11 July (Part 3) - Arresting a disabled old man - Bexley style
Councils, Bexley included, have been taking over responsibility for health
services which is unnerving in some ways. In Bexley, if they are party to killing
someone you can be sure it will be covered up. It will likely be the same with
National Health Services too.
Yesterday I received a long awaited appointment letter for a physiotherapist but the
condition which had persisted for best part of a year recently decided it would go away,
so it seemed appropriate to call and cancel the appointment. After pressing a
number of telephone buttons I was lumbered with one of those ‘your call is
important to us, we are experiencing unusually high levels of demand’ messages,
so I eventually gave up and will risk their wrath when I don’t turn up. This was to a
doctor’s surgery, not a hospital but I suppose I am lucky to have a GP at all.
A neighbour who is in a very poor state of health is not registered with a
doctor at all. He said he is blacklisted because it is alleged he had waved
his crutch at the receptionist to make a point. I doubt he could stand and wave
a crutch at the same time, he struggles to reach my front door when he is seeking help.
Yesterday
I was disturbed by four police officers at his front door yelling at him to come
to the door. Probably they had no understanding of how long it would likely take
him. After around 20 minutes he was bundled unceremoniously into the back of
their van. Later in the day he related what it was all about.
He says he was unwell and needed a doctor so went to a surgery to see about
registration. He was refused once again. The doctor, compassionate money sponge
that he is, then reported him to the police for harassment. What else may have
happened is unknown but the result was four uniformed officers at his door. Fortunately
the duty solicitor was a good man and told the police where they should get off.
Four officers to arrest an old man who can barely stand up. Superintendent Ayling says it is his
top priority to make officers visible, so
I’m sure he will appreciate me making them a little more so.