Health Diaries · 2 December 04
The TETRA mast in Llanidloes may already be “live” or may go live in the very near future.
Llanidloes residents fear that they may experience some of the ill-health people up and down the country have experienced when TETRA masts have gone live. In a cover story, the Independent newspaper recently reported many such cases including headaches, sickness, nosebleeds and sleep problems.
The Llanidloes Tetra Mast Protest Group is encouraging residents to take note of any possible health effects by keeping a brief Health Diary, writing each day a couple of sentences on how they slept and how they felt.
The local Health Centre has also acknowledged the worries which residents have, and has given space for a large noticeboard in the surgery for information on TETRA. It has leaflets to take away, and statements and reports, as well as details of this website.
The head of the local medical practice, Dr Leslie, has offered support to the residents in a situation in which, he commented, he could see the risks but not the benefits.
A sample of a “Health Diary” can be found in the Llanidloes Resource Centre on Great Oak Street, where the public can photocopy the diary. It is also available for download from this site. The Mayor, Edward Breeze, has said:
“It’s really important now that people should start keeping a note of how they feel. If you feel ill, tell the doctors.”
A spokesperson for the Tetra Mast Protest Group adds:
“Many of the symptoms experienced around TETRA masts are low-level illness: sleep difficulties, headaches and nausea. If you experience these things, and they are not normal for you, tell your doctor. We are asking people to write down what they feel, every day, including when they feel fine and sleep well. It is important to be as accurate as possible.”
The Tetra Mast Protest Group adds that it is possible that there may in future be a court case concerning TETRA, and in such a case these diaries could be a helpful way of illustrating possible effects and they could also be useful evidence in claiming compensation.
