
Mr. Gush is, once again, too busy trying to makes his sums fit to answer some simple questions. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/comment/lett07.html
Free prescriptions in England? Believe me you do not want it. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/comment/lett03.html
The Society of Quacks is doing something-or-other, I'm not sure what. Though quite why it needs to be reported in a supposedly scientific publication is beyond me. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/news/p237homeopaths.html
Free access to journals! Hurrah! http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/news/p238freeaccess.html
Interesting article on extemporaneous dispensing. It claims that "around six extemporaneous preparations were dispensed per pharmacy per month in the UK" . I find that hard to believe, personally. I think I've done two in eighteen months, both for ephedrine nasal drops, and that doesn't really count. In fairness, it's something I'd like to see more of, but it's impractical to carry out in most pharmacies.
Job section: The usual propaganda crap from Boots and Tesco, that Bermuda job's there again, something going in the Orkneys which may be interesting, and something in Queensland.
An interview with Paul Gimson, who taught me a few times in university, and is a thoroughly decent chap. However, he's wrong on this though, I think.
“The fact that patients now do not have to pay means they can appreciate the service pharmacists provide more clearly. That can only be a good thing for patients and for pharmacy.”
Wrong. In fact, giving out paracetamol and ibuprofen for free only serves to make pharmacists seem even more like shopkeepers.
There's also an early April Fool's joke, whereby students at Keele "university" get their own computer generated character to talk to throughout the degree course. Apparently, this will help students counsel patients. Call me old-fashioned, but in my day we, er, talked to patients! It all sounds a bit World of Warcraft to me, and no doubt there will be CGI characters with improbable breasts who go out digging for gold.
Full bizarreness here. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/articles/p249atavars.html
Interesting letter, full of kindness and compassion, from a Mr. Matousek. I rather suspect that he is a better pharmacist than I will ever be. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/comment/lett08.html
Mr. Gush is, once again, too busy trying to makes his sums fit to answer some simple questions. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/comment/lett07.html
Free prescriptions in England? Believe me you do not want it. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/comment/lett03.html
The Society of Quacks is doing something-or-other, I'm not sure what. Though quite why it needs to be reported in a supposedly scientific publication is beyond me. http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/news/p237homeopaths.html
Free access to journals! Hurrah! http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20080301/news/p238freeaccess.html
Interesting article on extemporaneous dispensing. It claims that "around six extemporaneous preparations were dispensed per pharmacy per month in the UK" . I find that hard to believe, personally. I think I've done two in eighteen months, both for ephedrine nasal drops, and that doesn't really count. In fairness, it's something I'd like to see more of, but it's impractical to carry out in most pharmacies.
Job section: The usual propaganda crap from Boots and Tesco, that Bermuda job's there again, something going in the Orkneys which may be interesting, and something in Queensland.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Scab! Scab! Hang him hang him hang him!!!
Against my better judgement, I did an all-day shift in one of those horrible, soulless, 100 hour supermarket pharmacies the other day. This is something I promised myself that I would never do.
So why did I do it? Essentially, because I can see the light at the end of the dank, grey, newspeak existence that is the tunnel of retail pharmacy. And I figure I may as well earn as much money as I can before I escape.
I can't wait to leave. I'm fed up of hearing brain-dead bigots complaining about Muslims taking over. I'm fed up of having to deal with 3000 different types of cough mixture, none of which work. I resent the way that Tesco and Boots seem to be taking over the entire world. I absolutely, positively cannot stand the ever-increasing tide of ridiculous legislation that does nothing but prevent me from doing my job properly.
Honestly, what is the point of having a pharmacy open for 100 hours? Anything after, say, 7pm should be for emergencies only, by which I mean things like diamorphine, antibiotics for kids and the elderly and anything else that absolutely, positively can't wait until the next morning.
They should not be used so that I can see invisible skin complaints at 9pm, or trying to persuade people to stop wasting their money on Nurofen in a shiny box when the bog-standard stuff does the same job for tuppence.
So why did I do it? Essentially, because I can see the light at the end of the dank, grey, newspeak existence that is the tunnel of retail pharmacy. And I figure I may as well earn as much money as I can before I escape.
I can't wait to leave. I'm fed up of hearing brain-dead bigots complaining about Muslims taking over. I'm fed up of having to deal with 3000 different types of cough mixture, none of which work. I resent the way that Tesco and Boots seem to be taking over the entire world. I absolutely, positively cannot stand the ever-increasing tide of ridiculous legislation that does nothing but prevent me from doing my job properly.
Honestly, what is the point of having a pharmacy open for 100 hours? Anything after, say, 7pm should be for emergencies only, by which I mean things like diamorphine, antibiotics for kids and the elderly and anything else that absolutely, positively can't wait until the next morning.
They should not be used so that I can see invisible skin complaints at 9pm, or trying to persuade people to stop wasting their money on Nurofen in a shiny box when the bog-standard stuff does the same job for tuppence.
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