The NHS the GWH and Me

Another small post from me again without a photo but hey thats ok.

I just wanted to say something about the NHS and the GWH (Great Western Hospital). I am sat here in my study thinking about what was on the news this morning all about how there is not enough front line staff (ie nurses) and that it is causing massive problems. Well I guess it must be true as they would not put it on the news, would they!!!!! but I would just like to say it wasnt my experience.

Firstly forget the fact that I was 6 months late in having my operation as that was an administrative problem of which I have still yet to get to the bottom of. Last thursday I went into the Great Western Hospital in Swindon to have my Gallbladder removed. I couldnt have got better service if I had have gone private. Right from the moment I walked in to the moment I left I found that what ever I needed was provided, there were the right amount of nurses, Dr’s,Consultants, anesthetist, cleaners, porters, and so on. I cannot fault the staff at all. I cant say it was a pleasant experience as I felt quite ill for a while after but it was a pleasant experience if you know what I mean. It wsnt exactly a one to one ratio but all I ever had to do was raise a hand or groan and there was somebody there to attend to my needs. And everything was done with a good heart, I only saw one grumpy nurse who refused to smile, all others were happy and friendly and seemed to enjoy their job. Now I have been on enough protests (photographing) to know that they are treated badly, poorly paid and so on but certainly my experience of last week was they did not let it affect their work.
However I do understand all the underlying issues that the NHS faces and that is for another time, I just wanted to say that I had a good experience with the NHS and the GWH. And if there are any Dr’s, nurses etc reading this, a big thank you from me.

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Sunday Project – No More

Well no photo of Sunday anymore. Why? I have been carrying out quite a bit of research and despite it being only the 4th Sunday of the year I have decided to bin it because it is not providing any benefit to me or anybody else. Stats are showing very few hits on those posts and to be honest I can understand why. There is no theme and is therefore completely random and unless I am on another assignment then I am just taking an image just for the sake of it with very little thought behind it. With very little information around the photo, why it was taken etc then why would anybody actually be interested in reading it.

What I should be doing more of is explaining things and why I do them, how I do them etc.

So as a start, I did a small photo shoot this morning. It was only mug shots for the person to send off as part of his profile as part of a competition. It was carried out in a gym, (in the squash court to be precise) where lighting is just awful. And short of getting the flash and umbrellas out it was a case of the ISO at 3200 and hope for the best. I just did not feel happy with the results which prob will suffice for what it was for but I just did not feel satisfied. Which at the end of the day is what it is all about for me. I have to feel emotionally involved in what I am doing and I didnt. Is that true of all professional photographers? I dont want to just earn money and not feel as though I have not done a good job.

So this blog is going to go back to the Swindon News/Photojournalism and I am not going to try to combine other things with it.

Likewise I am going to re-design my website to provide a better experience, better show case for my better images from both the UK and Spain and try to make it more interesting.

Swindon Hospital Carillion Workers meeting in the House of Commons

Kamaljeet Jantu addresses te audience

Dave Smith addresses the audience

Katy Clark MP addresses the audience

Wilf Sullivan TUC addresses the audience

Workers and MP’s stand together

Workers and MP’s stand together

Some of the hospital workers.

On the evening of Tuesday 20th November a meeting was held in The House of Commons in London for the Swindon Hospital Carillion workers and a number of MP’s, GMB Union officials and other important speakers who were offering their support to the hospital workers. Amongst the speakers and audience were Michael Meacher MP, Lord Whitty, Katy Clark MP, Pragna Patel from Southall Black Sisters, Wilf Sullivan from the TUC, Dave Smith ex Carillion and blacklisted worker, Kamaljeet Jantu, Lawyer Shah Qureshi and many GMB officials.
The MP’s were visibly shocked when the Lawyer was reading out just a few of the allegations against the Carillion management.
All at the meeting considered it to be a success and a lot of support was offered in helping and moving the dispute forward.

For me as somebody there purely to take images of the events I found it fascinating not least because it was the first time in my life I had ever been inside the House of Commons and Houses of Parliament. If you have the chance go take a visit.

Swindon Carillion GWH workers protest in London at Royal London Hospital

Swindon Carillion Hospital Workers Protest London

Swindon Carillion Hospital Workers Protest London

GMB hand out leaflets at Swindon Carillion Hospital Workers Protest London

GMB hand out leaflets at Swindon Carillion Hospital Workers Protest London

GMB hand out leaflets at Swindon Carillion Hospital Workers Protest London

Swindon Carillion Hospital Workers Protest London

Swindon Carillion Hospital Workers Protest London

On Tuesday 20th Nov a small number of Swindon’s Great Western Hospital Carillion workers held a protest outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel East London, where Carillion also have the contract to run the hospital. The mainly Goan workers are in a long running dispute with the Management of Carillion with the support of the GMB Union where it is alleged that the management have been involved in fraud, bullying, harassment and racism.
As a photojournalist I am there to simply record what is happening but I do feel it is important to just say that these people who are involved with the dispute are not just whinging and complaining about wanting more money, no,all they want is to be treated equally with the other ‘white’ workers at the hospital. Also that the cases of alleged fraud, bribery etc are being investigated by the police and lawyers and has now been taken up by a number of MP’s (see next post).

What do you think ????

Swindon Hospital Carillion GMB Workers Meeting and Update

Kamaljeet Jandu

Derique Montaut and Nadine Watts

Andy Newman

Derique Montaut

Kamaljeet Jandu

Rupert

Jose

Young Goan Lady

Margaret

On the evening of 18th November the GMB sponsored a packed out, evening meeting for all of the Swindon Great Western Hospital Carillion workers who are presently in a dispute with the Carillion Management. It was to update the workers of the status and to show and confirm the support of the GMB and the Labour Party of the workers dispute. A number of speakers took part including local Labour Councillor Derique Montaut and the National Equalities Officer for the GMB Kamaljeet Jandu who came down from London especially for the meeting.
It was also supported by other local Labour Councillors Nadine Watts and Junab Ali.
Some of the workers along with some GMB officials are going to be going to London to have discussions at the Houses of Commons on Tuesday 20th Nov.