Scarman Trust - The Movie
Here is a link to The Scarman Trust Manchester website, where they have put a YouTube™ link on their page to a video I did at the recent City of Manchester Stadium conference.
Archive for Blog
I Found A NHS Dentist - Then Paid £15
Open wide your wallet, if you’re on Incapacity Benefit, when you first visit an NHS dentist. But why? Because this Government has made it more difficult for us genuine Incap claimers to get free treatment.
This is discrimination!
When I eventually found a “willing participant” (NHS dentist), they go and hit a nerve by extracting £15 from my wallet for sitting down for 2 minutes. But I’m on benefits - I protested. The receptionist told me that this Government changed the rules. So that now, us Incap claimers have to apply for a free treatment certificate.
This meant that I had to pay £15 out of very little and go without just to satisfy a Government that wants to pay £160 per MP per day for just turning up at the Houses of Parliament. In real terms that is nearly my fortnightly money and they get that a day for doing nothing. Then they get paid £60,000 p/a for closing down a primary school in Hulme after promising not to, not policing our streets at night and taking money back off drug addicts that would probably steal the deficit or have to have another sex customer at 1am.
Then they wonder why crime as gone up! Why do MP’s dream of such demoralising schemes?
Can we pay this kind of MP £200 a day just to stay at home?
I asked the receptionist could they wait until I got the certificate. People on other benefits only have to tick a box and they can walk out. “No” was the reply. I had to pay £15 and then go beg outside McDonald’s, so I could feed my Council Tax demand and 3 utilities.
Did I complain? Too right!
When I did complain to Tony Lloyd MP, his secretary was very very arrogant and rude towards me. Next time I’ll have video evidence. She raised her voice and talked over the top of me when I was telling her what the problem was with this Government. Then she said that they are not the Government. Could have fooled me? Then she treated me with contempt. Me, a floating voting mail elector in their constituency, treated like sh**. But we voted her party in. Well, someone did. I tried to vote for someone else, but had a problem with the mail-voting system - I forgot to post it.
This is how we are treated by this Government, as 3rd class citizens. No free education at all - we have to beg for it. Free NHS by redemption & certificate. That’s how I see it.
1-in-5 they say. Good! That’s a 5th of the voters that can change the Government and bring about a positive attitude towards people who are sick and even more stressed by this discrimination.
Someone get me a Human Rights lawyer - please?
- by Paul Summer
GMSC - A Very Pleasant Experience
What? Me? Giving compliments to the GMSC?
Yeh, its true!
Today I was picked up and driven to the GMSC in Trafford for my Out-Patients appointment. I was the first one seen. The surgeon saw me, took my stitches off, laughed and then discharged me.. from my flat?
..I think it was me being discharged from Out-Patients???
I then I waited for my NHS ride home.. and waited.. and then all of us waiting were given a FREE cup of tea or coffee. The wait wasn’t bad as I took a book to read and played with my mobile phone Internet thingy, looking at facebook and updating it. Eventually, after I’d drank the smallest cup of coffee outside a vending machine, someone came in and called my name - well, a version of it. I repeated my name to the guy and he confirmed. But, to my supprise, instead of a big ambulance, I went home in a black cab taxi - for FREE!
Do I take all my complaints back now? No! But, the GMSC is forgiven. No compensation claim, no writing to my MP, no paying expensive lawyers and no 5 year legal battle. It’s over and my belly button has a smile now.
However, while I was there.. I did leave my mark..
I’m joking.. honest - I did it in Photoshop.
MP Tony Lloyd’s reply to me
My email to Tony Lloyd MP is identical to the post directly underneath this one.
On 23/01/2008, Tony Lloyd MP wrote:
Dear Mr Ridyard,
Tony Lloyd MP has asked me to thank you for your email, which is currently
receiving attention.
Kind regards,
Liam
(my reply)
Please thank Tony Lloyd MP for me, I do appreciate the work that he does and the time he takes to take my cases up with the various Government departments. I’m sure that this Government would never want to breach people’s human rights and break international laws concerning humanitarian issues.
Government - putting a gun against the sick…
A good headline, don’t you think?
I received a letter this morning telling me that unless I attend an interview at Alexander Job Centre they will reduce my benefit… and we wonder why crime is on the increase. The Government by doing this forces good abiding citizens to resort to breaking the law because they take money back off the poor, sick and disabled. I, like many other Incap claimants, are not eligible to work that’s why we are on the benefit we are on. This is backed up by our own GP; but MP’s, who think they are more qualified than GP’s, say differently.
So, how shall we break the law to get our money then Mr Tony Lloyd? Shall we beg? Steal? Do we starve while the Government mispends millions?
It’s like the Government putting a gun against my head and saying, “Attend this interview or we will starve you to death!” That’s right, any reduction in my benefit will effect my health as I won’t be able to buy food!
Interesting. When I rang the JC+ at Alexander Park I told them that I had just come out of hospital after a hernia operation. Fiona Burnside then asked me to get a letter from my GP why I could not attend. Ridiculess, I’m not a bloody child! A letter to excuse me from some interview? I told her to contact the Greater Manchester Surgical Centre - she refused. It was a letter from my GP or else!
What? GP’s don’t do letters unless they charge for them. Doctors are very busy people and to take time away from treating patients is time that could save a life. Does this Government not understand the pressures GP’s are put under? Every minute is important to health care in Britain, without taking them away to write a letter to the JC+ because of some over zealous Secretary of the Department of Work & Pensions is trying to force sick people to work - whip us why not?
This Government has set up unworkable unhelpful stupid rules to oppress the poor even more. I’ve had enough stress and anxiety this week and now its the Job Centre’s own insensitive rigid rules.
LEAVE ME ALONE TO RECOVER!!!
Britain’s Got Talent - Stephen Mulhern Shook My Hand
My claim to fame!
Last week at the Palace Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester, ITV 1 & 2’s “Britain’s Got Talent” were filiming auditions. Along with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden & Piers Morgan were Ant & Dec and presenter Stephen Mulhern.
I was back stage on 2 of the days, Wednesday and Friday, covering first aid for the Red Cross, volunteering (was it 15 hours in total? Dunno, wasn’t looking at my watch.), when Stephen Mulhern grabbed my hand firmly and shook it. He was very sincere and very greatful for the work of the British Red Cross, saying, “You do a great job!”
ARTICLE IN BLACKPOOL GAZETTE
I was stunned slightly; as I don’t get many celebrities walking up to me, shake my hand firmly and say how much they appreciate me - not yet anyways. I’m still working on it! But, Stephen Mulhern did it to me. My claim to fame, hopefully his soon!
Even though production told me off for snapping a few pics, even though they told the audience they could, I thought it was a bit harsh seeing I didn’t get a penny for being there. All that said, I really enjoyed myself and it was thrilling being inches away from Ant & Dec, seeing Simon Cowell up close (shorter than I thought) and Stephen Mulhern shaking my hand.
When they show the series look out for a 19yr old belly dancer (not part of The Urban Gypsies) from Manchester University, who got through. She was very talented - had more of the XXX Factor I’d say!
No casualties. We did go on stage for a few minutes when the warm-up artist invited me and a colleague. It was good to get the stage experience.
Thanks to all the theatre staff who looked after me, the security guys, Tim (Stage Manager) and Dawn (Production Manager).
THE VIDEO THEY TRIED TO BAN!!!
Paul Summer
Council Taxing The Poor!
If you remember in my video blog I told you about a letter I received from Manchester City Council Tax office threatening me with a visit from the bailiffs - if I didn’t pay them £100 within 10 days before they take my bed & settee, fridge & cooker, toilet roll & light bulbs away.
If they take my toilet roll, I can always use their last DEMAND. Is it any wonder crime is on the increase when poor people are victimised by harsh penalties, by something that should be illegal, which they cannot afford to pay?
Well, they sent me another letter to pay £20 or they’ll take my bed or cooker away within 7 days. What a horrible regime like thing to do - to try to force disabled people to beg, steal or get into serious debt to pay for local council over-spending!
If we sent charity AID to Africa for the poor and then, on its way, the Government stopped it and said, “We’ll now take a percentage back as shipping taxes.” - we’d be outraged, protesting outside Downing Street, and sending pettitions in the 1000’s. But, those of us on Incap suffer this injustice every week from this Government - all because it’s not called Income Support.
What? A person getting the same amount of Income Support can be entitled to 100% Council Tax Benefit but Incap claimants have to pay a percentage.
“NO!” You cry, “Surely not here in a rich nation?”
Yep! Taking a poor man’s bed from him to pay council tax, when he cannot afford it on benefits. How sad! Are we a proud nation now?
I told the Council Tax Unit that I can only afford to pay £5 a month, so they hit me with a DEMAND for £20 to be PAID WITHIN 7 DAYS or BAILIFFS will take my bed or cooker.
There are mentally disabled human beings and those who have come out of hospital that claim Incap, who probably find it very difficult to cope with DEMANDS for some portion of their benefit.
Maybe we can set up an fund to help our poor unfortunate Manchester City Council Tax Unit to run its service without taking back (legally) off its own poor - I’m sure you, the generous public, would help this good cause and MCCTU would stop taking AID back off the poor.
Yes! Any Benefit is really charitable AID to the poor of this country - human rights and all that!
Do disabled people not have the same rights as those on other benefits to 100% Rent & Council Tax Benefit?
Op v Filling - Which is quicker to get?
The answer on the NHS is - OPERATION!
Yes, what a shock but its true. Last year I developed tooth ache and after that discovered, after calling into a NHS Drop-In Centre, I have a hernia. My own NHS dentist, 175 Royce Road, stopped treating NHS patients. My doctor booked me online for my hernia.
To cut a long blog short… I’m going into hospital next week for an operation for an umbilical hernia and I’ve still not found a NHS dentist for my tooth ache. It only needs filling, my tooth that is - the other needs stitching.
Maybe if I slip the surgeon a fiver he can pull my tooth out at the same time. If so, would he give me a lipo-suck for a tenner and the face of Brad Pitt for £20? Worth a try!
I’m still waiting for Tony Lloyd MP, Labour, to get back to me about this mental dental issue.
Did i see a Polish doctor on the BBC 6 O’clock News this week? The Government pays this GP to fly over from Poland, very tired (Is that safe? Is that legal?) every weekend, and drives him around Aberdeen doing out-of-hours visits. Carbon footprints and more tax-payers money.
Hang on! If it this was the same as NHS dentists it would be a case of.. “Sorry, you’re not feeling well but we can only treat you if you’re at the point of needing a transplant - call back then and we’ll see if we can fit you in… 2 weeks to live.? We only got an appointment in 16 days.. morning or afternoon… you’re at the undertakers that morning.. ok, 2 o’clock in the afternoon for you OK?”
Why don’t they fly a bunch of dentists over from Poland as well, and have mobile dentists going around Manchester doing NHS treatment which everybody has already paid for? Tony Lloyd’s assistant suggested that we’d be taking Polish dentists away from them… but they take their GP’s without batting an eye-lid.
Ouch, hit a nerve.? Hope it hurts more than my tooth Mr Brown!
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