www.stdavidsdiocese.org.uk Gorffennaf/July 2011 Insulting, dispassionate, inappropriate Jack Evershed, a past chairman of the Community Health Councils of Wales, takes a long, hard look at the care of elderly and vulnerable people in our society, and says it is in all our interests to act now HE report entitled ‘Dignified Care’, by Ruth Marks, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, on the Ttreatment of elderly people in care is damning of our society. This is not only because of the content, but also the fact that, to those involved in monitoring these services, it is not surprising. Many people now need- elderly patient receiving care in an ing care have contributed to the NHS hospital as bedblocking. This NHS from its foundation, on the demonstrates an “institutional“ atti- understanding that there would be tude that the older generation are a state-provided care from cradle to problem - people are living longer, grave. The arcane, and what should often with chronic conditions, and be merely semantic, differentia- the welfare state was not set up tion between social and health care to cope with such a population is only of interest to managers of profile. For managers the elderly budgets. Patients and their fami- are an expensive, problematic lies want, and should expect, high clientele. The NHS management quality care regardless of provider. argument is that the care provided (There is another debate here about in a hospital bed for many elderly how this totality of care should be people is inappropriate but where funded but the overriding moral this is all that is available society position is that excellent care should demand that such care be should be available to all without made appropriate. Recent, high let or hindrance.) How insulting and dispassionate it is to term an continued on page 2 Celebrating New Disciples A few of the 100 candidates confirmed so far this year in the Diocese Left: University Chapel, University of Wales, Trinity St David, Lampeter campus, on 9th May Right: at St Michael’s, Aberystwyth, on 5th June Focus on Lay Ministry – Page 4 Am ddim Free 2 Pobl Dewi, July 2011 Spring Discussion Evening Two bishops with the Bishop and a conference Bishop Wyn, having extended an invitation to all members of all churches across to the Dennis Wight looks ahead to October’s Diocesan Conference diocese to his Deanery discussion evenings, arrived at St Anne’s, Panparcau, on 12th April. Tessa Briggs reports HE Bishop of St Davids, Rt TRevd Wyn Evans, will be HE turnout for the Llanba- welcoming another bishop to our Tdarn Fawr Deanery meeting Diocesan Conference in Octo- was excellent, with more than 100 ber. Bishop Michael Doe, who is packed into the church hall. presently the General Secretary On arrival, after a brief intro- of the USPG: Anglicans in World duction from the Archdeacon of Mission (and to retire shortly), will Cardigan, Ven Dr Will Strange, be relating how the Five Marks of and a preparatory talk from Bishop Mission are being used as a mirror Wyn, we were asked to get together for mission internationally. in small ‘round table’ discussion Bishop Wyn said “It is always groups to consider the following: a good idea to look outwards when 1. What do you think the church we are looking at our own strate- some fruit of the Mission of God in is for; what purpose does it gies for mission. I am delighted the world.” have? that Bishop Michael has agreed to At the same conference we 2. How would you describe the be with us in order that we may see hope to have some input and reflec- church in this particular part tions from some of our ordinands. of the vineyard as it is and as It will be good to be encouraged you would like it to be and to by their number and their presence see it? with us. We shall see what we are 3. What would help you to shape getting and they will see what they your parish, group or deanery addressing some of their problems. One of the most interest- are letting themselves in for! so that that came about; i.e. So, after an excellent buffet ing responses came from another After a very successful series what would help your parish/ supper, we re-convened for the group: ‘Now that we’ve done all of meetings and visits during Lent group/benefice/deanery to be plenary session. Interestingly, most this work this evening, what will around the diocese our Bishop will and become that church? And groups answered in much the same happen next?’ We were assured reflect on the many comments on involved in this is the further way to question 1 (to worship God, that this was not the end of it and the questions he raised. He was question: What is block- to bear witness, to proclaim the that, in all probability, there will very encouraged by the turnout ing or preventing that from faith) but the responses to questions be another, follow-up meeting in and the energy there is, which all happening? 2 and 3 varied quite a bit. Opin- a few months’ time, to discuss agreed needed to be focussed in Our time was quite limited but, ions, even within our small group the next step, once the Bishop has the direction of discipleship and once we got going there was plenty of about 8, had differed widely considered all the responses. mission. to discuss and there was a buzz in on some issues, particularly with The meeting closed with a the room as people got into their regard to Lay-led and Clergy-led short time of worship based on stride. parishes – some have been without the five marks of mission. In all Members of our group all a vicar for a considerable time, and about 1,000 people from around brought their individual views and have found new, and interesting, the diocese attended this series of opinions to bear, and it was interest- ways of addressing the question of discussion evenings. ing to hear how other parishes are how and when to provide services. continued from page 1 different reality on, for example, a she receives actually deliver better these changes. There must be such why should anything be done in ward may well not be picked up by care. This will be evidenced by the widespread demand that the huge future when we will be the inno- the monitoring process. experiences of patients and their problems of finance and dispa- cent victims of a broken system? There are countless examples families, not by excellent docu- rate interests no longer prevent a So there are compelling reasons, of fantastic care across the coun- mentation in a filing cabinet, and I resolution of long-standing prob- both altruistic and selfish, that we try – this is due to excellent “local” hope she finds a fair way of getting lems. If we who are middle-aged demand action now. management. A strong ward mana- to the real proof. (and younger) do nothing now, ger will ensure all patients are The public outrage at evidence offered the opportunity to eat as of unsatisfactory, to deplorable, they wish, and that food remains care for vulnerable people must not hot and palatable on the ward while be wasted. Care services appear to Children’s work pioneer retires the limited number of staff have suffer from inertia at the highest time to help all those who need it. level. (Ask Andrew Lansley – you This is often in the face of restricted may not agree with the direction he Ruth Marks staff numbers, “protected meal- wishes to turn the NHS Oil Tanker, times” and other demands, which but we can all see the mass of profile, revelations have shown may involve standing up to the vested interests that do not wish a that the standards of care deliv- catering management who will be change of course.) Senior manage- ered to vulnerable patients can be facing efficiency pressures of their ment, however sympathetic, seem flawed right across the system. own. In another hospital, under the unable to see things outside certain I do not maintain that manag- same management, there may be parameters. This is what I meant ers are not caring but they are instances of poor nutrition despite by “institutionalised” earlier; the perhaps “institutionalised” and the same policies and procedures. overwhelming and disparate pres- working in a system that militates So, even within one Local Health sures of politics, safety, Royal against excellence. All institutions Board (LHB) there can be differ- Colleges, unions, pressure groups will have policies and procedures ences of standards. and, of course, finance, to name a that should ensure excellent care, The profile of care for all few, seem to constrain the imagina- and at Board level these are taken vulnerable people has never been tion of management. in good faith as evidence that all higher, and I congratulate Ruth It is up to all of us to demand is well. Inspections, in the quest Marks for her part in that. I hope that care services are of a standard After 15 years of helping churches nurture their youngest for consistency and fairness, look she receives satisfactory replies that patients expect and frontline members, Revd Kay Warrington has retired as convener of at objective evidence and try to from the LHBs and finally gets a staff aspire to deliver. No longer the Church in Wales’ children’s network. Thanking her for her minimise subjective judgements.