Auntie Version - MSKMag's Agony Aunt - August 2026

Hello! I’m Auntie Version (aka Jo Turner) and I am unbelievably excited to be MSKMag’s very own agony aunt.

Oh the arrogance in my assumption that I have any wisdom to impart about your life, and the irony that much of my advice will implore you to resist that clinician’s urge to fix and advise! Nevertheless, I do hope you’ll find this column informative, thought-provoking, occasionally amusing and that you’ll find some helpful tips amongst my best guesses and opinions.

Dear Auntie Version,

It’s bloody hot!! Where I work, in a clinic in southern England, it has been sweltering this past week. Other than the odd minute to stand in front of a fan between patients, there is not much relief. My employer seems to be of the opinion that as there is no legal temperature limit when it comes to safe working, that we need to just get on with it. Is there anything I can do??

Sweaty Betty

Hi Sweaty Betty,

Whilst I’m no expert, a quick search on gov.uk confirms there is no guidance for a maximum temperature limit, just the following (not very helpful) statement:

'During working hours, the temperature in all indoor workplaces must be reasonable.’

It’s fair to say that last week’s heatwave was especially challenging with the added effect of extreme humidity – to me it felt like a reality check.

You say your employer seems to be of the opinion that, as there is no legal temperature limit, ‘we need to just get on with it’. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I think a lot of businesses felt caught out last week. Many came to the realisation that this is no longer a once-in-a-summer event to just get through, but something we are going to have to find longer term solutions for. Without knowing your boss (in which case feel free to disregard), is it possible they are not yet sure of the correct course of action and it’s making them a bit defensive?

I wonder if it would be helpful for you and your colleagues to sit down and chat through with them what constitutes a reasonable level of comfort and what the options might be to achieve that. We’re all in new territory here - I’m not sure anyone has the answers yet. Surely the more ideas that can be brought into the mix, the better.

Auntie Version

Dear Auntie Version,

I’m a sole practitioner in my own physio clinic and getting very tired of working for underpaying private insurance providers. However, I’m finding it hard to bite the bullet and quit them as surely a filled slot is better than nothing right??

To Leave or Not to Leave?

Dear TLONTL,

Sounds like the real question isn’t the one in your sign off, but whether or not a filled slot is better than nothing. There are different factors at play here. From a purely financial perspective, it’s true that a smaller amount of money coming in from an insurance company is more than no money. That presumes however that you’re not currently at capacity and that if you didn’t take that insurance patient, you’d be sitting twiddling your thumbs.

You could argue that the insurance patient is blocking a space that could be taken by a higher paying independent client. Could you use the marketing for more of your ideal clients? Or developing a new service? Or maybe an exciting new side hustle?

It also depends on how you feel about working for a lower fee than your advertised rates. It might not bother you at all, money is money after all. But it might feel like it’s trampling on a boundary around what constitutes fair pay for your work. It might feel like you’re working for an organisation who doesn’t value your skills or profession. There are no right answers to these questions, but they will probably inform your decision.

Auntie Version

Dear Auntie Version,

I started up a World Cup sweepstake at the start of the tournament for my team where everyone predicts results and you get points for predicting the right outcome and more points for guessing the exact score. Top 3 win a cash prize.

The only problem is, I’m faring miserably and my reactions to my colleagues’ success suggest I may have become over invested in the competition.

Said colleagues include one who knows nothing about football and just inserted a random allocation of 0s and 1s as scorelines, one who stopped participating at the end of the group stage, and, most annoyingly, Jack March.

How can I claw back some pride??

Jack Chew

Anon

Hello Anon.

Firstly, commiserations on your miserable performance.

You’re clearly a dedicated fan and I can hear how annoying it is that your colleagues seem to be doing so much better, despite being completely uninformed about the sport you hold dear.

Or are they? (uninformed)

Perhaps this is a clear sign of the random nature of human beings playing sport, with all their nerves, their overconfidence, unfamiliar environments and climates, not to mention bodies trying to perform within ridiculously tiny tolerances.

I don’t think you’re over-invested. I just think you’re a fairly typical physio – whilst not wanting to generalise, we’re a competitive bunch, aren’t we? (ask any member of our admin team who’s attended a clinic quiz night, or anything involving sport!)

Enjoy the game, enjoy some pantomime disdain for your colleague’s undeserved success – and then maybe you can be happy for them.

I am reminded of something a friend once said “If you’re not feeling like you can be overjoyed for your friend who is enjoying a wonderful sunny two-week holiday, then maybe stay off Facebook today!”

Auntie Version