Latest news with #GP
Times
8 hours ago
- Health
- Times
Weighing in on the fat-shaming debate
Doctors are once again being urged to use 'positive' language when telling patients they are overweight after 74 people in the past year complained that they were 'fat shamed'. A Freedom of Information request revealed that one person was mightily offended that the doctor told them they were effectively carrying 'two suitcases'. (Of lard, I presume, not holiday bikinis.) Is that really all that bad? It strikes me as quite a good metaphor to describe the strain of extra weight on the body and joints. How do you tell someone they are obese in a life-enhancing way? 'The bad news, madam, is you have coronary heart disease. The good news is you'll be most popular on the chubby chasers' disco night.' I know food addiction deserves as much sympathy as any other and that fat shaming is cruel. But it's not as if the doctor dramatically scissored his/her arms as the patient entered the room, crying, 'Stand back! Pauline the pavement-cracker coming through!' And it could have been worse. Consider the man told by his GP: 'Don't eat anything fatty.' 'You mean burgers and bacon, doctor?' the patient asked. 'No, fatty. Don't eat anything,' came the reply (OK, it's an old one). I feel more for another patient who was told the reason they couldn't see was because their 'face was too fat'. That's a boggling mental image. Was the patient a shar pei?
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- Health
- SBS Australia
Nelli lives with chronic pain. It took her 20 years to find the right help
Nelli Stevenson has been living with chronic pain since she was a teenager — but it has taken her many years, and a serious medical emergency, to find the help she needed. Stevenson, 37, started experiencing chronic pelvic pain, along with a nerve pain called sciatica, when she was around 14 years old. These conditions later worsened after the birth of her child, and became chronic around three years ago. "I live with chronic persistent pain. I've had several medical professionals tell me I'll likely be in pain for the rest of my life," she told SBS News. "There is only so much they can do for me surgically. So, I manage my pain on a day-to-day basis through a number of physical interventions, as well as medical interventions as well." Stevenson works for a community legal service with flexible arrangements, and says she is fortunate to have access to a specialist GP and team who support her physical therapy and pain management. "However, it took me about 20 years of pushing through the medical system, constantly advocating for myself and fighting to be taken seriously, to be able to find that group of people," she said. This started in her late teens. "I was told, like most people with pelvic pain, that it's just part of being a woman, it's part of your period. I was gaslit for several years," she said. This had serious consequences. At one point, Stevenson says she had normalised the chronic abdominal pain she was experiencing that she didn't notice her appendix had ruptured. "I didn't present to hospital until 12 days after it had happened," she said. Stevenson ended up in ICU and needed two major surgeries to save her life. She says these caused significant scar tissue, which added to her chronic pain. She said she has heard many stories of late diagnosis, misdiagnosis and gaslighting from the chronic pain community. "They [medical professionals] aren't taking seriously these people who are saying, 'I cannot live like this anymore. I need more help.'" Chronic pain is taking longer to diagnose in 2025, according to a new report from peak consumer body Chronic Pain Australia . The 11th edition of its National Pain Survey, released on Monday to kick off a week-long awareness campaign, has revealed what it calls a "devastating national crisis" marked by diagnosis delays and a severe mental health toll. Waiting for a diagnosis Chronic pain is a common and complex condition characterised by persistent pain experienced on most days of the week, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Approximately one in five Australians, or 3.6 million, live with chronic pain. However, Chronic Pain Australia believes the figure is higher. "That figure came from a study that was done about 15 years ago," Chronic Pain Australia chair Nicolette Ellis said. "What we're predicting chronic pain is sitting at in [terms of] prevalence is about four million Australians in this day and age, and [this is] projected to go up to five million in 2050." Of the almost 5,000 survey respondents, many had multiple conditions, including pain, joint pain and nerve pain, often experienced at the same time. Over half (54 per cent) of respondents reported waiting more than two years for a diagnosis, and 44 per cent waited over three years. This has increased from 42 per cent waiting over three years in 2024, and 41 per cent in 2023. Mental health impacts — and a 'pervasive' stigma Ellis said delayed diagnoses can contribute to the "vicious cycle" of chronic pain, including mental ill health. "For a lot of people, it takes away their identity, increases their mental health issues … and that's because of [what] pain can take away," she said. "If you're waiting for a diagnosis, typically you lose function. That might be reduced hours at work, or it might be leaving the workforce altogether." The report revealed 74 per cent of respondents had experienced mental health impacts, with 87 per cent experiencing sleep disturbances. Among other impacts was 63 and 59 per cent of respondents who experienced strain on family relationships and friendships. Stigma around chronic pain is "pervasive", according to the report, which found 74 per cent reported feeling ignored or dismissed. Ellis said this can come from health professionals along with friends, family, and community members. However, reported stigma from health professionals was higher than overall levels. "Many people feel gaslit or stigmatised by health professionals — that this is all in their head and it's not a true condition," she said. Calls for more complex care Despite the complex nature of chronic pain, the report found access to appropriate multidisciplinary and specialist care is falling short. Only 18 per cent of respondents received a referral to multidisciplinary pain management, and 30 per cent of those referred never secured an appointment. Ellis said access to multidisciplinary care is limited and dependent on location. "If you're in a metropolitan area, usually you can get into a tertiary or hospital-based pain clinic. But they have massive wait lists," she said. "Access to that kind of care is very limited." Chronic Pain Australia has been advocating for integrating multidisciplinary care programs into primary care settings. Ultimately, it wants to see chronic pain recognised as a condition in its own right — and made a national health priority. "Currently, we don't recognise pain as a condition in its own right; we recognise it as a symptom. What that means is that not only is chronic pain invisible to society, it's invisible in our health system data and in our policies," Ellis said. Ellis said recognising chronic pain in its own right would increase awareness of the condition, to guide adequate funding and resources. SBS News has contacted the federal health department for comment. It's understood the latest report will be presented to parliament later this week. For Stevenson, having access to early diagnosis and complex care can make an "extraordinary difference". "It means that someone who may otherwise be bedridden for weeks and weeks on end can actually participate in society, can maintain a healthy work-life balance, and can go about their days as a person living as pain free as possible, which surely we all deserve."
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Ong Beng Seng's pre-trial conference rescheduled to Jul 28
[SINGAPORE] Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who was expected to appear in court on Wednesday (Jul 23) for a case involving former transport minister S Iswaran had his court hearing rescheduled to next week. Checks by The Business Times showed that a request to reschedule the pre-trial conference to Jul 28 was approved by the court. Court hearings can be rescheduled for various reasons including scheduling conflicts or more time required by parties to submit or compile documents. BT has contacted the State Courts for more details. Previously, an Attorney-General's Chambers spokesperson said Ong's further mention for a guilty plea 'will be refixed for a later date'. This was after Ong, who was initially expected to plead guilty on Jul 3, had his court hearing adjourned. Ong, former managing director of Hotel Properties Ltd, is widely known for bringing the Formula 1 night race to Singapore in 2008. He owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix (GP). A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up He faces one charge of abetting offences under Section 165 of the Penal Code – which forbids public servants from accepting gifts from people involved with them in an official capacity – and one charge of abetting the obstruction of justice. The first charge, for abetting an offence under Section 165, relates to flights and a hotel stay. Ong allegedly offered Iswaran a trip to Doha in December 2022, and arranged for his private jet to fly him there. The flight was worth US$7,700. The second charge was for allegedly instructing Singapore GP director Mok Chee Liang, in May 2023, to bill Iswaran for the business-class ticket from Doha to Singapore – an action that would have obstructed the course of justice. Those found guilty of offences under Section 165 can be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both. Abetting an offence would result in the same punishment, if the offence is committed as a consequence of the abetment. The maximum penalty for obstructing the course of justice is jail time of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
Pre-trial conference for Ong Beng Seng rescheduled to July 28, Singapore News
A pre-trial conference for billionaire and hotelier Ong Beng Seng set for July 23 has been rescheduled to next week. Ong, 79, was charged with two offences in October 2024. Both of his charges are in relation to former transport minister S Iswaran, who was sentenced to 12 months' jail last October. Ong, the chairman of Formula One promoter Singapore Grand Prix (GP), allegedly offered Iswaran an all-expenses paid trip to Doha in December 2022. He is also accused of obstructing the course of justice by alerting Iswaran that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had seized the flight manifest for the trip from Doha to Singapore. Ong had previously indicated he wished to plead guilty on April 2. This was postponed to July 3 after his lawyers asked for an extension to obtain his medical reports., Ong has been diagnosed with cancer and was reportedly undergoing chemotherapy for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. A day before he was set to plead guilty, the hearing was changed to a pre-trial conference on July 8, with a judiciary spokesperson saying both sides had asked for more time to file sentencing submissions. A pre-trial conference is usually held in chambers and involves the court and parties involved in a case. It is intended to sort out administrative matters, including the scheduling of court dates. The hearing on July 8 was adjourned to July 23 for parties to file revised papers. No further details were given. According to the court system, the July 23 hearing has now been rescheduled to July 28. It was not indicated who made the request. AsiaOne has contacted the Attorney-General's Chambers for more information. [[nid:715169]] editor@
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Diet that sheds weight fast by eating MORE: This easy plan was made to help cancer patients - then doctors realised its amazing benefits. JANE ALEXANDER tried it and couldn't believe how much she lost...
At the age of 65, I have reached crunch point. I'm sick to the back teeth of weird diets and I'm seriously fed up with feeling hungry. I'm also really hacked off at still being fat. It's not just how I look – my GP has told me I really need to lose my stores of visceral fat (the pernicious fat around the organs in the abdomen that is so bad for our health).
