Editor’s Blog
I’ve decided to start writing a blog about the work I am doing behind the scenes. It’s much more interesting than just making a brew, trust me…..
And myself as editor have more of a role to play than just churning out posts of good will. kindness and local interesting events and happenings. My name is Jude Gidney. You may have already met me. In the last year I have been very active in working and communicating with Pennine Care, our local NHS provider, and local suppliers and charities involved with mental health.
Why? My son took his own life in January last year at 20 yrs old, and since then I have woken up to the fact that mental health services and provisions in this region ( in fact UK wide) are VERY much lacking. If I can do anything to improve this then I feel I’ve done my bit in the name of Andrew, my son and for other parents and their children.
I’d love to armour up and knock on No 10’s door but I fear it wouldn’t help. The anger I have felt since I lost my son has been immeasurable. I know calm and calculated action is needed, not rage.
This week I was invited to a Living Well workshop run by Living Well UK. This involved a room full of NHS managers of ranging hierarchy from CCG’s to hospital staff, CEOs of TOG MIND and AGE UK Oldham, Healthy Minds managers, Unity Partnership managers, Oldham Council and more. I was the only service user (patient/member of the public) attending to my knowledge.
The workshop was to look at the way forward to improve the current Mental Health Service in Oldham. One comment made by one speaking CCG manager was “It should be a lot better“. As far as I could tell, everyone in the room agreed.
Previous to be invited to this meeting, and there’s quite a bit of history which I will go into at a later date, myself and 4 other parents met with managers from Pennine Care CCG as arranged by PALS. This was in October 2019. The proposals made by Living Well Ltd virtually matched our suggestions and left me feeling exasperated. But we’re just parents.
During the workshop, two words were bounced around – The ‘Living Experienced’. It turns out these are the buzz words for those people that have been coping with the mental health system for their entire lives, struggling and feeling unlistened to. It became apparent the The Living Experienced were held in very high esteem. We are apparently the key to help the NHS’s move forward.
Other suggestions discussed were Hubs of psychologists and occupational therapists to work with those members of the public in the community with concerns about their mental health and assessments on the spot. At present the main route to any support is GP led, GP’s that in a recent report by the charity Young Minds feel themselves are unequipped in skills and time to be effective. The other route is through A&E when a person is at crisis point. There was a lot more to this plan and it now needs to be discussed at another managers meeting.
I’m just off to open up and set up for our Mental Health Caring Group which was set up last month at the Satellite Centre. It runs every last Thursday of the month at 7pm. Join us for a brew and toast. Catch you later!
Jude
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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