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The Coronavirus Pandemic

By HealthNo Comments

Here is the current Coronavirus Guidance from HM Government (UK):

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/


I’ve watched, listened and read a lot of information about the Coronavirus.

As an essential worker, I’ve seen firsthand the preparations being made in our NHS. It has made me proud to be part of such a wonderful organisation.

As a person I’ve thought about how I best protect my loved ones, particularly those in at risk groups. We all know at least one person who is elderly, has an underlying medical condition or is a child. (Although thankfully so far there have been no documented deaths in children).

As a Type 1 diabetic I’ve worried what will happen if I get infected. My immune system is weakened by diabetes, so it is likely to hit me harder than those without an underlying medical condition. I’ve even worried about the impact that the virus might have on my mental health.

As a consumer I’ve been shocked, but not entirely surprised by the panic buying.

But being British, I know we will do what we’ve always done in adversity: come together and help one another. We’ve done it many times before in the past, this time will be no different.

If you do have symptoms described in the video above, it is essential that you follow this guidance:

Coronavirus-poster-self-isolation
Coronavirus Poster about Self-isolation.

Take care and stay safe. Write soon,

Antony

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Thursday 19 March 2020

A Meeting, a Massage and a Meal

By Friends & Family, Health, ThinkingNo Comments
NHS-logo

In response to my exposé report, the Head of Quality and Head of PALS (Patient Advice & Liaison Service) from the Northwest Boroughs Healthcare NHS Trust met with me to discuss my concerns around the care I received. I was uneasy about the meeting and anxious, but it went extremely well.

The Northwest Boroughs Healthcare NHS Trust have taken my report seriously and the feedback has been responded to with both top-down and bottom-up approaches.

The meeting couldn’t have gone better and I left feeling very assured that they had not only taken my concerns seriously, but responded to them appropriately. They are due to write a formal response to me in due course.

I followed this with a self-care treat of a 60 minute full body massage. This was relaxing and de-stressing. It was a GroupOn deal, I’ve never used GroupOn before, but it’s great for trying out new experiences or businesses at a reduced price. So check it out.

Yesterday I attended a meal to celebrate what would have been Alex, my younger brother’s 28th birthday.

Words that sum up my last few days: unease, anxiety, bravery, changing things for the better, relaxing, de-stressing, remembrance, celebration.

Blog soon,

Antony

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Saturday 8 February 2020

North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Trust Fails to Respond to My Complaint

By HealthNo Comments

On the 02/11/19 I completed an exposé report on the care I received and observed others receive back in September 19. You can learn more about my experience here. I sent it to North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Trust and was impressed by their prompt response.

One-Nurses-Experience-2019
The Report has been written and submitted as a formal complaint.

The North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Trust initial response was that they’d investigate my complaint and report back to me by 21/12/19.

But they have failed to report back to me or to make contact to let me know that their response will be delayed.

I have contacted them to ask for feedback. I have also reported my experiences to the Care Quality Commission.

I am debating as to whether to send my report to the media or to publish it online. For now, I’m holding off on these two options, in the hopes that the Trust will come back to me with a meaningful response.

I will keep you updated.

Antony

Edited: 29/01/20, 19:11: The Trust has made contact and arranged a face to face meeting to discuss my concerns.

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Sunday 26 January 2020

Who the Heck Approved the recent NHS Pay Deal?

By HealthNo Comments

I am proud to be a Registered Nurse working in our NHS. And I certainly never came into it for the money. But who the heck approved this recent NHS pay deal?

This is the pay deal I’m writing about, from the NHS Employers website:

Click here to display content from docs.google.com.

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Download (PDF, 113KB)

It means that I get no pay rise for 2 years. On the old system, the one I accepted the job under, I would get a small annual incremental pay rise each year.

For some people it means no pay rise for 4 years.

Linking pay increases and annual leave increases to the number of years in service does nothing to motivate newer employees.

I don’t understand how this deal was struck or who approved it. But in my humble opinion it’s scandalous. First the consequences of this pay deal should have been communicated to all NHS staff prior to the approval.

Second the deal feels really unfair, because you don’t see Politicians, Teachers, Police Officers, Civil Servants or Local Authority Officers having no pay increases for up to 4 years.

I work hard and regularly go above and beyond in my role. It feels like my work isn’t appreciated and being really honest I have found it demotivating.

Patients are the only reason I keep working as hard as I do.

Write soon,

Antony

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Saturday 25 January 2020
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