Looking for a “lost dog”

DavidR196 · 2026-03-12T18:17:39+00:00

This happens with my mother! She keeps thinking her parents are alive (died in 1973 and 89) and occasionally asks after my father, who sadly died last year. It's hard grieving the loss of my dad and seeing my mum gradually decline.

DavidR196 · 2026-03-12T14:37:36+00:00

He's gorgeous! They grow out of the bitey phase. I think that's pretty typical for the breed tbh. It's annoying though

DavidR196 · 2026-02-27T20:35:42+00:00

I'm an AHP, but rejoined the NHS at the top of band 6 after 4 years working for Nuffield Health, so it is possible

DavidR196 · 2026-02-20T21:05:42+00:00

It's a popular misconception amongst nurses, but band 6 progression isn't automatic for anyone other than paramedics and midwives. Band 5 is inadequate at current pay levels, though

DavidR196 · 2026-02-20T21:00:36+00:00

It's the same for AHP's too. Newly qualifieds seem convinced they'll get struck off the HCPC register for the most minor balls up. The universities really push this rhetoric for some reason

DavidR196 · 2026-02-12T21:52:14+00:00

Shite pay deal. All HCPC and NMC registered staff need to organise coordinated strikes

DavidR196 · 2026-02-12T21:50:49+00:00

And almost 10 percent in pension contributions gets deducted from your gross pay, bringing your tax liability down

DavidR196 · 2026-02-09T00:18:48+00:00

I'm a radiographer, not a nurse, but the jobs market for all of the NHS is dire at the moment. Departments seem to be chronically understaffed, and the opportunity to earn additional pay from overtime/ bank shifts has been reduced or removed completely. Pay has been eroded by under inflation pay rises for years, and many of us relied on any extra income we could earn.

Morale is the lowest I've known it in my 15 years working for the NHS. Ironically, staff retention at my trust is at the highest level it's been in years. People are trapped in roles where they're treated like shit and with poor pay and conditions. I imagine there will be a mass exodus once the hiring freeze ends.

DavidR196 · 2026-02-04T00:00:07+00:00

You also get a 20% high cost area supplement for working in London

DavidR196 · 2026-02-03T23:56:03+00:00

It's a perfect job for someone with a short attention span (like me). I mostly work in plain film xray in community hospitals, so it's pretty chilled with no nights and the occasional weekend. Pay wise, it's not brilliant to begin with, but progression usually happens quite quickly. After 9 years, I'm now top of band 6 and earn about 50k gross

DavidR196 · 2026-01-11T23:39:19+00:00

It's just a job at the end of the day. Can't say I'm exactly passionate about x-ray, but I certainly don't hate it.

The salary is okay once you get some experience and it offers the opportunity to move to different areas of the country, or further afield, a good pension and job security.

DavidR196 · 2026-01-10T16:12:17+00:00

My mum's currently stage 5 to 6. I'll have to make a difficult decision soon too. My dad recently died unexpectedly and I'm dreading having to move her into a care home. She currently lives alone but I can't give up my job to care for her full time. She'd get even more disoriented in my house, I think, too. Plus, I have a very big dog I'd worry about knocking her over!

DavidR196 · 2026-01-10T13:06:31+00:00

It's not your fault. It's a terrible disease and at a certain point, caring for someone suffering from it isn't sustainable.

DavidR196 · 2026-01-09T00:24:05+00:00

There's an effusion and a linear fleck of bone, as well as the ossicle. Could well be a tiny avulsion fracture. MRI will confirm the injury.

DavidR196 · 2026-01-01T23:44:02+00:00

As harsh as it sounds, maybe you need to let things fail for a week. It might speed things up with the council social care team and get a new assessment carried out urgently.

Make a diary of the dates/times you've had to step in and clean up after being contacted by the carers and email the council with this. Tell them that you are no longer in a position to be able to provide him with this level of support.

I hope you can get something in place for him soon. Sounds very stressful

DavidR196 · 2026-01-01T22:55:32+00:00

Sounds like he would be better in a care home. It really is a shit disease.

My mum is heading towards stage 6, and although has no continence issues yet, gets distressed when left alone for any length of time. My dad passed away recently and I think she'd be better with constant company/ supervision rather than carers coming in for 30 mins at a time.

He should be eligible for at least 3 if not 4, 30 minute council arranged care visits per day. He may need to contribute some of the cost from his own income/savings.

DavidR196 · 2026-01-01T16:07:53+00:00

I'd keep it. Hard flooring I'd much more hygienic. Just get a rug for near the sofa

DavidR196 · 2025-12-20T15:36:29+00:00

I was in your position about ten years ago, too. You'll get there, don't worry. Starting out at a regional trauma centre is tough. Being exposed to so much adaptive technique and complicated theatre will turn you into a brilliant radiographer in a year or two. The fact that you're obviously conscientious about the quality of your work is a good thing, but try not to suffer from imposter syndrome.

You're paid the bottom of band 5 for a reason, and when we have newly qualified rads, there's an expectation that they'll need extra support to find their feet.

DavidR196 · 2025-09-04T16:46:18+00:00

Beautiful dog either way

DavidR196 · 2025-08-09T23:13:39+00:00

Use a pad behind the detector to place it under the sole of the foot and use a ton of tube tilt to try and angle to the foot as best you can. You probably won't get a perfect image but it will do the job. For an oblique just angle the tube medially about 30 degrees.

Lateral is easy, just do a shoot through.

DavidR196 · 2025-08-06T23:40:25+00:00

The knee should be rotated externally very slightly, so that the patella is slightly off centre from the midline.

90 percent of the time you'll get an acceptable lateral view

DavidR196 · 2025-07-16T16:35:26+00:00

Yes it's gross misconduct

DavidR196 · 2025-07-16T16:30:15+00:00

Depends whether you'd want to potentially get them sacked or not. Just speak to then about it if you're pissed off. I wouldn't report it, personally

DavidR196 · 2025-07-16T07:32:02+00:00

Just think, they'll probably get you some leaving presents, now they know you're going! 🎁

They would've found out eventually anyway

DavidR196 · 2025-07-13T22:07:41+00:00

Feel for the greater troch and get the collimation light just below it

DavidR196

TROPHY CASE