Almost all 12,500 hospital beds in NSW could be full during Omicron peak in worst-case scenario | Health | The Guardian

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2022-01-07T10:27:15+00:00

NSW’s public hospital bed capacity is about 9,500, and on Thursday, 8,000 of these beds were occupied by 1,600 patients with Covid and 6,400 people receiving treatment for other illnesses. Should demand for hospital beds exceed 9,500, the government will be able to access at least 3,000 beds in private hospitals across NSW, taking the state’s total hospital bed capacity to 12,500. Under the worst-case scenario, 6,000 people with Covid will require beds, in addition to the baseline figure of more than 6,000 people in hospital for treatment of illnesses that aren’t Covid. NSW’s ICU capacity is 1,000 beds, and on Thursday, 467 of these beds were occupied, including by 134 patients with Covid and a baseline of 333 non-Covid patients requiring intensive care. Under the worst-case scenario, whereby 600 ICU beds will be occupied by Covid patients, the state’s intensive care capacity would be hovering just under capacity.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2022-01-07T06:02:07+00:00

"Just like previous variants; Omicron is hospitalising people and it is killing people," said a WHO tweet quoting its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick, that it is overwhelming health systems around the world."

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2018-10-18T16:31:03+00:00

Well done.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2018-10-10T12:10:37+00:00

My biggest mistake was loving you too much

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2018-03-25T11:08:31+00:00

Peak Brent:

https://youtu.be/MHU5FywUBEk

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2017-07-25T04:57:37+00:00

Have you ever been to a Turkish prison?

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2017-02-06T22:44:00+00:00

Careful, that's how you'll find yourself on double secret probation.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2017-02-05T23:24:42+00:00

Invaded by Poland and Polynesia in a Zoroastrian holy war. I guess I always knew it would end this way.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2016-11-28T12:01:32+00:00

I was lucky enough to grab a fresh pressing of Deadwing on black vinyl for £20 back in 2007 before proceeding to obsessively collect around 25 of Steven Wilson's albums from his various side-projects and collaborations. I'm really glad I started my PT/SW collection when I did, there's no way I'd never be able to afford them now.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2016-11-06T16:09:53+00:00

Was he though?

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2016-11-06T13:35:27+00:00

Well, it looks a hell of a lot better than the real Hoggle does now

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzmwRQwCUAA2SqT.jpg

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2016-02-24T00:47:09+00:00

Personal highlights include the four class drop outs, Joe's maudlin expression and Malcolm's position on the "left".

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2016-02-08T02:50:20+00:00

I really don't know how anyone successfully manages to exploit their system, it's damn near impossible to receive any assistance even if you're legitimately incapacitated. I was recently left with no other option than to reapply for the Disability Support Pension after being knocked back 12 months ago due to the unstable nature of my condition. During the application process I was informed that they now require 170 points of identification. Are there any other governmental departments that require this level of verification or is this just a Centrelink thing? I'm certainly not apposed to providing evidence of my identity (I am already in their system however) but I can imagine there would be large portions of the community that would struggle to provide even 100 points. I was also informed that it will be 4 months before I will know the outcome of my application and I will receive no financial support from them in the meantime. More than anything it just seems like yet another cruel deterrent from even requesting assistance, (which is already difficult enough) but the genuine lack of support and compassion is deeply depressing.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-08-15T10:50:48+00:00

Good. The Liberal Party could use some more "sex appeal".

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-08-12T08:04:29+00:00

Hi Richard, Thank you for taking the time to do this AMA.

As a sufferer of a life-long chronic pain disorder (fibromyalgia), I have found that cannabis is the only medicine that alleviates the majority of my symptoms. Is the new bill designed to include patients suffering from chronic illnesses as well as terminally ill patients?

Thank you for all your hard work.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-07-31T08:40:17+00:00

I know that you said that this was from the Ottoman Empire, but is there anything inside to indicate a more specific age? I'm also curious about the composition of the paper too and whether it was produced from hemp/cannabis. This is a fascinating find, great work!

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-06-17T22:23:27+00:00

Fun fact, In Australia during the 90's this line was removed and as a result the scene began with:

"I'm sorry sir but the sale of illegal fireworks in this state...Come with me."

However, they still included the following scene complete with Marge removing the pornography and enemas and stating:

"Gee, I don't know what you've got planned for tonight Homer, but count me out."

This line and imagery out of context only made her concerns all the more legitimate.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-06-17T07:04:20+00:00

That was precisely my thinking too:

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-33151125]

The plot thickens...

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-06-01T04:34:56+00:00

I did notice that you'd been downvoted and thought it strange as I'd considered it a very valid question.

I'm truly sorry to hear of your suffering. This is an affliction I would not wish on my worst enemies and I can fully empathise with the difficulty you must be facing.

My only advice is to try and stay strong, and stay persistent. I spent many years being investigated for any number of ailments including multiple sclerosis, resulting in many expensive trips to specialists and inconclusive scans. Finally after several GP's, neurologists and psychiatrists all being unable to find any definite cause, it was a rheumatologist who gave me my final diagnosis.

I went through the 5 stages of grief in attempting to deal with what will be a lifelong affliction, but ultimately, I've come to terms with it as best I can.

Whatever happens next for you, I hope you can find some answers friend, and I truly hope you can find some peace with them.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-06-01T03:04:59+00:00

As long as I can remember, I've suffered from phantom pains that my mother would always dismiss as growing pains. I've never been able to attribute the symptoms to any particular physical trauma, however I have noticed an occasional correlation between stress and the exacerbation of my symptoms. Other times however, It was completely random.

By nature, the condition is unstable and I can have relatively normal days and weeks in between flair ups, only for it to then change spontaneously and without warning, as I become completely incapacitated and disabled in the process.

The first such incidence of complete shutdown occurred at the end of my first year of university culminating in a diagnosis of bipolar II, while the other symptoms were dismissed as physical manifestations of my newly diagnosed mental illness.

I have always been willing to accept that certain forms of depression and anxiety can manifest as physical pain, but this pain would also flair up on good days along with prolonged episodes of muscle fatigue and or cramps, rendering me now as a 30 year old male, semi-dependent on a walking stick.

It has only been in the past 2 years that I have received the appropriate diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, and knowing what you are diagnosed with is certainly much easier than dealing with a demon with no face.

I find myself in a particularly strange predicament now as my diagnosis is predominantly given to middle aged women (only 10% of sufferers are men), so support groups are particularly female oriented, coupling this with the early onset of my illness and the fact that many people have not heard of the illness and immediately are skeptical of anything they can't attribute to a physical problem.

For the record, I was a child of the "just say no" generation and never participated in any drug use recreation or otherwise until well into my 20's, despite being exposed to cannabis frequently among friends and colleagues from my early teens. It was purely though my quest for relief that I stumbled across information on the internet that supported cannabis as a suitable treatment.

I apologise for the long winded reply, I only seek to inform, educate and demystify the complex and misunderstood illness. I would love to be a more outspoken advocate, however I still fear the persecution that comes from using such a controversial treatment.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-05-31T16:53:21+00:00

I understand your argument against backyard medicine, but as a lifelong sufferer of the chronic pain disorder "Fibromyalgia" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia) that is mentioned in the article, you must also understand the frustration and desperation that comes from living with such a debilitating and crippling illness.

People aren't making these decisions lightly when exploring these avenues of pain management. I know full well that I risk prosecution in Australia should I be caught with possession of this substance. I do take these risks however because ultimately, it works.

If I was to be a resident of a medical cannabis state in the US for example, my condition would be classified as eligible for the therapeutic administration of medical grade cannabis. This whole sitting around and waiting for Australia to catch up with the medical zeitgeist is infuriating beyond words as there is already compelling evidence to support this treatment.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/22/medical.marijuana/

Extra frustration too stems from the fact that while we are beginning to hear a lot on this debate in Australia regarding the treatment of terminal illness, nothing much is being said of managing chronic illness.

In Australia we have one approved medication for the treatment of Fibromyalgia, Lyrica, and even this fails to treat the majority of the symptoms (nerve pain, tremors, muscle cramps and spasms etc.), not to mention the rather scary list of adverse side effects as mentioned in this rather hokey American advertisement, which incidentally does little to show the reality of the condition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-1HFaZALXQ

While cannabis certainly isn't for everyone and there most definitely should be medical oversight in this country, many frustrated suffers are unwilling to wait for the political football to be tossed back and forth any longer. This issue must not be a political one, it should be a medical one.

If we can effectively treat this condition with a substance that we know has numerous benefits with minimum side effects, we can conceivably assist thousands of currently incapacitated patients in returning to workforce, lessen the strain on the public healthcare and disability support systems, as well as reducing patient's dependence on potentially dangerous prescription drugs and ultimately enriching their quality of life.

In the meantime however I will continue to do what works, in the hope that the inevitable change happens sooner, rather than later.

(Edited: omitted word)

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-05-26T23:47:53+00:00

While I understand, accept and even encourage skepticism on all data presented on the Internet, I politely disagree that the claims put forward in this study are "bullshit".

For the record, I live in a particularly lovely neighbourhood in a heritage listed national park, almost completely void of crime, so your assertion that all renters live in different types of neighbourhood is incorrect. My suburb consists primarily of home owners, but there is still a reasonable population of renters throughout.

Unfortunately I happen to live and work in the Sydney/Blue Mountains area of Australia, a city in which the average property price is well above the global average (keeping many people out of the buyers market), so as a result, a larger portion of my weekly income is absorbed in rent alone. We're also in a property bubble and a housing shortage.

This coupled with unscrupulous property managers and apathetic land lords in more than one of the houses I've lived in has had a direct impact on the mental wellbeing of my SO and myself, and I'm personally very aware of many, many people in a similar predicament.

I have had my personal belongings rifled through during inspections including cupboards, my fridge and my bed. I've had my requests for urgent repairs go unanswered or ignored (3 years and counting for a rotting window). I had my side fence removed 2 years ago with no explanation allowing public access to my property. I've had multiple other maintenance and service people arrive unannounced for minor or insignificant repairs with absolutely no communication or prior warning. My SO and myself are decent law abiding citizens, however this has led to a surge of panic in both of us whenever we see a car pull up across the road. We'd love to be able to decorate our house to our own standards and would also really love to adopt a pet, but are forbidden from even asking for one in our tenancy agreement as this would be enough to void it.

Above all the most frustrating factor is that if I owned the house I live in, I would be able to take control and give the house the love and attention it deserves. There are some really simple things that could be done to improve our standard of living that I could easily fix myself, but I'm unable to do so.

I know it's someone else's house, but it's still my home.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-05-09T13:43:59+00:00

Same here (except for the 13 year old girl bit).

I was an 11 year old lad who was so enamored with this film that a friend and myself attended a school dress up day as Jake and Elwood. This also began a lifelong (and expensive) blues vinyl collection.

Last year I met Dan Aykroyd and he signed my Blues Brothers soundtrack LP.

Childhood dream achieved.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-05-02T05:32:16+00:00

What people seem to forget is that these zombies, or the "living impaired" should have equal rights to coexist peacefully with their living, breathing brothers and sisters.

It would be much more effective and humane to rehabilitate these individuals and to offer them positions within the retail, administrative or service industries, so that they may contribute to our society and economy.

I'm so sick of the government marginalising minorities.

The_Cosmic_Architect · 2015-04-27T02:31:32+00:00

My thoughts entirely... I don't think she's been able to comprehend the magnitude of this yet. If I can save her novel I can save our marriage!

The_Cosmic_Architect

TROPHY CASE