Think Local Act Personal (TLAP)’s Post

With the right support, Jennifer Pearl can fly. Jennifer Pearl, member of the National Co-production Advisory Group #NCAG, opened the The King's Fund annual #NHS conference last week as part of a panel. Speaking before a full house to a sold-out event, both a daunting and exhilarating experience. Her mission was to highlight the challenges faced within #healthcare, to share what it takes to overcome these hurdles and live a good life, and to emphasise what she can do, not what she can’t. A big part of this is having a good team of people around her, who hold the right values. Approaching the 75th anniversary of the NHS, Jennifer is hopeful for positive change, emphasising #CoProduction as a key driver of progress for better commissioning. Small changes, like swift equipment provision, can have a substantial impact on lives. Jennifer is well supported by a team of four carers at home who over the years have become part of the family. Despite this support, challenges persist, particularly in the form of limited options for bedtime care calls. Jennifer understands the challenges that carers face and advocates for better conditions and recognition of their work. At the conference, Jennifer and her fellow panellists discussed the values they believe should be enshrined in care practices, which again highlighted the challenges faced by the care workforce. Jennifer drew not only from her own experience, but from the work we have been doing on workforce values that will feed into the Department of Health and Social Care's #CareWorkforcePathway, launching in the coming months. Jennifer remains committed to working with fellow advocates to make healthcare better for everyone. Words for this post inspired by Jennifer Pearl ☁