Camilla and osteoporosis

[bagpuss]

Watching a re-run of Helen Mirren in 'The Queen' (while avoiding the World Cup Final) a thought struck me. We very rarely see the Duchess of Cornwall out and about on charity business alone.

She's no Diana, but as an ageing woman with bone problems herself, wouldn't it be good to hear her speak up for victims of a horrible illness which sadly will affect most of us in our final years. if she doesn't do this soon, she might find her role usurped by Gwyneth Paltrow- who thanks to her macrobiotic diet is already suffering from the pre-condition

[bagpuss]

This thread hasn't aroused the controversy that I'd hoped it would so let me put this a bit differently.

Camilla is Prince Charles' wife. She will eventually become Queen. but osteoporosis runs in her family- and judging from her tendency to break bones, she is already a sufferer. genetically many of us have inherited this condition- which can literally take away your height- anything up to a foot can go if you have the variant that affects the spine. People with genealogy linked to the Vikings (much of Scotland) are particularly vulnerable. there is no cure- and to get a bone scan in Highland you have to go private- to a clinic in Dingwall.

Now there is the ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the condition- both a Royal and a star have the condition- but there's no 'awareness' of the illness as there is for many others. And osteoporosis can cripple you, leave you housebound and eventually bedbound.

so first, take the Royal

Would you really want to see a monarch's wife with a zimmer at the state opening of parliament?

Camilla is the patron of the osteoporosis charity- but she makes very few headlines over this, and keeps very quiet. Contrast this with Gwyneth Paltrow whose recent fracture made headlines.

[mentallywinnie]

Just a note...you can have the bone scan (Dexascan) at Dingwall hospital you don't need to go private just ask your GP

[peter macdonald]

From this
http://www.scottishirishhealthcare.com/get.cgi?S4N-03.pdf

The National Osteoporosis Society
and the Grand Lodge of Mark Master
Masons has awarded almost £3million
to thirteen NHS Trusts across England
and Wales to improve osteoporosis
services.
.
The funding comes from money
donated to the charity by the Grand
Lodge of Mark Master Masons in a
bid to boost the number of DXA scans
being carried out across the country.
Research had identified a shortfall in
osteoporosis scanning services
throughout England and Wales, despite
a £20million NHS pledge to improve
osteoporosis scanning provision.
DXA scans are the gold standard in
diagnosing osteoporosis.
In August 2007, the National
Osteoporosis Society invited bids
from Strategic Health Authorities,
Primary Care Trusts and Local Health
Board s in England and Wales. By the
time applications closed in October, the
charity had received an overwhelming
response of almost ninety bids
requesting nearly £21million.
Claire Severgnini, Chief Executive of
the National Osteoporosis Society said:
“The response from NHS Trusts was
overwhelming and clearly demonstrated
both the extent of the gaps in the
existing service and the commitment of
the clinicians and managers to radically
improve services.”
“We are extremely grateful to the Grand
Lodge of Mark Master Masons for their
very generous donation which can now
be used to improve osteoporosis
service provision throughout England
and Wales.”
“We know that thousands of people
will benefit from improved local
osteoporosis services and for that,
we are very grateful. By ensuring that
those people with greatest need are
being referred and scanned much
more quickly, we have the potential
to save thousands of people from the
debilitating fractures that cause so
much pain, distress and loss of
independence.’’
Dr John Wright, Board Member of the
Grand Lodge Mark Master Masons said:
“The Grand Lodge of Mark Master
Masons is most pleased to have
helped, by way of a donation, the
valuable work of the National
Osteoporosis Society to improve
Osteoporosis Scanning Services in
those parts of England and Wales
perceived to have large at risk
populations and where Scanning
Services are thought to require
resource input.”
For more information, contact
Siobhán Hanna 01761 473 101

[bagpuss]

good points raised here- one being that the scan can be accessed through the NHS; the other that the Masons have contributed also.

now the other point- why do you think Camilla is so meek and quiet in her charity work?

[Dadie]

Camilla seems to do her charity work quietly.
If she did her charity work in the limelight, she may be seen to be doing what Diana did and may suffer a backlash.

[onecalledk]

good points raised here- one being that the scan can be accessed through the NHS; the other that the Masons have contributed also.

now the other point- why do you think Camilla is so meek and quiet in her charity work?

who says that charity work has to be very public ? you seem to have a bit of a problem with Camilla more than anything else. Is there a rule that as a royal you need to be in the headlines raising money ? or a celebrity has to be in the headlines raising money ?

K

[bagpuss]

Protocol determines that the reigning monarch has to keep her/his own opinions on subjects to themselves. This does not apply to other senior royals who are encouraged to espouse an area of interest and become its spokeperson. Whatever we may think of Prince Charles he has done much to promote the topics he feels strongly about; traditional architecture; rural issues; the rainforest; organic food etc.

Princess Anne, as patron of Save the Children has also a track record of carrying out the most royal duties apart from the Queen. Prince Edward works with the Duke of Edinburgh awards, taking over from his father.

Sophie Wessex and Tim Lawrence keep to the background-as spouses of minor royals. I don't particularly want to see Camilla shaking a collecting tin- but she would be an ideal spokesperson for this saddest of illnesses. Anyone who has seen a parent succumb and die as a result of osteoporosis knows the devastation it can inflict. I'd like to see her speak up for older people- she is over 60; a sufferer, and before she becomes Queen, she has a window of opportunity to make her voice heard