Paul Park
@pauljunhyuk.bsky.social
UK-trained GP in Canada; former epidemiologist, former health strategist, he/him
Hattenstone got an appointment by shouting at the receptionist, a time-honoured and abusive way of getting what he wants, which is always possible once you talk to one. He could also have lied on the eform, that would have been equally effective. GP capacity remains low whatever he does.
December 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Hattenstone got an appointment by shouting at the receptionist, a time-honoured and abusive way of getting what he wants, which is always possible once you talk to one. He could also have lied on the eform, that would have been equally effective. GP capacity remains low whatever he does.
I think he’s rather missed the point, which is that GP appointments are more limited than ever (since there are fewer GPs and increasing demand for their time) and adding a new way to access them doesn’t make it easier to get one, it makes it harder.
December 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I think he’s rather missed the point, which is that GP appointments are more limited than ever (since there are fewer GPs and increasing demand for their time) and adding a new way to access them doesn’t make it easier to get one, it makes it harder.
Also, even if it were true, Bob Cratchit is not a good example of the equivalent of a minimum wage worker in Victorian London. His employer is terrible but he pays him enough to support Bob and his large family (his wife and six children).
December 11, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Also, even if it were true, Bob Cratchit is not a good example of the equivalent of a minimum wage worker in Victorian London. His employer is terrible but he pays him enough to support Bob and his large family (his wife and six children).
At school, before you’re 18? If you wish but probably not until you’re 15 or so and you know what sort of thing you want to do or study. Otherwise I think a broad education is helpful.
December 10, 2025 at 4:57 AM
At school, before you’re 18? If you wish but probably not until you’re 15 or so and you know what sort of thing you want to do or study. Otherwise I think a broad education is helpful.
I’m a doctor; I spent 9 years getting 4 degrees. I didn’t need to, I chose to, and I found them enjoyable and helpful. But if I’d decided on 5 years getting a unified medical degree combining science and clinical experience, that would have worked too. Many excellent colleagues took that route.
December 10, 2025 at 3:53 AM
I’m a doctor; I spent 9 years getting 4 degrees. I didn’t need to, I chose to, and I found them enjoyable and helpful. But if I’d decided on 5 years getting a unified medical degree combining science and clinical experience, that would have worked too. Many excellent colleagues took that route.
It’s not really true of school, which is where your foundational learning in science, maths, humanities, etc should happen in a way that prepares you for whatever you choose to study and do as an adult. Poetry, philosophy, chemistry, that’s all fair game if the school can argue it’s foundational.
December 10, 2025 at 3:50 AM
It’s not really true of school, which is where your foundational learning in science, maths, humanities, etc should happen in a way that prepares you for whatever you choose to study and do as an adult. Poetry, philosophy, chemistry, that’s all fair game if the school can argue it’s foundational.
I think this is fair for college - you’re an adult and might also be paying for your degree, so you’re a customer and entitled to get what you pay for. If you pay for a law degree, you should get a law degree if you study. Your law degree should have components that help you in your future career.
December 10, 2025 at 3:48 AM
I think this is fair for college - you’re an adult and might also be paying for your degree, so you’re a customer and entitled to get what you pay for. If you pay for a law degree, you should get a law degree if you study. Your law degree should have components that help you in your future career.
Reading generally can be helpful for learning about other perspectives and critical thinking but it might have to be applied with some actual training in critical thinking and professional relationship development - which you’re offered in medical training but doesn’t require you to read a lot.
December 9, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reading generally can be helpful for learning about other perspectives and critical thinking but it might have to be applied with some actual training in critical thinking and professional relationship development - which you’re offered in medical training but doesn’t require you to read a lot.
Yes. I think written fiction is quite a good way to learn to think about empathy because it can give you the impression of being in someone else’s head (which is why I’ve always pushed for it to be encouraged at medical schools) but poetry isn’t necessarily better for that.
December 9, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Yes. I think written fiction is quite a good way to learn to think about empathy because it can give you the impression of being in someone else’s head (which is why I’ve always pushed for it to be encouraged at medical schools) but poetry isn’t necessarily better for that.
It’d be surprising if he was sleeping as little as 21 hours a day.
December 9, 2025 at 12:56 AM
It’d be surprising if he was sleeping as little as 21 hours a day.
As we realise there is no normal or centre and we polarise into “new thing is normal” and “no I hate new thing” then anything new and accepted as normal by progressives is hated by regressives. If progressives disdain AI, on the other hand, regressives will embrace it.
December 8, 2025 at 11:43 PM
As we realise there is no normal or centre and we polarise into “new thing is normal” and “no I hate new thing” then anything new and accepted as normal by progressives is hated by regressives. If progressives disdain AI, on the other hand, regressives will embrace it.
Were pike formations not used much against cavalry like at Bannockburn or is it too early for that?
December 8, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Were pike formations not used much against cavalry like at Bannockburn or is it too early for that?
There’s also a solid vein of “how dare they fire me, I never face consequences because I’m good for business and have no functional journalistic or moral principles.”
December 8, 2025 at 7:47 PM
There’s also a solid vein of “how dare they fire me, I never face consequences because I’m good for business and have no functional journalistic or moral principles.”
Also, the US doesn’t have a left wing party (the Democrats are centre-right, the GOP is far right) and haven‘t had anything resembling one for over 70 years, which doesn’t help.
December 8, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Also, the US doesn’t have a left wing party (the Democrats are centre-right, the GOP is far right) and haven‘t had anything resembling one for over 70 years, which doesn’t help.
I think history will be kind to this Labour government, as was the case with pretty much every Labour government (McDonald, Attlee, Wilson, Callaghan, Blair, Brown) for all the good things they did that nobody talked about. But they’re playing on hard mode as usual and they probably won’t last.
December 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I think history will be kind to this Labour government, as was the case with pretty much every Labour government (McDonald, Attlee, Wilson, Callaghan, Blair, Brown) for all the good things they did that nobody talked about. But they’re playing on hard mode as usual and they probably won’t last.
Tony probably influenced George more than the other way around. Blair’s complete lack of principles and his belief in the inevitability of capitalism (he’s generally a great believer in inevitability) is a big part of why we’re here, sadly.
December 8, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Tony probably influenced George more than the other way around. Blair’s complete lack of principles and his belief in the inevitability of capitalism (he’s generally a great believer in inevitability) is a big part of why we’re here, sadly.
Yes and yes. There’s a lot of more nuanced UK stuff (Labour desperately chasing a centre that isn’t there any more; no prospect of economic growth; general decline) but it’s much of the same stuff, the same right-wing hydra.
December 8, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Yes and yes. There’s a lot of more nuanced UK stuff (Labour desperately chasing a centre that isn’t there any more; no prospect of economic growth; general decline) but it’s much of the same stuff, the same right-wing hydra.
Looks at Star Trek calendar: “Well, we just had the Bell Riots and we can expect the Eugenics Wars in a few years.”
December 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Looks at Star Trek calendar: “Well, we just had the Bell Riots and we can expect the Eugenics Wars in a few years.”
My personal grand unifying theory is developing into “when we were kids we all thought there was such a thing as normal or the centre and now we realise there really isn’t; as people realise this, you get at least two poles labelled “new thing is normal” and “no I hate new thing”.”
December 8, 2025 at 6:38 PM
My personal grand unifying theory is developing into “when we were kids we all thought there was such a thing as normal or the centre and now we realise there really isn’t; as people realise this, you get at least two poles labelled “new thing is normal” and “no I hate new thing”.”
Porque no los dos?
December 8, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Porque no los dos?
The system we had that worked was primarily 2000-2015, after the Labour government had invested hugely in both running and capital costs during a period of economic growth and stability that will probably never come again. The NHS desperately needs decentralised management and capacity investment.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The system we had that worked was primarily 2000-2015, after the Labour government had invested hugely in both running and capital costs during a period of economic growth and stability that will probably never come again. The NHS desperately needs decentralised management and capacity investment.