from the heart

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Aladinsaneuk · #1 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:14 pm

as most here know, I am a nurse

all joking aside, I specialise in looking after older people - and that includes palliative care

today, the idiots in whitehall effectively stopped the use of the liverpool care pathway

again, those who know me as a nurse, realise i can be very serious about things to do with care

here is the kicker - and i make no apologies about it - http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/s ... 1373918298 needs people to add their support

I am quite happy to publicly talk about why i think we need to keep it - and yes, I do accept it may have been misused in the past

BUT

i know it can make a hell of a difference to people's lives - and their death

HowardQ · #2 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:56 pm

Sorry Pete, I know how much you care, but I have seen some issues very closely, which leave me absolutely sure we should get rid of it.
I know you have much broader experience and have obviously seen the better side, so I respect your views.
This remains a very difficult subject for me and many other people.
My next door neighbour has very recent experience when his mother suffered a stroke, and he and his family ended up providing care almost 24/7 for many weeks, whilst she was in hospital, and in particular had to provide and administer all meals, her strength improved a lot during this period.
She is now out of hospital and is much better, she probably won't have long at 92 years old, but is much happier and is able to see her family again, (whilst she still can), in nicer surroundings.

robbier6 · #3 Post by **robbier6** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:15 pm

tis done for you Pete.

Aladinsaneuk · #4 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 5:16 am

fair and honest words Howard

I will not defend where it has been misused - unfortunately - it has been

the thing with it is that it needs education, and through that we look after people properly

i guess the key word is communication - those of us who are actively involved in the care of the dying need to be able to talk openly, honestly with people.
I am 48 and have been nursing for 20 something years - it has too be said that I reckon I have a fair amount of experience in talking with people.... can we expect the younger, less experienced people to have those skills? no, we cannot - BUT in that case people should be supported properly

it is a very emotive subject, and i can really empathise with people's views

what concerns me, and I predicted this would happen when the shitstorm broke last year, is that the main element of palliative care, that is proven to work, has just been pulled - and in time honoured fashion, there is no replacement for it... the report states that the patient will have an individualised plan of care.... like no shit sherlock - every one should have one of those already!

One final thing, and I hope that people take this in the way it is meant, i am more than happy to talk through, discuss and debate it - either publically or by PM - as it is a subject that will affect us all.
I am also very conscious that this may be a subject that people are very uncomfortable with - it is right to be uncomfortable with it