DEEP SCRATCH

Tag: West Midlands

  • My Dudley Newsquest For Numbers Concerning Russells Hall Hospital

    Dudley Muddley Pudding And Lies?

    How many? What are the numbers? What are the existing numbers, approx. I’d personally like to hear less soundbites and see the numbers backing claims. Too much to ask?

    There’s seems disagreement on how prepared Russells Hall hospital is to cope with Covid-19. (Or what the word “sufficient actually means…numbers?)
    Some (as yet unnamed) are claiming they do NOT have sufficient PPE. And Dudley Labour Councillors (and unknown others) are calling for residents to sign a petition demanding more PPE equipment in Dudley.

    However, Diane Wake chief exec of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and a nurse (thank you for your care) has said, on the contrary, that they (Russells Hall Staff) have all the equipment they need. “The reports on social media are incorrect and causing unnecessary worry and concern.” she said.f masks, gowns and goggles at present (in stock) and on order (rate at which they are delivered). And what is your estimation of new patients, based on what analysis? Can we please see some numbers.
    https://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/18370407.dudley-hospitals-sufficient-supplies-personal-protective-equipment/

    I digress, but have a duty to point out that Dudley News, in typical Newsquest Gannet Media style, regurgitate what they are told to and suck it down like the mouth-to-mouth feeding animals at Dudley zoo. Never stopping to engage the reader with thinking. Asking questions, sourcing information, calling to see some numbers and get closer to facts and truth.   
    https://www.expressandstar.com/news/health/coronavirus-covid19/2020/04/10/dudleys-labour-councillors-call-for-more-ppe-in-borough/

    For context, here’s an article from January 2020, before Covid-19, about patients being treated in corridors due to lack of beds at Russells Hall Hospital. Was that all dealt with in a quick month Diane? 
    https://www.expressandstar.com/news/health/2020/01/22/patients-being-treated-in-corridors-at-russells-hall-hospital/

    Here’s the text from Dudley Labour Group, and the Petition, in FULL:

    https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/supply-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-to-key-workers-in-dudley

    The Labour Group in Dudley is very concerned about the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our community health care workers across our Borough.

    We are concerned for both carers in Nursing and Residential Care homes and we are also concerned for the informal carers across the Borough who provide a vital, caring role for family members and vulnerable neighbours.

    These vital workers need regular and consistent supply of PPE and the Council need to assure the caring community that this will be provided.

    To date the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is:

    1. Not consistent with WHO guidance
    2. The supply is not consistent and regular
    3.There is no provision for informal carers, which is increasing the demand on our overstretched workforce
    4. Putting the lives of these workers at risk

    As recommended by WHO and Public Health England for the management of COVID-19, we believe that there should be an adequate and consistent supply of:

    – Fluid repellent disposable gowns – EN13795
    – Nitrile non-sterile gloves – EN 374
    – Plastic aprons – category 1
    – Eyewear and face protection – EN166
    – FFP2 and FFP3 masks – EN 149
    – IIR Surgical masks – EN14683

    Carers in Dudley feel inadequately protected and vulnerable to infection; they cannot understand why the required PPE is not being supplied in the quantities needed. Anyone in Dudley caring for a relative or in a caring role should be able to access this vital equipment.

    The Council has had to resort to a request for donations from local businesses for PPE. While any donations will be welcome, they might not provide the best standard our workers and volunteers deserve. Coupled with this some staff have resorted to making their own PPE.

    Workers feel unable to carry out their job properly and protect themselves and their patients.

    The most common form of transmission of the virus is through contact and we know the virus is carried on clothing; this is why this so important. We do not want to lose vital key workers in this pandemic!

    Dudley Labour Group urges the Government to guarantee that all key workers get the PPE they need in order to protect themselves and their patients from COVID-19.

    Why is this important?

    The whole of the Country are behind our health and social care workers and we believe that the front line staff should have access to adequate PPE to perform their roles with the highest level of protection.

    https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/supply-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-to-key-workers-in-dudley

  • DUDLEY CAN YOU HEAR ME?


    #JC4PM

  • Cannabis Seeds In Dudley Since 1642 – Breaking Story

    Cannabis Seeds In Dudley Since 1642 – Breaking Story

    Born and rasied in Dudley, can you imagine my delight when discovering that cannabis seeds were used on the grounds of Dudley Castle between 1642 and 1647 by Royalist troops (L. Moffett, 1992). On second thoughts, it’s not so surprising, when you learn that hemp was a major factor in establishing Great Britain as a seafaring power during 16th and 17th centuries.

    Archeological evidence proves cannabis has been used in Dudley for over 373 years. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Umm, it also causes me wonder why, in 2019, any grower needs to jump through so many legal and regulatory hoops to grow hemp, a long long tradition in Dudley and environs for nearly 400 years?

    –Silent But Dudley.

     

    “table 5 Selected ancient Cannabis seed evidence, ordered by decreasing age. … Dudley Castle, NLHA/NLH 350 bp Seeds found in a latrine Moffett 1992.” –Robert Clarke and Mark Merlin, Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany.

    “During excavations of the mid 1980s at Dudley Castle in the West Midlands the contents of the keep garderobe were recovered intact and processed by sieving and hand-sorting, with samples being subjected to full laboratory analysis. The latrine was sealed during demolition of the castle’s defences in 1647, the intact deposit containing both the domestic and organic remains of the occupying royalist force which defended the castle under siege conditions between 1642 and 1646.”– https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/pma.1996.003

  • SAVE DUDLEY HIPPODROME

    Art Intervention #1 “War Pigs”

    A greased pig in a thong. Yes, you heard me. I propose a nice fat pig, fitted with a stylish but small, almost a micro….thong. Together with the words ‘WAR PIGS’ stencilled onto each side of the little bristly critter. Next, I propose we get a small van and the said pig, grease it up, and trot him/or her, into Dudley Council offices.

    To explain myself, this pig represents a number of things. A) David Cameron, who as we all know, is partial to a little porky pig in a poke. B) Black Country Scratchings, famous around the world, something you can make a right pigs ear out of, yet still capitalise on. C) Dichotomy of Capitalism! Pigs and greed, pigs and police, pigs and ignorance, pigs and double standards of animal ‘lovers’ nom nom nom D) Black Sabbath, and the classic song ‘War Pigs’, another commentary on the political love affair with warfare, the military industrial complex.

    Save Dudley Hippodrome: Art Intervention #2 “Maggot Hatcher”

    A maggot disco. Hear me now. A 3D printed deluxe model of a 5 star hotel. Perhaps based on the schematics of the Copthorne Hotel. With at least three separate floors, and stairways leading up and down to maggot disco heaven. Next, add a piece of pork to the 3D printed hotel (see Art Intervention #1). Add endoscopes for each floor, and disco lights, and of course some disco music. Encase the Maggot Disco Hotel in perspex and put on display in Dudley Town centre. The Maggot Hatcher Disco will be broadcasting on-line 24/7, so you can tune in at http://www.maggothatcher.org
    Why? Why not, who else will create the world’s first Maggot Disco. Who else cares for the well being of maggots? grow a heart you barbarians. The maggots represent a number of things to me A) Helpless, overlooked creatures, at the mercy of fisherman B) The conservative ideology, with a nod to the M.P for Stourbridge and environs. C) Art, the natural evolution of life, from meat to maggot to fly. D) fly agaric.

    Save Dudley Hippodrome: Art Intervention #3 “Dudley Fox Hunt”

    Who in Dudley would not want to join a Fox hunt around the town centre? But instead of horses I propose ponies, as a nod to the great Vermin Supreme. Ride a painted Pony up castle street and into the Town centre, chasing a Staffordshire bull terrier made up to look like a fox (if you can’t find a real fox)
    But why steve? well, a Fox hunt means these different things to me A) The underdog, the quick brown fox jumping over the lazy Tory fox hunter. B) The combination of a treasure hunt, but instead of an Easter egg it’s a Fox you hunt, but, there’s nothing to eat (shrugs) C) Fox scratchings! Yes, why not expand upon the boring simple Pork Scratching, and be brave, introduce Foxies, a new conservative flavour. Fancy dressing up like a fox? want to make a short film? Inbox me. A no badger inquiries please. See Badger Cult.

    Save Dudley Hippodrome: Art Intervention #4 “Hippodrone Wallfair”

    Let’s create Dudley’s first community mural project on the Hippodrome building. Invite muralists and painters from in and around the borough, and outside the borough, to collaborate, reflect the voice of the community artists, feelings about the state-of-the-arts in Dudley.

    Why? who would not agree the current site of the Hippodrome is a eyesore? and so the quickest answer is to paint it? Although I don’t have the physical painting ability myself, I have hundreds of good ideas about content for the mural, for example A) Dudley Zoo animal break out, Elephants crashing through Witherspoon’s and Tesco, large cats roaming the bus shelters, Monkey’s all over the council offices. B) Catapult Castle: images of Dudley castle being demolished by an assortment of objects, catapulted in spectacular fashion, concrete mixers, busses, trucks, hurling through the air toward the castle. C) Dudley in 2023: drones over the Hippodrome. D) Images of Art Interventions, 1,2, 3 and 4.

    –Dudley, March, 2018.