I'm still me!

An issue that I've encountered within the health and social care system so many times is a lack of personalisation. A recent example of this is having to repeatedly share my 'personal story' with multiple professionals each time I seek different types of care and support. When I interact with different healthcare providers, I am asked to recount my entire medical history and personal needs over and over again.

I call it my 'personal story' as it is precisely what should be personal and the story of my life. It is what support I need to get dressed, shower, and get in and out of bed. Then there are the even more personal matters of how I go to the toilet and whether I can wipe myself (as if I hadn't lost enough dignity already) as well as the reason I now require support- for me, an accident, which I don't like discussing with strangers. I don't want to tell everyone 'this story', but I don't have a choice if I wish to suitable care and support. Now, sharing this story with one social worker so it's written up on a care plan on a database that all health and social care professionals could access wouldn't be great, but needs must, but it will be done and dusted in one go with a review every year or so. But that's not how the system works. That social worker writes it for THEIR records; then, when I needed occupational therapy input provided by social care paid by the same local authority, I had to repeat the WHOLE lot again! Then, that occupational therapist only manages some of my required equipment, so an occupational therapist from NHS is now getting involved, so I need to repeat the WHOLE story for their database. Then it comes to funding (of no personal benefit to me, solely for health and social care to decide who pays what percentage of my care), so another person from NHS comes through the door and, yes, the WHOLE story gets told again in nearly identical words. Only to find out they won't be part of the final funding panel, so guess what? I am going to need to tell my WHOLE tale again! The frustration of repeatedly sharing my personal story with multiple professionals is overwhelming and unreal!

That's at least four people within a few months who know MY story; that's taking out carers, future social practitioners and care agencies. When people say that health and social care lack person-centred care, this is an example: a story that is as personal as it comes and has to be shared with many people who walk through the door to my house. I only know their name, and they are expected and wish to maintain professional boundaries (I completely understand and agree) but want to know about every last inch of me. I still have the same care and support needs from person A to person z, occupational therapist to social worker, and NHS to local authority. My story hasn't changed. Surely, there's a need for a system where individuals 'personal stories' could be documented once and accessed by all relevant professionals. This could lead to a more efficient allocation of resources and a heightened regard for the privacy and dignity of individuals seeking care and support. I guess the next issue would be who would be funding it? Health or social care.