I am to be 'educated' .....

Emma Wroids · Number of posts: 77 Registration date: 2007-03-27

The respiratory nurse specialist at my local doctor's surgery (now renamed 'Health Centre' Rolling Eyes

) has decided I may benefit from a course of Pulmonary Rehabilitation cheers

at the nearest hosptal and this afternoon I trotted off to the first of six weekly sessions. My invitation letter stated that the programme was scheduled to last from 1pm until 5pm.

Six patients were duly assembled at the appointed time; ok, ok ..... I was 5 minutes late Embarassed

that's another story entirely.............. Embarassed

Health officials present included a respiratory nurse specialist, a Kirklees (my local authority) P.A.L.S. officer (fitness instructor, to you and me), a clinical psychologist, 2 physiotherapists and one other whose title temporarily escapes me, but I'm sure it was something grand - and anyway, she is due to retire next week so will only be seen by us once more. Her place will be taken by a 'bright young thing'.

Assessment was the aim of the first session; form filling was top of the agenda today, with the - these days - obligatory completion of a sticky name badge confused

My assessment form required that I tick boxes appropriate "to the way you feel about certain aspects of your illness". Following this there was a short test with the physios which involved walking back and forth, at varying speeds, between two chairs placed approximately 15 feet apart. I felt a little like Pavlov's dog as I waited for the buzzer to sound to set me off on my walkabout

Unfortunately the room we were in wasn't quite big enough to accommodate the distance between the chairs ...... the 2nd chair had to be placed out in the corridor Neutral

where members of the public were seated study

There were quite a few furtive, questioning glances as, one by one, we undertook our test(s).

The upshot of all of this ? That smoking is bad for me scratch

and my need for 'education' as to its evils glaringly obvious. My next session will include a 'nice chat, dear' with a Smoking Cessation Officer; plus, it cost me £5.50 in parking fees!

Today's session, or at least the patients part in it, ended at 3pm ( Question

) and the professionals proceeded to gather around a table to complete yet more paperwork.

No wonder the Health Service is in dire straits.............. or am I not taking it all seriously enough Question

Mogsmum · Number of posts: 902 Registration date: 2007-03-15

Do you actually need to take it seriously though? It would appear that you've adopted exactly the right attitude - treating the whole charade with the contempt it deserves .... but then 'they' do say laughter is the best medicine (providing of course you've filled in a form and got your name badge on!).