Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the new health secretary should spend a day at an abortion clinic ?

132 replies

Goldencup · 07/09/2022 06:03

So apart from the fact that she is clearly clinically obese and smokes cigars ! Our new health secretary is also an anti abortionist, being a practicing Catholic. I was also raised as a Catholic to be believe abortion was wrong, but becoming a doctor and a mother has changed my mind 360 (or 180) on this. The pivitol moment for me was attending TOP lists as a medical student and talking to the women, realising that it is nearly always the least worst choice of a variety of pretty dire options. If this women (Coffe) is to stand in judgment on thousands of women than perhaps she should dip her toe into the reality. BTW I would also advocate a 12 hr shift on her feet on as an HCA on the dementia wards.

OP posts:
Original poster
Goldencup · 07/09/2022 07:17

Sarahconnor1 · 07/09/2022 07:12

This has nothing to do with her being female, I would say the same of a man. How can she really with a straight face talk about health promotion strategies?

So do you also think all doctors and nurses should be a healthy weight? They have to talk to the public face to face about issues surrounding obesity.

It is part of one's declaration to the GMC that you will look after your own health. I would argue carrying the amount of weight she clearly is, isn't looking after your health. But she isn't a doctor and doesn't have to answer to the GMC.

OP posts:
loudlylikealion · 07/09/2022 07:17

So apart from the fact that she is clearly clinically obese and smokes cigars ! that's for her and her doctor.

notdaddycool · 07/09/2022 07:18

I read her comment on abortion last night, it was something like “as a Catholic I’m against them, but I’m not going to stop anyone even if i wish they didn’t” this thread is bile for bile’s sake. I’ve also seen a lot of fat nurses and midwives, should they be banned from the NHS too?

SavoirFlair · 07/09/2022 07:19

Goldencup · 07/09/2022 07:17

It is part of one's declaration to the GMC that you will look after your own health. I would argue carrying the amount of weight she clearly is, isn't looking after your health. But she isn't a doctor and doesn't have to answer to the GMC.

Show quote history

It is part of one's declaration to the GMC that you will look after your own health

She is leading the health service, not the doctors body of practice

But she isn't a doctor and doesn't have to answer to the GMC.

you just corrected your own fallacy in the space of two sentences…? You do know you can edit before posting @Goldencup and this isn’t a stream-of-consciousness?

picklemewalnuts · 07/09/2022 07:20

Gosh what a lot to unpick.

Yes, she should have a better understanding of the pressures that lead to abortion.
Should vulnerable women have to educate her? Absolutely not.

Yes she should be a healthy weight. Does her obesity leave her ignorant of the health issues associated with obesity?
Absolutely not. Does it in fact make her hyper aware of them? Almost certainly.

loudlylikealion · 07/09/2022 07:20

Goldencup · 07/09/2022 07:17

It is part of one's declaration to the GMC that you will look after your own health. I would argue carrying the amount of weight she clearly is, isn't looking after your health. But she isn't a doctor and doesn't have to answer to the GMC.

Show quote history

It's not part of the selection criteria to be an MP though presumably, that's the point. It's who (some of) the country have chosen to represent them and then liz truss has given them extra jobs to do. If people thought she was good enough to be an MP and voted her in then that's all that matters. None of this discriminatory nonsense.

SavoirFlair · 07/09/2022 07:23

AuntieMarys · 07/09/2022 07:12

Shes like Ann Widdecombe. And that's not good

How is she comparable to Ann Widdicombe ….aside from being middle aged, shorter hair and technically overweight?

They are not at all comparable but this is where I think Mumsnet is absolutely hateful

Women who are middle aged and perhaps a little overweight become despised and invisible in public life - it’s like nothing they can say can be useful because they haven’t “sorted out” their hair and their appearance and weight.

As I said earlier in the thread, I’m a lifelong runner, fortunate to have this addiction in the sense few people judge me for being late forties , because I happen to be a 10 dress size. (Aside from the “have a biscuit love”) types in the office but that’s another post..

my point is, I’m not writing out of bitterness. I’m writing out of sheer frustration that of all the people appointed to cabinet yesterday , it’s the overweight middle aged woman that gets it.

I mean Suella Braverman’s personal affiliations need a quick check, but she’s thin so that’s ok.

PatchworkElmer · 07/09/2022 07:26

Her voting record on many, many issues is deeply concerning

loudlylikealion · 07/09/2022 07:29

SavoirFlair · 07/09/2022 07:23

How is she comparable to Ann Widdicombe ….aside from being middle aged, shorter hair and technically overweight?

They are not at all comparable but this is where I think Mumsnet is absolutely hateful

Women who are middle aged and perhaps a little overweight become despised and invisible in public life - it’s like nothing they can say can be useful because they haven’t “sorted out” their hair and their appearance and weight.

As I said earlier in the thread, I’m a lifelong runner, fortunate to have this addiction in the sense few people judge me for being late forties , because I happen to be a 10 dress size. (Aside from the “have a biscuit love”) types in the office but that’s another post..

my point is, I’m not writing out of bitterness. I’m writing out of sheer frustration that of all the people appointed to cabinet yesterday , it’s the overweight middle aged woman that gets it.

I mean Suella Braverman’s personal affiliations need a quick check, but she’s thin so that’s ok.

Show quote history

Yes!! Thank you!

bumblingbovine49 · 07/09/2022 07:29

ThickCutSteakChips · 07/09/2022 07:09

She said only this year that she doesn't like abortions and wishes people didn't get them, but wouldn't condemn people that do. And that the law isn't going to change on abortion.

Which is perfectly acceptable stance really.

Yes but the op doesn't want to know that. She just wants to judge and spout her unpleasant self righteous shite .

Bretonbear · 07/09/2022 07:29

Her voting history is shameful. That to me is more worrying than her weight.

Jellycatspyjamas · 07/09/2022 07:29

If I were seeking an abortion for any reason the very last thing I’d want to do is talk to a Cabinet minister about my reasons for doing so - for that alone you’re being unreasonable. It’s entirely possible to understand why someone might want or need an abortion and to still personally disagree with abortion. If she’s minded to change her mind there are plenty of fist hand accounts out there to inform her thinking, she’s clearly said she has no intention of removing access to termination.

The stuff about her appearance is misogynistic bollocks.

Snowiscold · 07/09/2022 07:33

What’s a TOP list?

BonesOfWhatYouBelieve · 07/09/2022 07:34

Abortion clinics are private sector concerns.

NHS TOP services take place within wider obs/gyn departments

The vast majority (~97%) of abortions carried out at BPAS and Marie Stopes clinics are NHS funded.

Besides, I think OP's point was about Coffe disagreeing with abortion generally, rather than an NHS/private clinic issue.

But I do think it would make no difference to Coffe. Unless she's thick (possible), she knows why women have abortions, she just doesn't care.

Original poster
Goldencup · 07/09/2022 07:35

The stuff about her appearance is misogynistic bollocks

Its not about her appearance it's about her health, more specifically her understanding of healthy behaviours. I absolutely accept that her own obesity may give her an insight into the issues. But this is absolutely not about aesthetics......or the fact she is a woman.

The comment on the GMC was in response to the question of whether HCPs should not be obese.

OP posts:
Crocwok · 07/09/2022 07:38

Lots of people have very low standards for MPs, probably why we end up with the people we do. I agree that weight correlates to health, unlike another physical appearance characteristic such as hair colour which would just look petty to pick on.

SavoirFlair · 07/09/2022 07:39

more specifically her understanding of healthy behaviours.

ok…

But this is absolutely not about aesthetics......

how on Earth would you know about her understanding of healthy behaviours , without judging her aesthetics?

you have no idea what she “understands” or not. You’ve made a judgement on her ability to understand, based on her weight.

SavoirFlair · 07/09/2022 07:41

I’ll stop posting as I’m derailing this thread - apologies @Goldencup

Original poster
Goldencup · 07/09/2022 07:42

Actually she is clearly neither stupid nor poor. She almost certainly could understand why healthy behaviours are important, on some level she is choosing not to prioritise her long term health.

OP posts:
RoseAndRose · 07/09/2022 07:45

Goldencup · 07/09/2022 07:14

She has suggested a 12 week limit. Terminations after 12 weeks are usually the most needed and affect vulnerable women and girls disproportionately. There is a lot of speculation around abortion services presently as the telemedicine model introduced in the pandemic and largely welcomed by clients is being questioned. I am concerned that a significant tightening of access will affect women and girls in vulnerable situations and may lead to increased numbers of unintended pregnancies and births.

No, that is not her stated position.

It might be her personal view, who knows, but it is not her policy

I think 'Yes Minister' and 'Yes Prime Minister' should be repeated frequently peak time BBC 1.

picklemewalnuts · 07/09/2022 07:48

How can you say that so cavalierly?

People have bariatric operations that are devastatingly severe in an attempt to manage their weight. They clearly prioritise it. They just were unable to achieve it behaviourally.

I hope you'd chase out anyone having more than 7 units of alcohol a week, too? That's a hell of a lot easier to manage than food intake.

MsJinks · 07/09/2022 07:51

I think it’s unfair to judge her health secretary approach on appearance or religious beliefs - we must be tolerant of religion and less judgemental. I am tempted tbh to be judgy on these, but trying not to let my more general dislike of her policies influence me taking a lazy, and offensive shot at her.
I am concentrating on my concerns about the reports on her handling of DWP disabled clients going ‘missing’, or at least can’t be released, concerned she said the UC £20 removal was solved by working an extra 2 hours, concerned by her voting record.
She is not only Health Secretary but deputy PM - this lady would be running the country if anything happened to the PM, her record so far does not show intelligence or good handling of issues imo and I fear Truss did choose on loyalty and personal likes rather than competence.

FarmerRefuted · 07/09/2022 07:52

Snowiscold · 07/09/2022 07:33

What’s a TOP list?

Termination of Pregnancy clinic list, it's a list of patients being seen that day.

TheEggChair · 07/09/2022 07:53

The new health Secretary should also spend time at a neo natal intensive care unit as well.

Ws2210 · 07/09/2022 07:53

I'd be more concerned about her general ability to be a good secretary of state. Look at the mess she left the DWP in