70’s TV and the NHS

You may have thought that the 1970’s has long gone and has no relevance to the new millennium. Well you would be wrong. What goes around comes around and for those of us who have been working in the dear old public services we are only too familiar with the dizzying repetition of policy and structural reform. Only 3 years after their creation the 5 West Sussex PCT’s are to be replaced by one West Sussex PCT. Sounds a bit like the old West Sussex Health Authority to me. The Strategic Health Authority gets bigger too. If you need to know – click here for the details. http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/abinet/Public%20folder/?&viewtype=Detailed&shownum=20&sort=type&dir=asc&startrow=1

Yes, it’s quicker than the BBC's programmes appear on UKTV Gold. We travel down the Time Tunnel to find that all our favourites are still being shown and what’s more still look as good as ever.

Unfortunately, for those of us that want to change channels and get a new one, all these repeats are a bit of a nuisance.

You would have thought that with so much airtime available that the National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions would be able to easily get its own channel. Well No. Unfortunately the programme makers are too distracted by keeping the old programmes showing that they have lost sight of certain important principles of broadcasting – namely giving new ideas, creativity and minority interests a chance. Brain Injury is a minority interest, we all know that. Its low volume, but high cost. However, once again it feels that alongside other LTC’s it is lost in the ether of so called reform. At meetings I have been to, “the show must go on” but I am afraid for the time being this means the same show and no room for the radical improvements in Health and Social Care that the public and people at the front line of provision want. But hey, it is summer and summer always means repeats. Come the winter things might change. All these changes are due in October.

Monty Python, the Baird and yet more 70’s links

So lets look on the bright side of life. We may be waiting for our leaders to rescue us from the darkness, but whilst we do, we can sing a happy song of new, although small changes happening around the county.

The best is of course (Cue trumpet fanfare and Emerson Lake and Palmers version of Fanfare for the common man) the new West Sussex ABINet website. It is full of what we think is interesting, informative and even interactive material. It’s our response to the views expressed to us at the Open Space event in September 2004. Yes today more than ever the World is indeed a stage and we are more than merely players. We are participants in the great idea of our time – namely the new media. I am proud to bring (ne drag) many of you into this place where we can live in a utopian space together online.

You will find information on local, national services, local agencies and organisations that can help nearly solve whatever problem you have – except that one! We hope that you will use it and enjoy it and what’s more tell us what you think. It’s easier than you think to do it, just visit http://www.westsussexabi.co.uk/ and take a look. Make sure you sign up to our discussion group  http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/abinet

and check our events page for details of courses, conferences and training that is going on. http://www.smartgroups.com/calendar/view.cfm?view=list&GID=3093362

We even tell you how you can get involved. Talk about spoon-fed - you don’t know how good we are to you. We give you ideas about how to help or get help, what more do you want?

There is just one thing we need from you. That’s your ideas. You see we need a public person, be it from the landed gentry, the great and the good, a politician or a celebrity to come along and help us raise our profile. If you know someone that might fit the bill and help us champion the cause then get in touch. Remember it was the 70’s classic band Rush who played live to a delighted, although much younger ABIC for West Sussex on their tour named all the worlds a stage. It is not therefore Shakespeare that necessarily speaks to us in these media driven times, but rock and roll and much like Bob Geldoff we need your time not your **** money! Xanadu still sounds good to me.

Gardeners World

So its time for a little “roundup” of things.

The BIRT Unit rumoured many years ago to being planted in the Broadbridge Heath area has made a surprising spurt of growth and grown walls, a roof and several attending bungalows on site. Its due to open in September 2006 and our very own Dr Camilla Herbert will be ready to take referrals from any person in need of specialist cognitive therapy and rehabilitation. Check out the BIRT Website for more. http://www.birt.co.uk/index.asp They are even celebrating by putting on a one-day conference on 7^th July at Slinfold College. Details on our events page.

In Chichester, Rosary Cottage has set up a small although very beautiful carers support group which meets monthly and hopes to not only support one another but also campaign on issues as they affect them. Our very own Lindsey Steer chairs the meetings.

Also in Chichester, despite the financial crises we all know about in the NHS, Donald Wilson House, which provides post acute rehab to people with neurological problems is to be rebuilt. It will have a new building which replaces the less than aesthetically pleasing 60s one currently used. Well done to the staff there who provide a wonderful service to people with ABI.

The Sussex wide neuro rehabilitation review is setting out on the journey of finding the answers to what Sussex needs in terms of specialist services. Although mainly a NHS led process, this will be informed by the NSF and standards. It is due to report later this year with some initial recommendations.

Southland’s Hospital has had a review board looking at it own operational policy and procedure over recent months. Like Donald Wilson House it too provides post acute neuro rehab, but to the eastern side of West Sussex, Brighton and parts of East Sussex. The new policies have been drafted, so well done to everyone there.

Headway Newick have a fine new building and also a fine new manager in place. Gerry I am sure would welcome visits and the chance to talk to you about how they can offer help. See their website for details: http://www.headway-hp.org.uk/background.html

Headway West Sussex are also running local groups in Worthing, and Horsham. I understand that another is being planned for the Crawley area for later this year. Get in contact for more and how else they can help you. http://www.headway-in-west-sussex.org.uk/

The two Ronnie’s

ABINet is keen to work with others and to show this we regularly meet up with colleagues in East Sussex, Brighton and even Kent and Hants! SABIF, imaginatively named after other brain injury forums elsewhere is as you might have guessed the Sussex (including Brighton) forum and meets every quarter or so (see events page previously plugged) My counterpart Mike Hope ABIC and I regularly swop nightmares, - I mean information - and aim to ensure that those issues that affect both sides of Sussex get taken up at the appropriate level. Even if we do get a little excited from time to time, who can blame us when there is so much that needs to happen?

Check out their website, which of course isn’t as good as ours - but still worth a look

http://www.sabif.info/

And finally

If you like what you see and want to come and meet us – who could blame you – we are so nice – come along and meet us in the flesh. ABINet is open to anyone and everyone who has an interest in ABI. And even to those that don’t. The future ahead is full of road works and diversions but we think that our little car will one day become an unstoppable articulated lorry. Our arguments are too good and the needs too great to be ignored or overlooked forever.

We have three main aims:

Education – of the public

Training – for professionals

Awareness – for the broader public and society.

Which of course spells ETA. No not the first ET landing on the planet before B, but estimated time of arrival. Lets hope it’s sooner rather than later.