tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post7683304927493194765..comments2024-03-28T19:27:59.772+00:00Comments on A K Haart: My Brother RonA K Haarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-89979805832473329402012-08-03T20:35:42.998+01:002012-08-03T20:35:42.998+01:00Roger - yes, institutions are needed, but we may n...Roger - yes, institutions are needed, but we may need them to be staffed by saints. I can't imagine doing such work day after day.<br /><br />Demetrius - I'm not sure about community care savings for the elderly either. <br /><br />In my limited experience they usually need far more than they get and presumably that gap is at least some of the supposed saving.A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-61449194977460026302012-08-03T15:13:34.102+01:002012-08-03T15:13:34.102+01:00This is another area where there are no "righ...This is another area where there are no "right decisions" only options each of which have moral or practical difficulties. In such cases you need to take a good hard look and try for the "least worst". Incidentally, the same sort of situation applies to those of the very old who have lost capability are never going to reclaim it. It is questionable though how far "Community Care" is a saving. It depends how you cost it. If a very ill person is in an ordinary home this is a cost. If they are impacting on others and are a major call on services as well these need to be added in.Demetriushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17198549581667363991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-62704316480571325672012-08-03T14:48:41.033+01:002012-08-03T14:48:41.033+01:00Tricky indeed and something that speaks to an unat...Tricky indeed and something that speaks to an unattractive part of our natures. Certainly the institutions were bad. Trouble is to do a good job costs and the question is who pays? Politicos were very open to the notion of 'care in the community' being quick to see that everyone's responsibility would instantly become no-one's responsibility. But right at the heart of this is the unpleasant fact that most of us will walk right on by a distressed mentally ill person because we don't like them.<br /><br />Institutions are needed, but I remember a local institution (ex workhouse) with old ladies who had been put inside for having a babe out of wedlock. A doctor friend told me it was not so long ago that mentally ill females gave birth by caesarian because it was a handy chance to 'tie their tubes'. Careful what you wish for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-90055135038003148822012-08-03T12:25:29.263+01:002012-08-03T12:25:29.263+01:00Sam - yes, much as it goes against our desire for ...Sam - yes, much as it goes against our desire for personal liberty, some people need involuntary treatment. A very difficult issue which doesn't seem well suited to rule-based solutions either.A K Haarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897490979828603179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2481298417819219839.post-21832564059923293942012-08-03T12:03:28.579+01:002012-08-03T12:03:28.579+01:00America certainly does seem to have increasing num...America certainly does seem to have increasing numbers of totally bewildered mentally ill people on the streets. I'm not familiar with their health-care system, but something similar has happened in the UK. The reason here is that there has been a horrible conjunction of left-liberal and monetarist ideology. The conservative bean-counters like "Community Care" because it is cheaper than running the total institutional care that some individuals obviously require. They are aided and abetted by the softies who think that all institutions are repressive, and that patients ought to have freedom of choice. But choice when you don't understand the options is a heavy burden at best...Sam Vegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05978971199859845931noreply@blogger.com