In my role as the first Professor of Compassionate Care in the UK I was made aware of the circumstance of a group of people currently ignored and overlooked in our NHS systems today – the – plight of young people aged 18-24 suffering multi-system, long term medical conditions as they hit the age of 18, and have to move from the holistic paediatric care they have been used to, to the ‘swamps’ of adult-centric services. ‘Falling off a cliff Al’, they tell me.
Some paediatric consultants also tell me of the massive challenges they have faced in their own hospitals to get medical, and especially nursing staff to understand that the needs of these young people are completely different to those of the elderly who occupy so much time and resources to meet. Key organisations responsible for children’s health needs have also, in my opinion, failed dismally to advocate effectively for these young patients and their families, retreating into their bunkers with the view ‘its not my prob, Guv! They’re now over 18 and somebody else’s responsibility’. I am intending to challenge these attitudes head on and demand change
I’m fortunate and humbled to have had the privilege to be in contact with one such young woman, who, with amazing courage has written her story now published here with her permission on my web site. She has asked to remain anonymous and has called it ‘Poppy’s story‘. Neither she nor the institutions she refers to are identified.
Her story in my view is truly appalling with a litany of dfficulties, especially in the attitudes to her care she has experienced especially from senior consultants, nurses and resident doctors.
I urge all involved in the care of these young people to read it and be moved to show compassion, ie putting yourself in her shoes and doing something about it.
Click here to read Poppy’s Story “Forgotten: A Journey from Hope to Uncertainty” in full.
