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Is it time to help the hospices?

Is it time to help the hospices?

At Easter, Jenny McMurtary was given just days to live. At Christmas, she had been diagnosed with a sarcoma, a rare cancer, in her shoulder, and it had spread. But now she is making the most of the summer, with her husband, Michael. "We've been to garden centres, local villages and even made a trip to Hayling Island," says the 69-year-old. "You have to be careful not to push yourself too much, but I want to make the most of the time I have left." How has she defied medical opinion? Good care and personal determination have obviously played a key part. But so has the help she has received from the local hospice service. Jenny is one of 2,000…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 30, 2015
Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Be careful about who you trust

Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Be careful about who you trust

It is often said that trust needs to be earned, and that implies that we start off not trusting people until they reach the point when they have done enough to convince us that they are trustworthy. But is it really that simple? How realistic is it to withhold trust until we feel that the risk of having that trust abused is at a low enough level? Of course, it isn’t realistic at all. To a certain extent social interactions would not be possible if we did not begin with at least a degree of basic trust. Imagine totally mistrusting everyone we encounter unless and until they have done enough to convince us that they can be trusted. That would…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 17, 2015
Acas tips on managing mental health in the workplace

Acas tips on managing mental health in the workplace

In setting out its six top tips for managing mental health in the workplace, Acas point out that mental health issues not only affect people's personal lives, wellbeing and morale at home, but can also impact on their performance at work and be costly for businesses. Approaching a member of staff about their mental health can be very challenging for a manager or a work colleague. https://www.thehrdirector.com/legal_updates/legal-updates-2015/acas-publishes-top-tips-online-advice-on-managing-mental-health-in-the-workplace/
Dr Neil Thompson
July 17, 2015
An end to potholes?

An end to potholes?

The Netherlands could become the first country to pave its streets with plastic bottles after Rotterdam city council said it was considering piloting a new type of road surface touted by its creators as a greener alternative to asphalt. The construction firm Volker Wessels unveiled plans on Friday for a surface made entirely from recycled plastic, which it said required less maintenance than asphalt and could withstand greater extremes of temperature– between -40C and 80C. Roads could be laid in a matter of weeks rather than months and last about three times as long, it claimed. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/10/rotterdam-plastic-roads-trial-netherlands
Dr Neil Thompson
July 17, 2015
Where are the women?

Where are the women?

The Scottish National Party have hit out at the UK Government ... accusing them of just paying "lip service" to the issue of gender equality. This comes as figures, that whilst publicly available have only now been examined by the SNP, reveal that women make up just a third, or 68 out of 200, of the members of the UK Government's departmental boards, which are responsible for providing "strategic leadership" for each government department. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/accusations-of-stark-inequalities-in-heart-of-whitehall-as-gender-imbalance-on-governmental-boards-revealed-10383386.html
Dr Neil Thompson
July 16, 2015
Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Don’t make decisions when feelings are running high

Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Don’t make decisions when feelings are running high

As human beings, we are, of course, emotional creatures just as much as we are rational, if not more so. This means that any attempt to understand human actions without taking account of the emotional dimension is likely to be, at best, incomplete and potentially totally misleading. Part of the reason emotions are so significant is that our emotional response to a situation can actually change the way our body reacts. For example, if we are anxious, angry or frightened, there can be increased levels of adrenaline in our blood stream (the classic ‘fight or flight’ mechanism) and this can have a powerful effect on our behaviour. In effect, our emotional reaction has triggered a biological reaction that is preparing…
Dr Neil Thompson
July 1, 2015
The Power of Introverts

The Power of Introverts

In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated. https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts
Dr Neil Thompson
July 1, 2015