Stories Archives

Nonnie challenges with local Mental health services (3:42)

Nonnie describes the challenges faced by mental health patients in North Walsham, emphasising the need to travel to cities like Norwich, Kings Lynn, or Great Yarmouth for support, which can exacerbate stress and complicate recovery.

They talk about a personal experience of ending up in Accident & Emergency in London due to a mental health crisis. They highlight the bureaucratic process, where fulfilling administrative tasks often takes precedence over patient care, describing how this system fails to provide continuous support.

There is also an account of an unsatisfactory experience at a rest hub that focused on task and administration overshadowing patient care.

Nonnie shares a positive experience at Birchwood Surgery in North Walsham, where a dedicated mental health service allows for face-to-face interactions and comprehensive care. This establishment provides a model for primary care where regular check-ups and personal engagement are prioritised.

Kings Lynn Wheelchair Rugby Team coverage with Kyle (4:11)

Kyle 'Speedy' Fraser Kings Lynn Wheelchair Rugby Match

The conversation revolves around Kyle enjoyment of wheelchair rugby, what he enjoys, so much that he saved up for his own specialised chair. Kings Lynn Wheelchair Rugby was started by an individual injured during military service and struggling to find adaptive sports in Norfolk during COVID lockdowns. They describe how the initiative grew from solo sessions to a diverse group of 25 participants. Participants, both disabled and able-bodied, engage in wheelchair rugby, emphasizing inclusivity and community. They share their experiences, highlighting the joy, challenge, and camaraderie of the sport, with a special emphasis on the thrill and excitement of playing and overcoming initial hesitations.

Experiences of care and support in Norfolk (5:33)

Holly talks about her experiences of care and support as someone with adhd and autism, and the impact that has had on her wellbeing and mental health. The feelings of isolation, related to not fully understanding herself. The impact of her neurodiversity in relation to not being able to work, and the further impact on her own mental health and wellbeing. Holly describes her experiences of the living well with autism course, what was really good about it, but also what was really bad about it. Including being taught ways to being more neurotypical! Her response – “I’ve been masking for 37 years I want to know how to not do this, [mask] not how to push me back in there”

The thing about libraries (1:49)

Andrew a longtime library employee explains how libraries are more than a traditional book-lending facility. They are vibrant community hubs offering various services from mental health support to migration assistance and warm drinks for those in need and ongoing programs like summer reading challenge for children.

James is deaf-blind. He talks about what it was like to have his assessment and review. (5:06)

“James is deafblind. He talks about what it was like to have his assessment and review.

At his most recent review, he was asked lots of detailed questions about the hours his Personal Assistants work and the tasks they do each day.
James felt these questions did not fit his situation. They made him feel stressed and frustrated.

He sent an email to explain his communication needs. This helped a bit, but more changes were still needed.

James says the questions felt unhelpful and made him feel talked down to.
He says it would be much better if the review started with a relaxed chat, having a cup of tea together, before any formal questions begin.
He believes this calmer, more human approach would reduce stress and make the review feel more respectful and useful.”

Living with Care: Pat’s Journey Outside Institutions (3:57)

Living with Care: Pat’s Journey Outside Institutions

David talks about why live‑in care has been so good for Pat. Having the same carers for a long time means they feel like part of the family, which is very different from the more impersonal feel of a care home. At home, Pat’s life still feels normal, and she can stay connected to the people who visit her — something that often gets lost in care homes.

David also describes visiting care homes and noticing how little staff often know about the amazing lives residents have lived.

He ends by celebrating Pat’s life: her success as a children’s author, the honorary degree she received from Bath University, and the sadness that her illness now prevents her from knowing how much her work still matters.

Wearing a Groove in Norwich – The Importance of Care Closer to Home (3:02)

Wearing a Groove in Norwich – The Importance of Care Closer to Home

David talks about what life has been like caring for Pat since she was diagnosed with a rare condition called PCA back in 2007. At the time, hardly anyone – including their GP – had heard of it, though it’s now recognised as a form of Alzheimer’s.

He explains how they moved to Norwich to make everyday life easier, with shops and services close enough for him to manage things more smoothly.

Over the years, people in the area got to know them as they worked through the ups and downs of Pat’s illness.

Carers poor pay and working conditions (2:32)

Carers poor pay and working conditions, as observed by Jac and Baz. Put people before profit

Jac and Baz highlight carers should be valued much more than they are. They note cares get poor pay, they are stretched and working conditions unfair. They give examples of staff not getting paid if an appointment is cancelled last minute and the travel difficulties staff have. Jac and Baz emphasise that carers should be valued much much more by the pay structure and how society views them.

Jac and Baz highlight that if carer were valued more through better pay, treated with respect and looked after more by the companies they work for they would be much happier and look forward to going to work. Baz notes that companies put too much value on profit and should think more about eh people they are looking after.

Everyone deserves to be understood (trigger warning – suicide) (7:52)

Everyone deserves to be understood (trigger warning – suicide)

Jack shares the story of a friend who didnt recieve the support they needed. How those working in the system should reframe to what they can do to support people could make such a huge difference.

Jack describes it as feeeling like those working in care do the bare minimum because that is all they feel they can give.

“Everyone deserves to be understood, everyone deserves to be validated in some shape or form, and everyone deserves the time and the respect to be able to approach things, or have conversations about things or express things in ways that are natural to them, but I don’t think thats the way our support systems run” Jack highlights the lack of awareness about what effective support looks like from the system perspective.

Continuing Health Care (CHC) Annual Assessment (10:16)

Continuing Health Care (CHC) Annual Assessment

David describes the process of the Continuing Health Care reassessment to evidence that Pats progressive condition had changed so she was no longer eligible for Continuing Health Care funding.

In the first example the assessor introduced herself and announced she was there to save the NHS money! In the second example David likens the experience of proving Pat no longer had any ‘medical needs’ to the Monty Python sketch –

What Have The Romans Done For Us. Neither of the reassessments were upheld, and Pat continued to receive the quality care that she needed.