NURSES CAN BE CONSERVATIVE TOO

Selina Seesunkur July 28, 2021

By Pooja Poddar

Working as a Registered Nurse since 1999, I moved to UK in 2002. Whilst growing up in Mumbai in a multicultural community, I developed the core values of being inclusive, caring, effective, influencing, and innovative, meaning that adapting to western culture was not a barrier for me. My parents described me as a very caring & understanding young girl and thought I would become a teacher, but for some reason that didn't happen, so I decided to study for a Nursing diploma. Either way neither of these are traditionally conservative.

I was diagnosed with Polycystic ovaries making it difficult for me to conceive, and I had several failed attempts of fertility treatment. It was a challenging experience working in nursing and caring for others whilst going through this, but my heart prevailed, and so did the treatment, so in 2011 my daughter was born through a free NHS trial of IVF. But the battle was not over as, in 2015, I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer which was fortunately detected in the early stages meaning I managed to survive. These experiences made me grateful that I had chosen to study nursing so I could give back what was given to me. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the healthcare professionals who got me through these bad times, it is them that gave me the personal devotion to the NHS.

My work as a community activist was recognised by local the Conservative Party resulting in the unsolicited selection as their candidate for the Bristol City Council elections in Frome Vale. One of my key pledges was my commitment to work with the community to improve multi-cultural diversity in the area. Most People who know I am a Nurse, ask if I should I really be going into politics. My attitude is “you can't wait for someone else to do things for you”. One must be the change to bring about that change.

Through my voluntary work with the Avon Indian Community Association and Bristol Durga Puja, I have brought a wide range of intergenerational and cultural intelligence that helps us better understand and engage in a multicultural society. I have recently been appointed as an Age UK trustee, strengthening my involvement in my community. It is humbling to help the most vulnerable members of our community.

Last year I was on the front line in the fight against Covid, and it has made me stronger and more determined to help others. At one-point news reports suggested BAME people were more at risk of Covid, but equally many BAME people feared the vaccination. It was a catch 22. But by being a beacon of the community, I was able to convince many families to make the decision to get vaccinated.

I have started my political journey because there's so much I have got from this country and the only way I can return the kindness is by helping others. I want to do this by bringing people together and promoting tolerance through a shared understanding of each other. I feel the core values of Conservative Party have always instilled this. The community and environment we live in make us the individuals we are, and it was this belief that motivated me to actively get involved.

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DIL TRUST UK’S MAGICAL JOURNEYS- SUPPORTING ILL CHILDREN IN LONDON HOSPITALS

Selina Seesunkur July 7, 2021

By Ahmereen Reza OBE

The Covid-19 pandemic in the UK has caused an unprecedented challenge to our way of life and the safe delivery of health care. I wrote this article to pay tribute to both the NHS staff, the unobtrusive but much needed work of DIL Trust UK and the National Portrait Gallery’s (NPG) Magical Journeys- Hospital program, with the hope to relaunch it, once we have overcome the challenges of COVID-19.

In 2016, the NPG in London commissioned Shirin Neshat, the celebrated Iranian painter, for a very special portrait. It was for one of the bravest, most inspiring girls of this generation, Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani Nobel Laureate and international girls’ education campaigner who was brutally gunned down by the Taliban for her advocacy of girls’ education in Swat Valley, Pakistan. Airlifted to Britain, Malala underwent life-saving surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. As they do day in, day out, the many talented, dedicated doctors, nurses, administrators of the NHS saved a precious life and preserved the dreams of a girl, the dreams of her parents, and the dreams of the tens of millions of girls around the world denied basic education.

Every child has a right to dream. And when they fall ill, some terminally, it is incumbent on us all to keep those dreams alive. In 2014, as the Chairperson of DIL UK, a charity committed to girls' education in Pakistan, I joined hands with the NPG to fund and develop a programme for sick children in NHS hospitals to engage in the creative arts.

Called 'Magical Journeys', the programme introduced those children in hospital for extended treatments and surgeries to the NPG’s vast collection of portraits and artists. NPG volunteers and artists led workshops that provided children and their parents much-needed creative distraction from the stress of a hospital stay, to make it less frightening, to give a child a rare moment to dream of life beyond illness, and reconnect with a happier, more carefree time. The portraits and their inspirational stories of achievement, determination, tenacity and dedication are designed to help bring solace on days otherwise filled with difficult medical treatments and provide a creative springboard for artists to engage with the children.

There is of course a very real clinical basis underpinning Magical Journeys. The artists use a variety of techniques aimed at eliciting a direct cognitive response from the patients. Encouraging children to focus their thoughts on a portrait and engage in a variety of creative mediums helps shift their attention from an inward perspective focused on their body, illness and treatment, to a different scenario; a ‘magical journey’ in the present or in a re-created space, allowing them to express their emotions while socialising and reducing introversion.

Magical Journeys was launched at four London hospitals: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Evelina London Children’s Hospital at Guy’s and St Thomas’, The Royal London Hospital at Whitechapel, and Newham University Hospital. Each hospital is specialised in a field of medicine and our programme for each hospital was designed with this in mind.

Magical Journeys book launch at Evelina London Children’s Hospital with poet John Hegley @ National Portrait Gallery & DIL UK

Activities are tailored to meet the individual limitations and handicaps, to be age appropriate and in tune with the ability of each child. Central to each activity is engagement of siblings, parents, and the nurses on duty.

Activities are typically scheduled during periods when hospital schools are closed. Children unable to attend sessions due to clashes with treatment times can still participate in creative activities in their own time with a book My Superheroes and Magical Journeys.

The stories of children’s journeys, their flights of utter, delightful fancy, are simply magical. Whether it’s exploring the work of Sir Joseph Banks by creating a wishing tree on which all of their unmet wishes are hung, or copying dancer and choreographer Akram Khan’s hand gestures making shadow that explore emotions, promises an afternoon out of bed away from their daily clinical surroundings and routine treatment. Some children have even asked to change the time of their treatments so they could participate in a workshop.

*Workshop inspired by Wedgwood & Akram Khan- dance artist, Royal London Hospital-@National Portrait Gallery & DIL UK*

The programme has improved interaction between young people and parents in the same ward, allowing them to share their concerns in an informal way. It has been shown to improve the hospital experience even for children undergoing stressful treatments. It has allowed the families to share stress-free, pleasurable time together, co-creating positive memories of their time in hospital. Staff at all four NHS hospitals in which it has been trialled believe it is having a unique therapeutic impact on patients and their families, describing it as ‘positive, distracting, relaxing and enjoyable’. It has helped patients to break out of the awkwardness of their circumstances and to socialise and meet other patients. Parents have managed to shift their own overwhelming anxiety to something more positive.

One mother's comment captured the essence of the programme. "This workshop has been an enjoyable distraction from the reason why we are in hospital. It's given me time to relax with my daughter. It’s the first time I’ve seen her smile."

Due to COVID restrictions, the Magical Journeys workshop was closed, parents were frightened of the possibility of having their children’s treatments, tests and appointments cancelled or disrupted. As the pandemic took hold, I saw the untold impact that the disruption to health services has had on such young patients. I am not sure Magical journeys will return to hospital soon enough, but I am certain of two things. Firstly, disruption to treatments can’t continue as terminally ill patients’ needs will not stop for the pandemic. Secondly, now more than ever, post-covid, we need to address the fear and anxiety faced by ill children and their families in hospitals.

The children look forward to having us back, with these messages: ‘I got to meet new people, make stuff and be happy’. ‘If you weren’t here I would be on my phone for the whole day’. ‘I want you to come back!

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MENTAL HEALTH - MOVE AWAY FROM TOXIC PEOPLE

Selina Seesunkur May 19, 2021

Akua J.Quao

We can all experience some tension and difficulty in any relationship. We may hit a painful rock with loved ones, work colleagues or our flatmate, but that is an expected part of the development process in human relationships. More importantly is the willingness and ability to overcome these hurdles. But there are some relationships that we need to evaluate very closely. These are the interactions where we continually feel that we are in the presence of a person that can leave us feeling drained, anxious, depressed, and even questioning the purpose of our very existence.

The red flags

No matter how much you try to work it out in your mind and maybe make excuses for that person, the truth remains that, whenever you are with that person, something just doesn’t feel right. You feel uncomfortable, perhaps fearful, clammy, or extremely tense to the point of getting heart palpitations. It may be that, upon first encounters, you seemed to get on well, there appeared to be mutual respect, but then something changed significantly. Perhaps they began to give you haughty looks, make the occasional condescending remark about you, isolate you from others, or prevent you from fully expressing yourself? There is a tendency to project everything that is wrong onto you, by constantly blaming you. This pattern keeps continuing and intensifies to the extent that you almost know what to pre-empt.

You, however, keep comforting yourself with the belief that, with time, things will get better. The truth is that a year or more may have gone by already and nothing positive about that person has changed. To you they have grown wings and are now nastier. The focus of the narcissistic person is always on themselves; it’s never about acknowledging the person they are hurting. If you remain the victim, they are content.

Important facts

The first hurdle is to admit that you are in a toxic relationship. Ironically, toxic relationships don’t have a clear definition amongst professionals, but there is consensus around characteristics such as bullying, power imbalance, and intense emotions such as shame, guilt, and lack of empathy.

Researchers have found that these types of relationships cause damage to both physical and mental health, families, staff morale, workplace motivation and performance, and much more untold damage. It is negative behaviour that affects all ages and people in every part of the world. So why is it that this bad behaviour can fester?

Many people are sadly caught unaware. The behaviour is often subtle to begin with, the person was simply being nice or helpful. This can happen in a toxic workplace with bosses and colleagues, or in a toxic family between spouses, parents, and children. Increasingly this is also manifesting itself online with young people in particular becoming victims.

Protect yourself.

Once you have accepted that you are involved in a toxic relationship, it is important to seek help to prevent the situation from escalating. Reaching out to experienced people who can help you navigate out of a traumatic situation is crucial to your recovery.

But who do you really know that you can confide in and trust?

You can contact organisations such as the Samaritans or Childline for a non-judgemental listening ear. Confidential workplace counselling can help support issues in the workplace, whilst Refuge and organisations such as Women and Girls Network will provide a comprehensive range of support for more domestic issues.

Often it takes therapeutic intervention working with you closely to steadily resolve difficult internalised issues. The long-term benefit of such an intervention is to help you overcome any unresolved relationship traumas and break unhealthy cycles. Because of the pain attached to such relationships, it’s also easy to contemplate revenge where it isn’t necessary. Most importantly, seek a long-term solution that will enable you to see your situation for what it ultimately is; one dark chapter that needs to end for good for you to embrace the new.

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