Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
81 yo Haringey woman's "inadequate care"
The number of older people needing care is expected to rise by 60% in the next two decades, but some have claimed the care system in the capital is already severely stretched.
Tags for Forum Posts: adult social care
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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IN the wake of the BBC news item, the Express had a story on this a week ago.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Which to me, Clive, seemed an appalling invasion of privacy.
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Permalink Reply by Antoinette on
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For once Alan I wholeheartedly agree with you. What an affront to poor Barbara's dignity to photograph her in that way. Dreadful.
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Certainly it would have been, had 'Barbara' been identified, which she has not. I'm not responsible for either the BBC report or the Express article, but perhaps a similar warning that the BBC used (You may find some parts of Alpa Patel's report upsetting), should have applied to the Express article, but difficult in non-broadcast media.
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I don't think her not being "identifiable" makes it ok
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Showing the state this poor woman was in and her not being well enough to give informed consent is wrong.
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Permalink Reply by jp quethiock on
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I've just seen the Express article here and yes, the pictures are shocking. We can all question the ethics of the press but let us not forget that it is only a free press that can shine light on the secretive practices of the local state. If it hadn't been for the BBC news item what would have become of Barbara? The pictures are shocking but how Barbara was allowed while receiving "care" from the council to get this way is the more shocking. For Barbara, if she had awareness of her situation, these picture- her life- would have devastated her- not because they were shown but that she who prided herself on cleanliness could be left by the Council to live like this. This newspaper might not be your cup of tea but it was Barbara's. She liked reading human stories which came alive for her through photographs and would often be outraged by the lack of humanity in our society.
I note though from the Express article that Haringey state that they changed her locks to keep the home secure. They continue to peddle this fiction. Barbara's home was secure and neighbours would be able to keep it so if she was not there, for instance if she had to go into hospital. They held keys and could get things she needed and check on the home. Just as when I go on holiday a neighbour holds keys and will take all the junk mail out of the letterbox (always a sure sign to burglars that the home is empty) and generally keep the home safe. Haringey social workers cannot do this. The neighbours thoughtfully still pull the junk mail out of Barbara's letter box and oh, what was sticking out on Thursday? A note from the Whittington hospital podiatry service who had come to deal with Barbara's toenails: over a month since they had visited to assess and no-one from Haringey had told them she was no longer at home.
Barbara used to like reading the papers (red tops like the Express) but needs her glasses to do this. No-one from Haringey despite being told this even bothered to go to her home to find them for her. So Barbara now sits in the care home unable to read or see properly. Barbara has also asked for some of her photos of family and pets to be brought to her from home. No-one from Haringey has done this. Of course if neighbours had the keys they would know of things she wants and get these items for her - but her friends have been banished. Poor Barbara, just what kind of social service is it that Haringey social workers provide? Clearly not a personal or caring one. A bureaucracy cannot deal with the personal services good neighbours can provide.
Barbara always used to wear a hat indoors. She did not have one with her in the care home so a neighbour crocheted one for her. Various neighbours have seen Barbara in the care home and what could be more caring than bringing her the things she wants from her home when we visit? Haringey have blocked that by keeping close neighbours out of her home yet will not do the things Barbara needs to have a quality of life. Of course she is clean and fed in the care home but Haringey have stopped her from having the comforts that make life enjoyable. Picture yourself in Barbara's place with only the council to attend to your personal cares. Then imagine what life without a free press (and a forum like this) would be like with only an indifferent bureaucracy in charge of your life.
Maybe someone from Haringey Council will read this. If so, please get a social worker out of the office and into the community. Use your keys to get the things Barbara wants. We will phone the Whittington podiatry service for you on Monday so that's one task off your list.
That is the truly shocking thing. That the council failed to provide proper care for Barbara and now actively fail to work with her friends or do anything themselves to ensure her emotional well being. They need to return keys to her friends.
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