Son's health not going badly at present. We had a pretty torrid January and Feb with asthma, chest infections spreading to generalised septacemia and epilepsy taking turns to put him in a pretty uncomfortable state. (It was the aftermath of this that prompted me to start the blog.) Managed to keep him out of hospital with the help of his nursing team - he always deteriorates in hospital and he's had a reasonable month or so since things settled down. Six weeks off antibiotics is pretty good for him at any time, so from a caring perspective things are about as good as they get.
We still have the staff recruitment problem - it's difficult to be seen when your team is so small but the viral advertising campaign is now underway so hopefully we'll get some interest.
Daren't book a holiday this year, in case we don't get the staff but at present we're managing to cover the bulk of shift by filling in the gaps ourselves.
The long awaited shoes are still awaited but are promised this week.
CQC has responded to our entreaties not negatively.
The weather is picking up (though hay fever triggering asthma isn't good) and generally things don't feel too bad just now.
I just can't help wondering what's round the corner!
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Hello Ned, found your blog through a comment on the Guardian site re. personalisation and have read all your previous entries with interest. I've recently joined a charity who provide care for older people and, as someone new to the Third Sector, I'm finding your carer's perspective illuminating. Did you see the PM leadership debate the other night? Any thoughts on their take on respite for carers etc? Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments - glad its of interest. I've just gone through the transcript and have to say it's the first time I've seen so much attention given to carers. It's very refreshing, I just hope some of it actually happens. There seemed to be a consensus about the need for respite care and I'd see that a critical first step. I was a little disappointed that Cameron clearly made the point about how difficult it was administering Direct Payments and the extra work needed, but still seemed to accept the 'choice' that Personalisation would bring (from where? with no resources?) All then seemed to gloss over the issue. It's all very well calling carers heroes but what is really needed isn't heroes - it's a service that means people don't have to risk their life and health in the first place. At least they're talking about us.
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