GOING INTO HOSPITAL WITH COMORBIDITY ISSUES - HOPE AT LAST!

Dear all

I went to a resolution meeting today at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, where I had a total hip replacement operation last October. My efforts to draw their attention to my bipolar, triggers, warning signs and coping strategies fell on deaf (or merely unprepared?) ears. Today I was delighted to see that when my advocacy worker from POhWER (ICAS) and I began to raise the issues of our desired outcomes from the meeting, the policymaker and the senior nurses present had already put in a lot of effort to deal with co-morbidity issues - not just for mental health sufferers coming to them as inpatients, but for all pre-existing conditions (diabetes was mentioned).

It gave me hope!

Here are the promised outcomes (which I think are a model for other hospitals to follow):

1. Advance Statements to be used in all cases of co-morbidity, and those patients who do not have one to be encouraged to draw one up before admission; (for those who do not know, an Advance Statement tells health professionals and others what symptoms they might see and how to deal with them - and how NOT to deal with them - for example, if they see me shivering, I'm not just cold, I'm going into a 'down' and will need a darker and quieter room);

2. Equalities policies will include one for patients - not just staff;

3. Carers will be allowed onto the ward as soon as a patient comes up from recovery, even during 'protected' mealtimes;

4. The hospital will work with the mental health trust to put safeguarding measures in place for mental health sufferers coming in for operations, including access to a CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse);

5. I'm going to be invited in to co-deliver a workshop on mental health, with a senior nurse. My testimony will be videoed for future use.

There is always hope, where minds are open and people have goodwill...

Best wishes to all

Jan

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Comment by Jan Tchamani on April 18, 2012 at 13:13: Hi - I'm not on Twitter much, prefer Facebook - find it easier to navigate and friendlier to my brain. If you request me as a friend on Facebook, I'll accept. Thanks for asking after me, Richard - I'm fighting off a flu virus (ears, nose, throat, chest and tummy) that's raging through the city! Fighting if off not very successfully, I'm afraid - 2 weeks so far and little improvement, though I'm eating lots of garlic and fruit, and resting as much as possible... Hope you're well.

Comment by Richard Alexandar on April 16, 2012 at 22:11: Hi Christine,

Yes, I'm on Twitter and Facebook. On Twitter I'm @alexandarshippo, and on F/B just Richard Alexandar. How about you, Jan? Can we get together where it's easier to chat?

Richard.

Comment by Jan Tchamani on April 9, 2012 at 21:48: I'm hoping the matron concerned will have the time to invite us in for a run-through, but it's not certain, Richard. She should be able to give us an idea of how many minutes each testimony should be, though. And how long she would like me to speak at the beginning about where the initiative has come from. Hopefully, she'll also leave enough time for questions...

Comment by Richard Alexandar on April 8, 2012 at 18:57: But it's your party :-)

Comment by Richard Alexandar on April 8, 2012 at 18:57: I wouldn't argue with that, Jan. Perhaps rehearsal was a bad word to use. I was meaning some sort of run-through, just to make sure the timing of everything is OK.

Comment by Jan Tchamani on April 8, 2012 at 17:24: Rehearsal? I'll certainly suggest we all make notes of what we want to say, but I think it's best if it comes across really natural and authentic. I think it will have more impact that way. After all, it's an intensely personal testimony...

Comment by Richard Alexandar on April 8, 2012 at 17:00: Terrific news, Jan. Three of you doing a presentation should have a powerful effect. Do you have any idea when....you'll need a rehearsal, no doubt.

Comment by Jan Tchamani on April 8, 2012 at 13:01: This should please you, Richard: 3 friends of mine have come forward offering to join me in presenting the workshop. They have other disabilities - one has MS, one suffers from clinical depression, the other has Asbergers. If anyone else comes forward with a different comorbidity, we're adding them to the panel! Best wishes and Happy Easter, Jan

Comment by Richard Alexandar on April 6, 2012 at 22:44: Good for you, Jan. Real progress, and the workshop sounds interesting.

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GOING INTO HOSPITAL WITH COMORBIDITY ISSUES - HOPE AT LAST!

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