Nicola

The big conversation

on our nhs

Last month, Just Treatment launched our “Big conversations” campaign where we began speaking to someone in every constituency in the UK about their experience of Coronavirus and the NHS. These conversations will directly feed into the creation of a New Deal for the NHS. This is a people powered campaign and collectively, we can ensure we learn the lessons from Coronavirus, and work together to build a better, stronger future for the NHS and for patients. 

What has your experience of coronavirus been?

Coronavirus has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for me. As a nurse it has been a real privilege to care for people in this most difficult of times. It was very emotional especially as patients couldn't have their loved ones with them when they were sick or dying. This additional responsibility meant I was the one that was there for them when their loved ones could not be.

In my work in Occupational Health I have noticed a marked increase in the social, emotional, financial and mental health needs of the people I care for which is stressful and upsetting. I have also felt a great deal of fear in relation to keeping others around me safe.

This period has also been a time of reflection. I have greatly missed having contact with my family and friends. Having the ability to speak to them and see their faces on video calls has been a lifesaver.

Overall, I have been aware that people do pull together when they need each other and have a deep sense of social responsibility. Other people have been the most positive thing for me during this pandemic through their shared understanding, incredible bravery, love and kindness.

What long term changes for the NHS do you believe are required?

I believe the NHS needs to value and listen to frontline staff, and for more staff to be recruited and appropriately trained with a relevant skill mix. We need experienced staff working in frontline areas instead of in offices.

I would like us to get rid of the bureaucracy and redeploy skilled staff to areas where they are desperately needed. I would prefer to see a focus on appropriate spending rather than asking for more funding. Decentralising certain decisions would allow for individualised care, but could also help save money and waste and would give staff in all disciplines more autonomy.

I believe areas such as mental health, care of the elderly, physiotherapy, social care and women's health are often neglected and need more skilled staff and attention.

The NHS should never be run like a business in my opinion - it doesn't work. And I don't believe targets have any place in a care setting. I want the NHS to be fairly accessible to everyone and would like to see a more patient centred approach to care, with patients planning their own care.

Why do you think building a New Deal for the NHS is so important?

There is often short term planning in the NHS which can only save money or achieve other goals in the short term, and often doesn't even accomplish that. To really give our NHS a future we need to be brave enough to create a long term plan.

Even though we are creating an NHS New Deal for a big reason I feel that the process will also help in a very personal way for the people we are talking to about it. Being heard is so important and everyone's story matters. It is important for us to listen to each other and to remember that we are all part of getting a New Deal for our NHS.