EDWYN COLLINS is seriously ill in hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage (...back in 2005; he's much better now).

Being dirty is one of the very least of Reading hospitals' problems when compared with the absolutely breathtaking incompetence of some it's medical staff, the even more breathtaking arrogance of some of it's Consultants and the pathetically toothless, spineless, feeble ineffectuality of it's Complaints Department and procedures.

Believe me, you really don't want to get me started on all this right now.

A&E could do better.

Neurology negligent and incompetent.

Not that he's bothered of course - he's evidently still far more interested in manipulating his statistics by repeatedly taking her off his waiting list as a supposedly "succesful" case; and sending her back via her GP right to the back of his 4-month waiting list again; than he is in trying to find a diagnosis, a course of treatment or even any pain relief for the constant pain she's been in as a result of the auto-immune disorder (almost certainly triggered by the stroke - another text book classic of course) that's been making her body's natural defence systems go into overdrive and start attacking and destroying perfectly good body tissue and internal organs for the whole of the last 11 months.

And people wonder why I can get just the teensy weensiest bit grumpy sometimes....

Operating theatre 'Birth Crew' really truly excellent. Just the aftercare, or lack of it, was a bit disappointing. No slur on the overworked staff, you understand. Well, only a bit of a slur.

I thought Reading hospital would be good, you know.

Attempts to get an appointment for a hip scan have proved furitless too, so we have to go to Ascot instead.

I have never been to Ascot, so that's OK.

Sorry to hear about that, Stewart. Good luck. I picked up some How To Complain leaflets, but it seemed like a waste of time. Our problems were very minor though.

It's reached the point where the Compliants Co-Ordinator, her assiastant and the Head of The Patient Advice and Liaison Service all recognise both of our voices the moment we come on the 'phone.

All very friendly, all very sympathetic, all very helpful-sounding - and all ultimately about as much actual use as a chocolate teapot and an ashtray on a motorbike.

.. and when he awoke .... ?

Likewise his peer Marc Almond, those post punk stars are made of strong stuff.

As most of you know, Edwyn suffered a brain haemorrhage in February of this
year. Following neurosurgery and a long stay in hospital, he came in August,
where he continues his daily fight for recovery.

This fight is on many fronts, but his progress is such that today finds him
back at work in his studio for the first time. He is continuing to mix his
new album with the wonderful assistance of Sebastian Lewsley, his right hand
man and sparring partner for the last 12 years. They take up today where
they left off in February.

A day to remember.

"FORMER Orange Juice star Edwyn Collins is back in the studio - eight months after suffering a brain haemorrhage. Collins, 46, also contracted the MRSA bug in hospital. But he's now putting the finishing touches to his next album. The singer still has little movement in his right arm and has communication problems."

A month ago the Record told us:

"SINGER Edwyn Collins has a "love-hate relationship" with his recovery from a double brain haemorrhage, his wife has revealed.

Grace Maxwell admitted that the ex-Orange Juice frontman, 46, is still having problems speaking and using his right arm.

But the Scot, who had a smash hit with A Girl Like You in 1995, is determined to overcome his "communication problems".

Grace said: "Edwyn continues to have a love-hate relationship with his recovery schedule.

"He wants his old life of Reilly back immediately, but appreciates that without all the hard work he wouldn't be improving so well.

"To give you an idea - Edwyn walks further and with better style all the time. His right arm still doesn't work at all but we live in hope as his intensive therapy continues.

"Perhaps the most frustrating things are his communication problems.

"Edwyn has expressive dysphasia, which affects his ability to find the things he wishes to say and his reading andwriting.

"To begin with, all this was gone, so you can imagine how hard he has worked to get to the level he has, which is amazing.

"He still seems nowhere near his potential but this is scary stuff for this incredible man.

"He's taking none of this lying down. In his own words, 'I can't accept it, I won't accept it."' Last month, guitarist Edwyn was allowed home after six months in a London hospital following brain surgery."

i'm wayyyy late to this thread but I thought this innocent-enough question may have had some implications (as brain hemorrhages go hand-in-hand with some nasty habits).

(potentially) good news, folks. this, from Edwyn's son Will, as posted on dad's MySpace bulletin:

Date: 12 Jun 2007, 18:43
Subject plans for later
Body: hi will here im hardly on my dads myspace but my dad wants to tell everyone that theres alot going on this year for my dad. first thing my dads album home again is planned to come out this year he also is dying to do a gig he has been rehearsing like mad and believe me every day i hear him singing like mad i hear blue boy, girl like you and some of his new songs every day help only joking its great to hear him sing so hopefully he will do a gig this year he has also been in the studio working on his equipment seeing if he can still rock out.He has been at a few gigs in the last few months including the cribs little barrie and my mates licotine what a party animal
he has got the band back together including paul cook and andy hackett.He has been working on his health his strumming hand is still in a bad shape but he is still a blue boy in his heart well thats all for now but if you want to know any more info on his album or his idea on his gig vist HIS NEW INTERNETSITE.Thats right we have finally editing his website after to make it fresh and styllish it will be there in the next 48 hours like the other top british band websites wow bet thats made you gasp anyway thats all for now if you have any questions message me or my dad and hopefully we will get back to you on any questions bye for now kick out the jams

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6925973.stm

Pop singer Edwyn Collins is returning to music as he continues to recover from a life-threatening illness.

The 47-year-old, best known for A Girl Like You, releases a new single, You'll Never Know, on 10 September.

It is followed a week later by Home Again - the album he was working on when he fell ill in February 2005.

The ex-Orange Juice singer suffered two brain haemorrhages and spent six months in hospital after a surgical scar became infected with the MRSA bug.

The illness affected his movement and speech, but Edinburgh-born Collins was determined to return to the studio.

"I'm learning to live again," the singer wrote on his website.

"I'm very pleased with the album and songs. I'm getting there and I feel grateful at last."

The Scottish star says he is currently rehearsing with a band and hopes to return to the stage later this year.

"I sing every day," he wrote. "It's important for me. Music, it's everything to me."

Solo Career

Collins was a leading figure on the alternative Scottish scene in the late 1970s and 1980s, forming his first band, Nu-Sonics, aged 17.

They became Orange Juice, who were independent favourites and briefly broke into the mainstream with Rip It Up in 1983.

He went on to pursue a solo career, making an impact with A Girl Like You, a top 10 hit in seven countries in 1995.

Collins, who is based in London, has also produced records for bands like Sons and Daughters, The Cribs and Little Barrie.

"He was out for the count and when he awoke he was laughing uncontrollably as one might at a joke."

...falling and laughing...

(sorry)

Wow -- this is so great to hear. It sounds like he's still in rough shape, tho...

really good news.

http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0,,2150203,00.html

Good 4 him!

I used to serve Edwyn Collins occasionally when I worked in Oxfam in West Hampstead. I was always too shy to actually say anything to him though! He was pleasant. Used to buy secondhand books.

Glad to hear he's doing OK.

I'm still really loving watching him with Orange Juice on the Old Grey Whistle Test doing "Rip It Up.." They got a really interesting synth sound different than the record.

Good for him, indeed.

I have got a spare ticket for tomorrow night's concert in case anyone wants it. It costs fourteen pounds, which is ten pounds ticket plus four pounds booking nonsense. The concert is at DINGWALLS in Camden on London's Trendy Northern Line. If you want it, please email me, or answer here. I will check back later.

It would involve meeting me outside, but as it is standing only, you don't have to sit next to me all night or anything, although as I am going on my own I would be quite glad of some company, if only to make me look less of a SAD OLD GIT.

I think it will be a good concert. I mean, we weren't expecting this upthread.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/01/review.edwyn/index.html

This sounds like it was amazing.

You said it. (New hero: Roddy Frame.)

Collins described how hard it was to cope with dysphasia, which means he struggles to find words. "I'm fighting to get language back," he said, adding that, "I used to have all the beautiful words but they've gone now."

Heartwrenching.

A book with a happy ending?

http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/richmedia/images/cover.gif

Hmm, what happened there?

http://img.tesco.com/pi/Books/L/92/9780091929992.jpg

Not finished reading it yet but it's a lovely book.

Edwyn's own "Some British Birds" even more so - I admit it combines four interests of mine, succinctly.

Terrific feature.

Story in this month's Mojo was really nice, too.

cool! thanks for posting that link. the bbc doc about edwyn totally made me cry, especially the scenes with his wife and him playing guitar. eesh.

What BBC doc? Link, por favor?

http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/1137878973/everythingandnow-a-great-documentary-about

Ah, thank you for linking that. Will watch tonight.

Really really wish I could have found room for post-OJ EC in this, re the box:
http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-10-01/music/orange-juice-for-everyone

Damn! Sorry for the typo It came out today, not Oct. 10
http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-12-01/music/orange-juice-for-everyone

OK, this might have been put somewhere already 'cos it's old but it's new to me. So great to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBPwNtIlTRs

I wonder if we should have some amendment to the title of this thread because I know that every time I see it revived I think 'oh no!'...(even tho i have just revived it).

Better?

Much better!