Wednesday 28 January 2015

The Latest ‘Disability'



It’s a few years ago now since I posted about the latest disability in children, commonly labelled Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). More and more children were diagnosed with this ‘aliment’ and schools encouraged parents to take their children to the GP.  Why?  Schools receive extra funding for children with recognised disabilities and ADHD had become a disability. thus qualifying for benefits.

It’s my firm belief that the lack of quiet time in primary schools goes some way towards children developing ADHD plus the lack of exercise many suffer these days.

Of course ADHD has been around for years.  Thirty years ago a neighbour’s child - a really pleasant wee girl - ran her family and school, ragged.  The parents were into ‘healthy eating’ and the mother thought she could do no wrong, but the wee lassie just couldn’t sit still for more than a minute. So often her mother said “She’s ants in her pants” and laughed.  It was her primary school headmaster who suggested a visit to the GP would be wise and the GP diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and the wee girl was given a sedative to help her sleep.  Fortunately the GP didn’t leave it at one visit and a prescription and investigated further. After a basic allergy test it was found the girl was allergic to one of the E colourings in her mother’s favourite orange juice (freshly pressed of course).  There was no talk of ADD being a disability or the taxpayer providing extra funds for the family. 

Of course that was 30 years ago and things have changed.

Now ADD or ADHD is an acceptable disability.  Sadly.  The label provides an excellent opportunity for parents to take no responsibility. Why should they when extra money is coming into the house?  

The latest nonsense is that people who are classed as obese are entitled to disability benefits. Not only is the taxpayer helping overweight folk to eat, we (the taxpayers) are also going to give a reward to GPs who identify the ‘obese’ on their lists.

So, let’s sum this up. If you overeat your GP will class you as obese and therefore you will qualify for disability benefits.  Not only that but your GP’s practice will gain financially.  A win-win situation for those involved - except the poor taxpayer, once again.

Now that obesity is recognised as a disability, expect many more grossly fat people applying for all the relevant benefits while some elderly sit in their cold homes, too embarrassed to admit to anyone they can’t afford to heat and eat.

In the past 30 years I notice my principles and values are insignificant now. Soon they will be non-existant. A roller coaster which has good far too fast to stop.

10 comments:

JRB said...

Not to worry Subrosa - such benefits are about to come to an untimely end.

It appears that our esteemed Chancellor – George Osborne – has made a little blunder in his sums. (What do they teach them at St Pauls and Oxford these days?)

Mr Osborne thought it would only require cutting a mere £12billion from the benefit bill to resolve or spending problems.
… but those clever people at the Institute For Fiscal Studies have pointed out that what Mr Osborne is planning will actually require a cut of £21billion.

So not only will working age benefits be slashed, we had better watch out he doesn’t have a go at our pension.

Joe Public said...

IMHO, obesity is self inflicted, not a 'disability'

But maybe there's method in the madness of providing extra benefits to the obese? If they then gorge on extra junk food, they reduce their life-expectancy, so minimising future NHS obligations.

For those readers interested, calculate your life-expectancy. Then, change your BMI to a seriously obese figure:-

http://www.death-clock.org

subrosa said...

It’ll probably be chopped from front line NH services JRB.

subrosa said...

I’ve another 6 years to go Joe, according to your link. Not sure if that’s good or bad news...

JRB said...

@Joe – OMG! - Thanks for that link – you’ve managed to scare the life out of me!

@subrosa – given @Joe’s link can I request you bring back your daily blog - I have so much to say – but so little time

:)

JimS said...

While I think you are right there is a simple measure that is being overlooked by everyone and that is a set of scales!

How do people get to be grossly obese, obese, over-weight, chubby etc.? It doesn't happen overnight.

All those chronic diseases that the health service treats as we get older all get more likely the heavier we are so why do GPs wait until their is a problem before getting out the scales?

It would be perfectly possible to have a 'weighbridge' and laser height measure at the door to the surgery to give a quick check!

An American friend of mine once had weight-reduction pills supplied to her, I don't know what they were but they worked. A few pills to the chubby, some words of warning, some advice, it sounds a lot better and cheaper than treating long-term blood pressure, diabetes and mobility problems, let alone paying out on 'disability' benefits.

Joe Public said...

It seems we have a dichotomy.

On the one hand, most resent the nannying state and interfering politicians attempting to control every last detail of our lives.

On the other hand, human nature appears to be unable to resist the temptations of 'junk' food; calorie-laden choccies; and, the will to count the operation of the TV remote contol by an open window as getting sufficient 'fresh air & excercise'.

Is it any wonder that too many kids waddle into school?

Joe Public said...

A solution:-

http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/3551693/Diet+spoon

JuliaM said...

"Now ADD or ADHD is an acceptable disability. "

Not just for children, either!

Flaxen Saxon said...

The 'lard largesse' is a joke. Let them eat cake. Or not, depending on the current received wisdom- oxymoron, not withstanding.

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