"My experience as a carer"

It’s very hard dealing with doctors who don’t appear to value honesty. I previously shared a story  about Riversdale Surgery 3 months ago, which detailed our experience with our GP inviting himself here late April. They appeared to have an agenda, though neither I or the GMC could establish why they visited. My mother - who is in her 90s -  was left terrified and I have been made ill and destabilised too.

We are still trying our best in difficult circumstances that depend now entirely on the goodwill of excellent nurses from DCHST. They do an incredible job despite the obvious difficulties and limitations.

It’s not easy being an unpaid 24/7 carer when you GP surgery make life so difficult. I hope we can have a better future together and one that emphasises and respects patient safety. 

I wish Riversdale put lived experience and life long learning central to all they do. It seems we have to accept being talked down to and moved around like widgets.

Let’s hope reform of the NHS will tackle the present hierarchical, top down culture that deprives too many patients of a proper say in their care and I believe uses GDPR and other barriers to exclude carers from being listened to.

Thank you and best wishes to the millions of unpaid 24/7 carers out there presently being ignored by those in authority who really should know better! It’s a thankless, sleep deprived role and we could all do with more understanding from our doctors. Nurses are brilliant!

Thank you.