General Chat

Mauonthecoast - I know I would have feld very smug

Many years ago driving round Parliament Square I was cut up very badly by a black cab (frightened the life out of me). This was spotted by 2 policemen who pulled the black cab over. As I was driving away all I could see was one of the 2 policemen wagging his finger at the driver and the other one getting his book out. Deep joy.......

Now before any taxi drivers get on their high horses, I love a taxi and London would not be London without them but like all folks there are a few bad eggs around. <3

Digressing even further, it's an interesting thought that in a hundred years time that people may see what we put on the 2011 census in a whole different light... morals and social mores might have changed considerably....I think I shall write my life story to make sure the 'facts' are known...though I may bend the truth a little on my measurements ;-)

That's it, Rose, the truth but not the nitty gritty bits... :-D <3

I've written most of my life story so far Rose :-) but will not giveaway any measurements thenk yoo......photographs will be there (with my ample chest :-P ) for future generations ;-) :-D

Ten years ago when I was in hospital, the young nurse asked my religion. I blithely answered C of E.

Next thing I knew, I had the Vicar standing at the end of my bed.

Startled, I asked him if I was dying. He said No. So I asked him to leave.

If I hadnt had a heart attack before, I was well on the way, seeing him standing there........................

:-0

Hi BC and all,

As I was reading this thread the post arrived, in it was
The Million Women Study form with questions about
me and my health. Problem is you answer one of these
questionaires and you keep getting them every so
often.(ten years)
Nothing about what ethnic group I am only which country
I was born in.

Emma

I,ve noticed on a lot of forms wanting Ethnicity,that there is no tick box for English, :-S

nor Welsh

I've never given it a second thought to be honest, mostly because I think my own ethnicity is not important but someone else's may be. Mostly it is not relevant, but sometimes it is, so I just tick the relevant box.

I just write Welsh in Ann, the tricky part is when answering the question marked (Sex) I usually put" Often as possible",would love to see the face of the person who reads it. :-D :-D :-D

I always say British having done my tree - Scottish and Irish and goodness knows what else Its for the stats and I love stats. Fascinating :-( and hopefully useful.

Not averse to questioning my treatment and care though.

Vera

nice one Merlin

Ethnic origins shouldn't determine treatment, so I can't see that it is needed on a form.
Schools collect that information too.
Race doesn't determine a person's health needs, or whether or not they speak English and so might need help in lessons, so why do 'they' need to know.

Gwyn

On the contrary, Rita, I am absolutely proud to be Irish through and through. What I am talking about is my right to refuse.

Thanks everyone for your input :-)

Actually Gwyn, race does matter when it comes to health. As someone said earlier, things like sickle cell anaemia is pretty much unique to those of African origin, and if the presence of sickle cell is found, this could affect the treatment of other things because of medical interaction with not only any meds being used currently, but in any future medication, so it is important in that light. It is the same reason as when they ask you what meds you are currently on, or have you any other illnesses or conditions which may affect your treatment.

It's not one size fits all, life would be so easy if it were.

Rita, it's nothing to do with shame, and I can vouch for BC's pride in her Irishness, she shouts it from the rooftops at every occasion (or to security in Harrods anyway :D. But the right to not say on forms is hers, and mine, although I do say without a second thought, and that is the point she is making.

I think people often/ sometimes get confused between Nationality and Ethnicity.... it doesn't actually matter what Nationality you are, your medical treatment, as your social treatment, should be the same if you qualify to be in this country, through birth or immigration etc IE Equal.

What might be important is to know your ethnicity, for the reasons Teresa has put.

My nationality is British...because I was born here ( under that I could have African/Caucasian/ Asian etc ethnicity so I think it's important to put that I am 'white caucasian'...I don't see that as in any way discriminatory...it is a statement of fact in my case).

edit to add that the definition of 'ethnicity' has altered over the years...so it is no wonder it is confusing .

Re BC's question, It doesn't bother me, as an ex civil servant we were asked the ethnic question many times way before it became common on forms. And I was going to say what Rose and PP said.
However I think it should be voluntary without comment if you refuse.

Re mobile phones Mau, great to know he was caught.

Re cigarette ends and chewing gum, you can get fined for dropping both in Gloucester. And one of my bug bears is throwing cigarette ends out of cars. say it isn't out properly, say it lands in a baby's pram or a cyclists eye?

I don't have any specific objection when our surgery sends the form to both of us when our annual MOT is due. What I do find irritating is that every time we fill in the form but it doesn't seem to get recorded. Our origins arent going to alter from year to year!!. They say its government guidelines to ask .OK but don't keep asking cos I am getting irrated!!
We are who we are so are our ancestors!! :-|

Re. sickle cell anaemia
I know someone of mixed race who had several medical procedures before someone thought to test for that.
Fortunately everything was OK, but the very sight of the child ( black father, white mother) ought to have alerted staff, not some filed-away form.

Would a tick in an ethnicity box have saved the situation.?

Gwyn

No Gwyn, but it might have an effect on what areas of further training might be thought appropriate at that hospital?

And really a tick on an ethnicity form is a much better way of defining whether someone might have a condition like sickle cell than medical staff judging by colour...supposing the child was pale skinned and was only seen with the mother?