I was so pleased to read this in the newsletter. It gave me a sense of hope that's been lacking for a good while and for that reason I'm just going to take it as it is and not question why the change. Hopefully it's because all the campaigning actually had an impact.

Excellent! I look forward to that day, if I am still on this mortal coil. In the meantime, I have mine (finally) as do 50% of my offspring - the other one needs to get his act together.

Thank you. That seems to be true for mine too, so Facebook opt-out won't apply 😤

Shouldn't be necessary, but obviously I have little say over my data. I objected via Facebook a while back, but does it need separate objections for Instagram and WhatsApp? I don't think my FB and WhatsApp have an official link. Also, I thought WhatsApp was encrypted?

Lucky you? My midcycle symptoms have always been horrible low mood, a hatred of all humankind and extreme sensory sensitivity. It's a wonder I ever had kids!

We work a 37.5 hour working week, so maybe that's the difference. My hourly rate is minimum wage but it's rapidly converging with advocate rate. And is more than I got as assistant manager in a GP practice 3 years ago!

That's pretty generous I agree, though it's an often challenging role - certainly was when I did it. I think the difference is that NHS did have some cost of living rises and many other sectors didn't. My charity admin job definitely doesn't pay that, nor do most of the advocates get that.

Separate but related: the idea that people who are good at one thing will also be good at admin so don't need admin support is now pervasive, yet often detrimental. Some brilliant minds don't naturally administrate & time would be better used on what they do best. That's definitely true in academia.

I think maybe there needs to be clarity on what is meant by administrator in this context. Clinic or ward admin and senior admin are very different roles. I am not sure what proportion are highly paid nowadays (and how high that high pay is), but suspect it isn't high.

"If I have the chowder with the shellfish removed, can I get an extra slice of bread?"

"Can I get the lasagne only instead of mince and pasta sheets could I get a slice of turkey and a cup of tea?"

Ah, go on!

This may well be true, but suggestions that Wes Streeting may be the next leader are ruining my already challenging day.

🤣 sounds extremely rewarding - and potentially wonderfully complex too!

And conditional formatting?

That's lovely to watch - their little smiley face as they tuck in is so sweet. As for the ready tears, they're an ongoing and frustrating issue for me. Often to be found with leaky eyes as I sit on the bus to work. Rarely for a sensible reason!

Sidenote: it seems to me that Sarah Owen is often to be found speaking sense and not afraid to challenge when needed.