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Background from sufferer of MS
Example of such a patient is those with MS, which is a chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease and she is now classed as tetraplegic, reliant on near ‘round-the-clock’ carers and a fully electric wheelchair to move around the house.
Her carers are more than best friends to her; they are like family. We have a very close and special relationship, and they know exactly how to tend to my significant needs. My PA comes to my house daily, as do two carers four times a day. They mobilise me, helping me get out of bed in the morning and to get washed and dressed.
They ensure she eats healthily, perform important physio exercises to minimise muscle wastage and carry out other routines designed to aid her general health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally.
The NHS doesn’t have the resources or specialist training for nurses to provide the same level of personalised care when patients with severe MS or complex needs are admitted to hospital. Patients’ lives and wellbeing are potentially put at risk as a result. Sadly, there are many people in the same position as her, suffering from a range of conditions, some of which have even greater needs than her.
The responsibility also lies with the care companies allowing this to happen, as many do not. Some care companies do allow this, but purely for familiarity and so the vital routines get stopped again.It’s estimated that around one in eight hospitals currently don’t allow external carers to operate within their buildings, either because of their own policy or because of failures to agree terms with care companies.