Focus Group 1
Me
What do you think is the biggest health problem is facing everyone
today.
FG14
I have to say, from our generation, it would be like, well like, sexually
transmitted diseases.
Me
Good answer.
FG15
I think one’s the effects of smoking, I think that would be quite a big,
becoming quite an ?big? addiction.
FG14
Binge drinking.
FG13
If I could say heart disease ___+.
FG12
I think cancer, heart disease and also there are actually questions
about MRSA in hospitals, that’s such an issue ___, there’s lots of
information about it, lots of work being done around it. So business
?is about?, there’s a community thing, so can ask people, people to
take lots of exercise, and become a better person and being a better
society ___.
Me
Any others?
FG11
Respiratory, throat and respiratory diseases in, in different parts of
the country, especially in Sheffield with the asthma in children.
Me
There is a slice of what’s wrong with the health of the public ___.
These are ?typical? types of public health problems which are so
widespread and what do you think the government should do to
improve the health that might be really ___ ?and lets you know how
it? works.
FG12
Think it’s all about the right information you have and so on. Gives
the community more choices, not entirely ___ non-prescriptive. Lots
of things can help, got something that explains the whole more active
and informed knowledge we put to somebody ?so they? can make
choices. People can, people must be allowed to choose their own
poison at the end of the day. Obviously people choose to live what
could seen to be an unhealthy lifestyle, which put pressures ___+
what we deal with, you know, but I feel ?there is? ___ ?is necessary?.
FG13
I think people already know a lot of things about smoking and
drinking and I think they know those and I think they have a choice.
Then you talked about MRSA and I think that’s an easy one for me
because I think well that’s not our responsibility, that’s a court action
for example at the hospital. What ?can? be more, if more people
obviously go to hospital might catch that, might stop them smoking
again.
FG12
?Till they put in? ___, but again that’s in the worst instance ?quite
confident of that?. But if they have done it as a practical then they
might say, number of times, number of conversations I have had with
?relatives? who sit on patients beds, when they come visit them and
you sort of say ‘please wash your hands’, and they never wash their
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hands. Lets just say, frank exchange of views that might take place at
that point with relatives ?obstructing things?, so yes we…
FG13
I bet some people don’t know how you catch it you see, just in the
air.
FG12
If I say, if I say, it’s something we all carry, if we all sort of talk know,
we’d all, most of us would find some MRSA in their blood right now.
It’s what happens when MRSA gets in lungs, in a health care, in a
health environment. That’s where the problem starts, get through
there you see, increased antibiotic therapy, that’s because of, to
combat it, an exotic strain becoming more and more consistent to
what, in the past, when I was on one pound an hour there were very
very few antibiotics around, now there are ones I come across even
now that I’ve never heard of before and it’s all in response to things
like MRSA, but, having said all that, the public don’t believe that
they’ve got a role in combating MRSA, just by if they come to a
hospital, ___ turns up, they come to a bed, doctor sits down, ___+.
Very frustrating because of what ___, you read some of the more
scary stories about MRSA, you looked, you feel if you ___ ?for?
something, there is that solution about good hygiene between
patients, but I do feel that some people don’t understand and don’t
care what their own, what their institution does.
FG11
there are people who do care because…
FG12
I accept that.
FG11
Yeah, I certainly feel that with the health situation in hospitals, is it
because there’s lack of money, I mean when you think about the
cleanliness is, the standard today is very very poor compared to what
it was years ago. You’ve only got to read the daily newspapers, how
they go on about the cleaning situation, how the beds aren’t pulled
out, floors, lockers not cleaned, beds not washed down.
FG12
I’ve seen all sorts, seen all aspects, ?seen all the kinds of all the
people with those kind of contracts?. It’s difficult for me, I mean a
colleague of mine who was a domestic showed me a rota for the
middle of the day, I was looking at it, impossible, yet I know there
are people who’s attitude is “try our best and do a good job”. I’ve
done it both, I was an inpatient a few weeks ago in my own hospital
and it was horrific, it was absolutely horrific, because all those
examples you’ve come out with was apparent I’m thinking, you know.
FG11
Yeah but there isn’t, there’s not the number of staff there used to be.
FG12
You’re right, there’s just more pressure.
FG11
I mean, they were saying about the government well, surely to
goodness more, can’t it be more money put into it, so that we, the
trust, can…
FG12
Absolutely, I just know from… ___+…
FG11
But there are certain things obviously, isn’t there, there’s such a… like
you I’ve just been in recently and you feel like saying to different
people, will you wash your hands, you know, how many times have
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they been to you and done things and I know they’re in a hurry but
they need up here to…
FG12
___+
FG11
Cleanliness starts off by just, if they just wash their hands properly
before they’re dealt with.
Me
Are there any government actions that could be about public health
outside hospitals.
FG14
Think the campaign they did for smoking was quite effective, I mean,
I don’t smoke or haven’t smoked, this is from an outsiders point of
view, think run by the NHS, with the… think it was a man with lung
cancer and he’s talking about wanting to visit his daughter who’s
coming over near Christmas, or something, and then he died. And
there was the one with the stuff that comes out of your lungs.
FG15
Yeah that’s British heart foundation who did that.
FG14
Was it, yeah, I thought that was quite effective, but like I said I’m
talking from outside of it, I don’t know how a person who smoked
would perceive that, but I thought that was quite an effective advert
FG15
people I’ve talked to who’ve seen those adverts they just, they realise
what the message is but they just disregard it, because it’s, they
?wouldn’t? care whether or not smoking cigarettes will knock ten
years their life expectancy, they smoke because they enjoy it more
now, they enjoy that ___.
FG13
Yes, I think it’s a bit of almost people come to an age and they start
being more confident about health, ___ I think, because I know lots
of people my age have suddenly started to stop giving up smoking,
sort of hit 40 sort of thing, whereas I’m amazed at how many
students smoke, I’ve never smoked and I don’t have trouble ___+ to
you (ALLY). But I don’t know that if it’s from, I don’t think it’s the
adverts that’s done it, I don’t know if it’s just through…
FG12
usually the first scare, I find.
FG13
Yeah, maybe somebody they know possibly, who’s had a bit of a
something.
FG12
Or somebody __+ experience, of being a patient, they’ve ___+
(heart bypass).
FG13
Or they have children and think we’ll better not, encourage their
father to smoke, or stop smoking, that sort of thing, I don’t know if
they’ve been affected by those campaigns, I don’t know.
FG12
Think more and more personal experiences are prime motivators, I
think sometimes, you’re right, comes to an age before you can, can
drive the message home as often as you like, people accepted that
message, but it’s not going to be effective. People will come to a view
or a decision in their life, as I’ve done through ?experiencing ___
other? talked to me, they know, then that’s ?coming to the heart of
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what’s wrong in the first place? ___+.
FG13
I don’t know if the government ___ say “I’m not go treat you after
the third one’”, that might give them a, could be but…
FG12
Consultants are required to say to people who are ___+, required to
say to people “if I, if we treat you, you must give up smoking”.
Known on two occasions where somebody was asked to stop smoking,
and had not done so and was sent home. With the epithet “I’m not
putting my doctors and nurses through treating you if you’re not
going to give up”. Controversial, but you know, that’s what happens.
Got to ___+ somewhere, people who have, many times, ___+,
stopping smoking for two or three for a consultant, or even can’t stop
smoking. That’s was all, and they’re going in to a surgery that’s
meant to be palliative in the terms of like, relieving symptoms, and
stop smoking.
FG13
As far as kind of food and things go, I think government could
possibly look at healthier food being cheaper or something, subsidised
or something I don’t know, people actually bought better food, I don’t
know.
FG12
Attitude.
FG15
And education issues, ?about ___ issues?.
Me
Any views on the governments role. If there isn’t that’s fine. What I’ll
do now is, I’ve got a couple of possible government polices that could
be undertaken to improve health.
Speed limit policy…..
FG13
Extremely slow.
FG11
If it’s anything to go by where I live, the primary school, the way all
the parents park both sides of the road and you’ve got the buses
coming and the cars and there’s children running up and down while
mum’s stood talking, it’s not, I mean it’s a bit…, the speed limit won’t
make any difference. It is extremely slow, there’s just a tailback all
the time, of traffic.
FG13
I think that, how they, I mean normally a residentially area is defined
as a sort of as a street, an area with street lights and, street lights
and something, and I mean those vary quite a lot I think, so then
there could almost be certain areas where maybe that would be
alright but wouldn’t say all the residential areas, because you know
some of them, the quite wide streets, I don’t wanna get ___…
FG11
Spose I ought to have made it quite clear, you come from the village,
and then just about where I live it’s unlit after that, so, yeah, you’ve
got a point there, street lighting etcetera.
FG13
Expect to find ___+.
FG12
___+ defining priorities as well, I mean, that’s ?people think well
that’s my last drive? at 30mph but it’s more important ?than putting?
someone else’s life in danger, and I think we’re all done this but
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?washed our hands of it? Look at it in objective terms ___+
important.
FG13
Well they could simply just walk, everybody could.
FG12
Absolutely.
FG15
At the end of the day 20mph is still faster than people can walk.
People shouldn’t be ?peeved? about driving 20mph. I think it’s a good
idea, my family don’t drive too, I don’t have a problem with it ___+.
Me
Any more views? If it was less effective, there’s quite a big reduction
there, if it was less effective, would you change your mind.
FG12
___+ I think it’s still a ___+ on you if you go out their and change
things, and then you go out and do kill people, ___+, so it’s all
?symmetrics? isn’t it, a question of degrees, ___+ peoples right to
___+ in safety and without injuring people or killing them, ?more
important than? right to drive at 50mph.
FG15
Would still, it would be safer if all the cars, you know the areas that
are 20mph, still be safer, even if it was less effective at reducing…
Mod
If it were a choice between a public awareness campaign about speed
or this type of a policy, would you still favour, still favour a speed
reduction policy, ___.
FG12
Yes.
FG11
Yes.
FG15
Definitely.
FG13
I’ve still got problems with it.
Me
About?
FG13
Well, I mean I just feel there almost needs to be more definition of
different areas but I think that’ll get very expensive because of the
reason that different areas slower still, because I think that some
areas where it is 30mph at the moment I think is fine. Some of the
areas drive faster, almost like dual carriageways with barriers and
below 20mph, which pedestrians shouldn’t really be using ___+ cross
the road, though I don’t know. I mean I agree, obviously as much as
could be done to stop fatalities. Then I also think you see we get very
crossed messages because then you hear about some drink driver
that killed somebody and they hardly get anything, as a penalty, and
that seems to be not taken as seriously. So there is that sort of thing.
___+ or however the punishment’s dealt out, it gives a sort of mixed
message of life not being worth very much sometimes I think, if
somebody gets a year or something, for killing somebody.
Me
So level of punishment with this policy would be important
FG13
Well certainly with drink driving and that type of thing where
somebody is really not taking due care when they’re on the, on the
road, where somebody that is driving at 30mph quite carefully,
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paying attention and things, quite a different thing.
FG12
That’s also a matter of criminal justice policy isn’t it, there are
prosecutions set out and if they don’t ___+ and that’s the case,
another area to tackle.
FG13
I mean think there should be no alcohol at all, I mean I’d be more
even strict, more definite on that, no drink when driving, not, you
know, like so many units or whatever per millilitre, in the blood ?that
just has to? ___+.
Mod
Finland have that policy.
FG12
An absolute ban.
Mod
Yes, like if were caught drink driving again you would never drive
again, Fins have a terrible population alcohol problem.
FG13
Sorry I’ve changed the subject.
Fine, it’s up to you. Has anyone got any other problems with the
nature of the compulsion then, I think it would be a ?run close to?
compulsion. Is everyone happy that you’re compelled by force to
drive at 20mph
FG12
There has been efforts in public awareness campaigns to actually
reduce the speed but they are not working, therefore there has to be
an element of compulsion. It makes it easier. If you gave me the
choice then the choice would be to just drive faster. Whereas if you, if
you look it as an effective way of affecting life, what they’re doing,
then, if we, probably know, start to get a bit more matter of fact, we
talked about reducing life ?takes 5 billion?, then don’t have contact,
get caught for speeding, this is about protecting life, ?process?.
Me
Ok, move on to the second one,
Fluoridation policy……..
FG13
There are no other side effects, that you know of, other than these
white patches.
Me
That is a good question
FG13
I mean I thought it might be brown patches.
Me
The vast, vast majority of experts think there are no more sideeffects, there are some people who think that there are.
FG13
And what are they.
The main one, as I’m no expert on this, is an increased risk of
osteoporosis, which is brittle bone disease, but there’s very little
evidence on that, so, considered to be, considered by some to be
complete nonsense, most the scientific community think it is, and by
some to be a possible side-effect. Now I wouldn’t like to say anything
more than that because I’m not an expert. Does that alter your…
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FG13
Not really, no, as long as it’s safe I would agree with it.
FG14
I’d be in agreement with it but I’m one of the small people that get
white patches on my teeth.
FG13
Anyway.
FG14
Yeah, well where I was born I mean my cousin had, we got white
patches on out teeth, so I was told to use fluoride free toothpaste,
and bottled water for my teeth, but obviously that’s quite expensive,
especially if you’re a student. And my teeth have got more chalk in,
so now I’ve got to add fluoride back in to my brushing. But overall I
think that if it can help more people then you’re going to have to
weigh it up in those terms.
FG11
Yeah I think I’m in agreement for it but I think other things must be
taken into consideration, it isn’t just the water with the decaying of
teeth, diet, all sorts of things, sugar, really sugary, probably, what’s
the word I’m looking for, more publication on healthier diet for
children, for teeth etcetera dare I say it when you ___+ going to the
dentist, I mean it’s very, when you read all the publicity that there’s a
shortage of dentists, I think that doesn’t help a lot because when I
was, shall I say, very young, we had to go and with a lot of them the
families didn’t have the diets that we got today and it’s more easy to
obtain all the different foods so I really, some of the foods that they
eat, the kiddies, doesn’t do their teeth any good at all so I think
fluoridating the water would help but we’ve got to do something
about publicising, getting them to be aware of the more healthy diet,
nutrition wise.
Mod
So you think it would be one component of a multiple component sort
of approach to dental health.
FG11
Yeah.
FG14
Think for teeth it might be different to what you’d class as a good diet
though, because I mean presumably thinking fruits being an essential
part of what ___+ but fruit has got a lot of sugar as well. I don’t drink
fizzy drinks, I don’t have many sweets, ___+ but I do eat a lot of
fruits, and that’s, yeah I agree with what you’re, but it’s not just
knowing what’s good to eat but what’s actually good for teeth.
FG11
Yeah, and I think also a lot of the drinks and everything with all the
additives that are put in, it should be made clearer on the bottling,
labelling what have you. Same as certain foods as well, all the
additives are done in such a tiny writing at the bottom that, yeah.
Me
Any other views on fluoridation.
FG14
I think I’m, in principle I agree with it but it sounds really need to do
a bit more research dealing with the side effects, ___+, make it,
make it more accurate.
FG12
I think the problem with adding things to___+, just carries out the
impact or consequences, ?which can be dangerous? of somewhere
down the road decisions have been made, on the basis of… it worked,
why object. But I mean many, lots more examples of unintended
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consequences which are felt by, for generations, probably a wellmeaning attempt to actually improve things but actually has a
counter-effect on ___ life, and I think more public awareness,
campaigns ___ might be get more backers, be more beneficial, that’s
improve people’s health, improve people’s diet. ___+ people work
___+ community, have had ?projects? in Rotherham and in Sheffield,
diet all kids get is absolutely outrageous, it’s not entirely to do with
fluoridation because it’s about overall access to quality food at
affordable prices, so I’ve not the faintest no, it carries with it too
many consequences which no-one will answer for.
FG11
Could I also ask a question, when it says it doesn’t taste, but I was
always under the impression that it did…
FG12
Something around Sheffield or Doncaster, was a campaign.
FG11
They had a big one in Sheffield.
FG12
Many moons ago.
FG11
Yes, and it was definitely, you can taste the fluoride, in it.
FG12
Yeah.
FG11
When I read that I just thought ooh, I’ll pluck up courage and say it
yes definitely it does taste, the water does taste with fluoride in.
FG12
It’s got a strange taste in.
FG11
Yes.
Me
Unintended, my ignorance, ___+.
FG13
Is it more effective to drink it than to brush your teeth with it.
Again I would have to say I don’t know, the only difference being of
course, you can’t avoid drinking it, you can avoid brushing your teeth.
FG13
Right, I think even quite cheap toothpaste, you can have one with
fluoride in can’t you, it does affect…
FG12
Buy Morrison’s own best.
FG13
Get fluoride in that I’m sure.
FG12
99p ___.
Me
So is everyone sort of quite happy with what they think about this,
happy with everyone else, ok, start try and make you think about two
at the same time, looked at speed limits, then thought about
fluoridation of water, and then I’m just wondering whether you, in
which ways you think those two things are similar and which ways
you would look at them as being ?different?
8
FG13
As far as the government is concerned.
Me
As far as the government, as far as it’s implementation, as far as
what, where do you think, you might look at those and just think of
something completely different, implications of that.
FG11
Am I right in thinking that the speed limits, the government have,
apply pressure and impose all the speed limits and yet the public
themselves have for the fluoride in the water, have more or less with
pressure groups, it’s been given, how can I put it, at different areas
have voted to say yes we’ll have the fluoride and the public have
agreed and the government have allowed it and if say another area,
cluster have said no, they’ve gone back to discussion again, they’ve
not given the ok for it, I’m sorry I’m not very clear.
Me
No that’s fine, yes the government policy, as I understand it for
fluoride is that local authorities can discuss it locally and can
?forward? it locally, depending on those discussions or a referendum.
There isn’t, at the present, any notion of proposing it nationally,
would be done locally.
FG11
With the speed limits then, the government have said it and that’s
that, it’s been done, but people haven’t had the say have they, or
have they.
Me
It’s possible it could be ?produced? locally, so there’s quite a few, and
this is where we get the evidence from, ?from some key? schemes
around in Sheffield, statistics from them, they could be introduced
locally or nationally but, is it important to you this, this local
consultation.
FG13
___+.
Me
Most of you are quite, seemed quite certain about the speed limits
being a good idea, and less so about the fluoride, why was that,
what’s different between them, these two, that’s makes you more
pensive or more…
FG12
Just go back to my own point about unintended consequences, if
there is consequences about fluoridation of water. Then effects are
going to be felt way way down the road, no-one is responsible, where,
if the speed is 20mph have got some, like if you drive slow then the
chances of killing people are far lower.
I’ll get coffee in next time.
FG12
Thankyou, so for me it wasn’t that I bringing people on board on this
controversial issue, wasn’t my mission to do so ___+ drive fast –
you’re more dangerous, don’t drive fast you’re less dangerous, ___+
some people flout it, but got to draw the line somewhere, whereas
that ___+ ?fluoride? means people can ___, they want to ?kill?
people, whether have it…
FG13
do think that it’s because that it’s more common sense that driving
more slowly is more, you know, they’ll lock you up rather than
fluoridation of water, the public can be more devious, especially if it’s
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about as much evidence in that passage, that snippet, ___+.
FG12
I think healthy scepticism is important, and I think it should always
take on board what, ?scepticism? ___+ ?our life?. There are some
things that ___+, so that’s one good thing.
Me
For all those who seem to be thinking along the same lines of, in
favour of both of them, do you see them as similar policies, or ___.
FG15
How do mean similar, do you mean similar in that the government
can go round what if they do ?say to people? we’ll have no choice – it
would be the law
Me
well that is one way they would be similar, there would be a certain
level of compulsion, and drive at that speed limit or ingest fluoride,
quite expensive ways to avoid drinking fluoride with bottled water all
the time. That is one way in which there are similarities, do you think,
do you see other similarities or differences. For example the big sort
of difference I see there is that one saves lives, and one helps teeth,
and I just wonder if you look at those two, what springs out to you
as, why I, why I thought this was a cut and dried decision and why
this one is a tricky decision, trying to understand the differences.
FG13
Well I think life is much more important than clean teeth
FG14
But then, like we’re saying about diet, if the fluoride is going to lead
to other health interventions then surely won’t that help in other
areas of health as well, so maybe it’s a wider picture than just, not
that I’m saying it more important than saving people’s lives.
Mod
You might be interested to know the fact that there is growing
evidence there’s a link between dental health status and for example
coronary heart disease, caused by example the mechanism of
bacteria in the mouth and then the gums ?of this woman? and there
is overwhelming evidence about more links between the health status
in general and the dental health status and this is sort of a new area
FG13
But this isn’t making you take responsibility, it’s just giving you
water, you just drink it, you’re not doing any of the other things
which might make you look after your heart, if you have a choice, if
you can afford better things to eat, stop smoking or…
FG12
Well it’s, ___ sensible and used to be similar ___+ I’ve worked on the
same ward, or the same area of work, when it was like, years ago,
and it was this policy in Sheffield ?resident? dentists to clear out
mouths before heart surgery, ?that sort of thing?, so I’m interested to
hear about those growing interest, there’s growing evidence. ?They
used to clean your teeth they don’t do it any more like?, ?the doctors
___?.
Me
There are other effects of suffering from diseased, missing and filled
teeth with, every year, some children, a very small number of
children, actually die, because of the anaesthetic required, drugs, to
extract teeth, so it’s not as straightforward as one’s lives, one’s not.
There are other ?things?, for example another difference, is
fluoridation has a big effect in the poorer areas of Sheffield, so, it
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seems to help, help inequality.
FG12
I still think there are more important things than fluoridation, there
are much more important things about helping poorer areas than
fluoridation. Access to high quality food at affordable prices is the
main ?one number issue?, never gets attention. I know there are
projects around about getting people to look at what they buy, what
they eat and what they cook, but ultimately it’s scale of problem
defeats me. So I think, you maybe right, yes it would fluoridation
___. But fluoridation ?hasn’t voted?, something done to them, just
unacceptable ___+ being able to make active choices for themselves
___, I’m still sceptical about things like that, ___.
Me
I’m not trying to talk you into it!
FG12
No, no, sorry ___+.
Me
Anyone else with any views on this notion of individual choices of
people making decisions themselves, is that, do you see that as
important to help decisions
FG13
I think it’s important but I feel like I’m in quite a privileged position in
the fact that I can afford reasonable food and I have choices in what I
do and, and I don’t know where it’s come from but I seem to look
after myself I suppose, I think what it must have been, exercise and
stuff, but I’m very aware that there are people that just don’t have
those opportunities, from the areas, they just can’t afford good food,
but I think you should be able to have a choice, definitely, I mean
prevention is better than trying to fix it later isn’t it. Whatever you
might spend in the initial thing, letting everybody have good food, I’m
sure the government might have to put lots of money in somehow
sorting that out, I’m sure they’d still spend less than what they do
now paying ?six people? to look after them.
FG11
Is an argument that it’ll actually cost more to prevent certain health
issues than it would ___ …
FG13
But we’d would be better of as a country wouldn’t we, it would be a
better place, if people weren’t having that, having to do that, having
to get sick.
FG12
Being completely unscientific now, I mean, ?not in good health?, I’ve
been suffering the past month and I can feel, sort of, trying to
prevent it, if things are done properly, like the children’s act never
been implemented fully and it’s meant to be a ground breaking thing
in protecting children and improving family life, except it’s never
become implemented. What I’ve tend to feel that, with experience,
not checked out by scientists, that perhaps if you do things properly,
the start up costs would be horrendous, but if you did a long term
study over 10, 15, 20 years, it might just have an effect upon, as you
say, trying to fix the problems with, from experience of what, ___
?I’m working with?, we deal with families going back two or three
generations, god it’s so depressing ___+ throw money at it, so
dysfunctional that it’s never going to work, but if you look at what
impact, what kind of impact, what kind of provision of service went
into the area ?of exploring?, the outcomes might be different, but you
would be prepared to be brave and take a long term view, and
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government doesn’t work like that, government gets voted out, forced
out, policy changes, conservative government gets in next election
they’re going to cancel PCT, because I’m in a care trust, this
governments put a lot of work into PCT, yes, and all that work that’s
sort of gone into making PCT work, might just be ___+, so…
Me
If I was to talk of choice, individual choice, if people decide, choose to
act unhealthy, then do we say that’s fine, no problem, or as society
do we try and do something about it.
FG15
I think the governments got a responsibility to analyse the
information, and but at the end of the day, people don’t want to be
told what to do and that sort of thing, they are going to live the way
they want.
Me
Any other views?
FG12
I think that providing information is the correct one, though some
people the choice will be ___+, but you can’t have a go at ___+ well
known consequences in self-interest, meet people through work
who’re adopting unhealthy lifestyles, that I’ve adopted myself ___+.
Me
Final, final question, so what I’m going to do, going to go round the
table and get your answers. If you had a vote on whether these two
schemes went ahead, I’m not bothered about the way you’d vote, but
what two issues, or factors, would be foremost in your mind when
deciding on whether to vote for them, what two things about people
say I’m going to vote this way. Don’t look so frightened ___+, you go
first I’m afraid. If you can’t think of two, think of one, if you can’t
think of one we can come back to you.
FG12
I think the ?basic thing, in making a policy? is how effective that
policy is, if the effect of a policy is more clear cut then that is going to
be my choice, and… I can’t think of a second one.
Me
We can come back to you, maybe.
FG11
I think that if you can, with the fluoride, for, I would say, I would
agree to fluoride in the water if you can cut the percentage down of
people who are needing treatment for decaying teeth etcetera. Not
sure about the other, have to think about it a bit more.
FG14
___+ factors affecting the way that you vote?
Me
Yes, what is it about those policies that would help you make up your
mind
FG14
Suppose as mentioned before I’d like to know if there was any
research available, more research would be need to be done on the
effects of the fluoride, ___+. Not sure about the car one though, I
think like you (ALISON) there’s areas around where I live where
they’re 30mph but they are actually dual carriageways, so I think, like
you (ALISON) said that it depends on the area whether they could
keep returning to the same places or, not sure all places that are
30mph should be cut down to 20mph.
12
FG13
Suppose for this (fluoridation) it’s having all the, the full information,
a bit more information ___ than what you got here. This one (speed
limits) here has got sort of more of the facts, I think I find that a little
bit easier to kind of possibly make a decision, although I’m not sure
what decision I would make. I agree what (ALLY) said here about
different areas, but the facts are much clearer on this so I find it
easier to make decision, you know, cut speed kills, so it’s really kind
of natural. And I think the only thing about this tooth decay, infecting,
bacterial thing, I think I’d want a bit more information, long term
effects, it’s how I’d make a decision on that
FG15
I agree that there’s already been quite a big complaints haven’t there
about how speed kills, we’ve got some level of education about that
area ___, I think need to know more ___+ speed limits. I think I’d
probably want more information about fluoridation and more about
the side effects, ?just more in general about it?.
Me
Yeah, that’s good, alright do you ?remember? your second one, not
going to push you though.
FG12
I think people have made the point, it is about more information.
Certain things, this debate in Sheffield, ?I’ve not got time for it? but
I’m aware of it. ___+ debate ___ said before about is all about the
quality of water, does it taste, is it effective and still no-where near
that tone ___+. If they want, if they wanted, got conservatives who
were, to allow fluoride in the water then a: they’ve got do more facts
and b: present it in a way that people can understand, ___. Because
sometimes science can be very baffling I’m not ___+, but sometimes
it can be ___ people ___ ?make us say what they are trying to
prove?, brilliant ___+ because of the community situation, but you’re
not quite sure what you’re voting for and I like to know what I’m
voting for and that’s ?more important?.
Me
Ok, that’s it, thank you very much, well within one and half hours,
?well done?, so thank you for coming along.
Key
?word?
Uncertain about word
___
Word inaudible
___+
Several words inaudible
(comment)
Comment from notes for clarification
13