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Thread: a plea for change...
The #FirstDoNoHarm Cumberlege review recognises concerns about the system that have worried me for a long time. That the system can be ‘disjointed, siloed, unresponsive and defensive.’ That too often the system fails to listen to patients.
1/11
The #FirstDoNoHarm Cumberlege review recognises concerns about the system that have worried me for a long time. That the system can be ‘disjointed, siloed, unresponsive and defensive.’ That too often the system fails to listen to patients.
1/11
That a ‘lack of vigilant, long term monitoring’ means ‘the system does not know, so neither do we…’
That change occurs ‘glacially’.
2/11
That change occurs ‘glacially’.
2/11
I hope that an independent Patient Safety Commissioner will be ‘listener and advocate’, accountable and holding the system to account.
Their’s will not be an easy job.
They will need integrity and compassion in equal measure.
3/11
Their’s will not be an easy job.
They will need integrity and compassion in equal measure.
3/11
For too long it has been incredibly hard to raise concerns.
Especially so, it would seem, if you happen to be a woman whose concerns can be conveniently and patronisingly dismissed as ‘women’s problems’ - with an equally dismissive attitude to women’s ability to cope.
4/11
Especially so, it would seem, if you happen to be a woman whose concerns can be conveniently and patronisingly dismissed as ‘women’s problems’ - with an equally dismissive attitude to women’s ability to cope.
4/11
(Old problem, the word ‘hysteria’ has 17th century origins, deriving from the Greek husterikos meaning ‘of the womb’. Like ‘hysterectomy’.)
5/11
5/11
Please may this be the moment of change. The moment when all remember that at the centre of everything the system does are the patients.
My heart breaks for every patient affected by harm, for the lives changed by their experiences, for families affected by the fallout.
6/11
My heart breaks for every patient affected by harm, for the lives changed by their experiences, for families affected by the fallout.
6/11
Patients shouldn’t have to become experts. They shouldn’t have to dedicate years to campaigning. Often taking on issues won’t make things better for the patients themselves.
Patients take on these issues to protect others from harm. People they will likely never meet.
7/11
Patients take on these issues to protect others from harm. People they will likely never meet.
7/11
I dislike the language of war used in medicine: fighting covid, a battle against cancer etc. The language can imply either strength or weakness which is problematic.
For me, the language is reserved for those fighting a defensive, opaque system.
8/11
For me, the language is reserved for those fighting a defensive, opaque system.
8/11
Like enemy intelligence they are fed disinformation and sanitized documents by those who wish to thwart their efforts. They face an army of lawyers and a system, like any military force, which is determined to admit no weakness.
9/11
9/11
They fight a campaign against system which they may be beholden to for future care. They fight because their consciences won’t allow them to submit.
These are patients who are determined to make a wrong right. To see improvements in care.
10/11
These are patients who are determined to make a wrong right. To see improvements in care.
10/11
In a healthily functioning organisation everyone should strive to see improvement. That’s how progress is made.
We can’t change the past, but we can change how things will go from here. We must make learning better.
It’s not about blame. It’s about accountability.
11/11
We can’t change the past, but we can change how things will go from here. We must make learning better.
It’s not about blame. It’s about accountability.
11/11
You can read @IMMDSReview report here https://immdsreview.org.uk/report.html ">https://immdsreview.org.uk/report.ht... #Cumberlege #FirstDoNoHarm
