This letter results from three weeks of leaving unanswered messages via the Area OT line.
It was delivered by hand to the OT office at Ross Community Hospital. A DN happened to call at the house so she took a copy as well.
An OT phoned on the afternoon of 15 June. She had been given no info whatsoever - just phone and find out about a problem. Look out Senior OT for Ross. I will be calling in at Belmont.
[text thus] is additional. Obviously, links have been added.
Another OT phoned the next day to arrange a visit on 24 June. My concern includes the thousands of carers who just put up with extremes of inadequate professionalism.
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Dear Senior OT for Ross (Not exactly dear to me as you will see) 14 June 2016
- My attempts to make contact with any OT are heading in the direction of saga magnitude. I have left messages since the end of May, A DN was kind enough to phone over a week ago for info but those who received the outcome were not kind enough to reply.
- It is well known, at least within carer circles, that being a carer is a constant series of battles within, to them at least (again), what is laughingly called care provision. I run a carerworld.info website which is full of the big question – “Why must it be like this?.
- Within wider circles, it is well known that NHS provision is in staffing difficulties (SDs). The extent to which NHS units use SDs as an excuse to do nothing is a matter of research.
- You are running a team which needs to take stock of dealing with messages. Two years ago, I was faced with the same problem. Luckily, I found Mrs L of Adult Wellbeing who helped with a wide range of problems, mostly within provision - see 2 above. She has moved on. However, carers shouldn’t need to rely on such resources when dealing with your team as it was then. Update 20 June - I was amazed and grateful that she had followed up this page. But why is it necessary to waste the time of other professionals within overall care provision?
- At c 0430 another session of dealing with my wife’s increasing incontinence occurred. She is 100% dependent on wheelchairs [also here] but can negotiate bed transfer to commode immediately beside the bed. Although FTD is there, she tries not to disturb me. I woke to find her halfway, knickers drooping with the weight. She said she was OK so I went off still half asleep looking for towels etc. I came back to find urine trickling to the floor as she had sat on the commode and performed with knickers on.
- One item needed is a lock/unlock-wheeled commode. She was too tired to transfer to wheelchair in the direction of the bathroom. I washed her in order to help safeguard against UTI. Disability is expensive. £15k on a recent car. Normally I buy items as waiting for NHS to wake up {more] is impracticable. £250 on a patient turner, £70 on bed-bars are also previous purchases. The car has knocked a hole in the bank balance so please talk commodes – this week. There are other needs.
- In case you don’t realise, this page comes to you via the unit at Ross Hospital [and a DN who called at the house on spec ]. How otherwise am I supposed to make contact? A letter in the Gazette? Midlands TV? A one-man demo near the Market House ensuring the Gazette is looking from its windows?
- I have far too much to do as a carer to write this type of comm. I am also heavily engaged in the future of the new Dementia Meeting Centres [[ here ]] via carerworld.info Update page. You might text me or phone 07952 060 505 on receipt of this page. Let’s waste no time talking about SDs.
- The rest of this page is for Dr L – another saviour as with Mrs L. I trust that I will hear from you soon so as not to involve Dr L who was often on Mrs L’s many “To to do” lists. He has enough of them.
pagetop here for pasting Occupational therapists here