A few years ago we had all heard of The Big Society!
It all seems quiet now but we live in a World where people
caring for others and being willing to "step up" is essential to the
future. A few months ago I spent a fantastic day at The Houses of Parliament
with a local MP and had the pleasure of meeting Women's Aid and Girl Guides
advocates who were talking about "see me, hear me, believe me".
Whilst this relates to women's issues the same powerful meaning can be applied
to anyone who's voice is not always heard and also, in many cases, to their
carers.
It appears to be increasingly hard for people to have their
voices heard or indeed needs met. Whilst the NHS is a political football tossed
between the political parties as a re- election tool, we can lose sight of the
people we are trying so hard to serve. Whilst MPs talk about the managers and
fat cats, I struggle to find any- as they have been decimated and reduced down
to a minimum. What the public rarely see is that most of them are also clinicians
trying hard to provide high quality services with ever reducing finances. There
are plenty of fat cats around but I suspect you won't see them in hard pressed
providers and no one looks anywhere else!
We in provider land (the Trusts from which/or in which you receive
services) can flex and innovate, and are
willing to do so. But when the services we work with have ever strapped
finances and are changing their criteria for access to accommodate the changing
financial climate, we will never win the battle without change. I’m thinking
particularly of social services who are experiencing unprecedented cuts to finances.
We in the NHS have to think differently but so does everyone else and like it
or not, society has no choice but to step in and up if we are to manage our
ageing population safely and with kindness.
I think like this as we prepare to visit my mother again
next week. Three weeks of carers and already no-one turned up today and last
week they came on the wrong day. Twice in three weeks might not sound too bad,
but when you can't get her out of bed without help and depend on the support to
keep her skin clean and dry, no care means her having no option but to be in
bed all day. Don’t forget that social services care is not free. We need to find
and encourage the right people to do these important but unsung roles. When the
Government talk about more Doctors and nurses, I wonder if like the miracle
workers of old, they know how to turn pebbles into people, because they just
aren’t out there. With a minimum of four years training for most qualifications
we need to think differently and innovatively now. The people who largely
enable people to remain at home and are carrying out things like washing,
dressing, transport aren’t NHS at all but are run by Social services and its
these services that appear to be harder than ever to get. We must think
“together” – them and us simply won’t do it. And yet providers where many of
the answers lie, feel as if they don’t have a voice with the three or four different
commissioning/government bodies put there to decide who gets what.
My father struggles
on, washing, cleaning, dressing, feeding and the cycle continues endlessly and
at 79 I don’t think he has a voice. He’s from that generation that believes
that if you’re entitled to it, someone will tell you, is reverent to those in
authority and doesn’t like to ask for help. He doesn’t get out and can’t get
out due to his 24 hour a day, 365 days a year responsibility – neither do they
have a large circle of friends or support structure. I am his voice and I fight
for their requirements. Without my voice and that of my Sisters I cant imagine
my mum would still be in her own home living the best life possible . Those
with a voice, even if it's not their own, are more likely to get care. My
worries are for those without this. Not all people can get out of the house to
attend the services that exist and once they are housebound, it can feel as if
life revolves around routine and chores rather than snippets of laughter and
joy.
My scholarship has been a tonic for me - it's given me
energy and experience to understand that there are many possibilities and such
a lot of good is already going on. When I went to the Alzheimer’s Society I was
really, impressed to see all the good
things they're doing. But it's only good if people know about it. Despite
knowing that fantastic initiatives are going on I grow increasingly concerned
about the gaps, the people with no voices whilst also being relieved that there
are so many people about there who really do appear to care. Perhaps together
we can make a real difference and give people a voice.
Over the next few weeks I'm working on different areas around
diversity and even if it's not dementia, I think this informal knowledge will
heighten my ability to lead the agenda.
So only a few weeks after the election, suddenly the NHS is
much quieter, MPs have a pay rise and the
“good news is no news” continues with news of poorly performing Trusts,
potential strikes and Trusts in deficit. I say again- there isn’t a day goes by
that I don’t feel humbled and honoured to be a nurse when I see my staff- from
all disciplines - in action- rising above adversity to do the best they can for
their patients. The NHS is to be cherished – and those of us in it continue to
fly the banner for free health care for all – together we can do it!!
