Winter 2021 newsletter

Season's Greetings, Patient and Carer Group,

It is so lovely to have a conversation, so be it via the newsletter. I can only hope that whatever the last year has brought, good and not so good, that we are still enthusiastic about our goal - the education of future Health Care professionals.

The University of Leicester has continued to function, so be it within a complex set of circumstances. New degrees and research initiatives have been designed and submitted. Providing further opportunities for our group to ‘get involved’.

In this newsletter, we take the important opportunity to offer our condolences to Chris Gamble, Brooke and Drew, following the death of the most talented and adored member of our group, Carol Gamble. Our heartfelt thanks for Carol’s contribution to the students and to our members, as a friend and ally.

As patient carers, we share life experiences, that contribute to the collective insight we share with our students. Including sharing that nervous feeling when facing a group of students for the first time. As a society we are facing up to the ‘worldwide’ collective challenge of climate change. The University of Leicester is responding to the impact of climate change by addressing Goal 13: Climate Action, ‘ensuring we help to preserve our world for generations to come’. A goal that will bring people together on a ‘macro’ level .

As with the Patient and Carer group, and in particular with respect to the late Carol Gamble, it is the power of the individual within the collective that makes a difference. In this newsletter we highlight the contributions of Richard Holland, Dean of the Medical School, the late Carol Gamble and other important contributions. All remarkable in their own way.

As the festive season approaches, it can provide a glowing exciting interlude during the winter months. However, I am aware that for some of us, the Christmas period can be a very fraught time. Young adults in particular can be overwhelmed with the changes to their environment and the general excitement. We may feel consumed with sadness. With this in mind, the marketing team sends our very Best Wishes for the Best the festive season can offer to our Patient Carer group.

Best wishes

Rachelle, The Marketing team

• Remembering Carol with affection and pride
• The introductory article uncovers the extraordinary and impressive ‘backstory ‘ of Prof Richard Holland tracking a career from East Anglia to Australia - and back to Leicester.
• Nadine Beasley is usually seen from the back. That’s because “she is always on a mission”. Nay’s journey to becoming a Patient Carer consolidates illness, tragedy and circumstances to where she is today - a successful mum and career woman educating and supporting the medical students of the future.
• Annabelle Bannister relates her journey with The Patient Carers group from 2016 to current times . Turning adversity into challenge and solutions - “making use of my own difficulties and experiences in relation to mental health”.
• Amber’s PHD update reveals that in all aspects of health and social care education, there is no theory to help us understand what it really means to involve patients and carers as teachers. Amber aims to give ‘our’ voices centre stage so as to see what works, and what changes need to be made.