I’m aware that there’s a situation in my life that could do with a bit of amendment.

I suppose you could call it my status?

When people come by to have a drink/ coffee/ cuppa, I’m aware that they can ‘ classify ‘ the experience as having ‘ visited ‘ me, rather than called in to have the aforementioned liquid refreshment with a friend.

Is this how it’s always gonna be, I wonder? If they drop in to see other people, do they class that as ‘ visiting ‘, or as something else?

When I was in hospital, for sure i had an awful lot of amazing people ‘ visit ‘ me, but years later, and in my own home, where I provide razor sharp wit and my slightly unorthodox take on the world, are people still ‘ visiting ‘ me?

What if i meet them away from my property? In a cafe, at the river, or at a gig venue? Are they still ‘ visiting ‘?  I think that some do think that way, actually, even though I might meet em there, and provide the tickets…?

Anyway, I’m far from ungrateful for my lovely mates, whether they visit, or meet up with a friend ( me ) but it isn’t a one way relationship anymore, as my situation has changed so much.

When Wendy comes, she comes to spend her time with her boyfriend, have a laugh, smile an awful lot, and get her rocks off.

But that’s only her, admittedly…

Great to see, in no particular order, my new neighbours, Pia, Catherine that I worked with, Marky P, my Mum and Dad, Lar, Vitaly and Victoria, Wendy obviously, Pia, my dermatologist for yet another biopsy ( face this time ) and  Jessica and Raquel.

Good to work out my girlfriend’s contact lens prescription ( seems like an age since I’ve done much optical ) and give a little reassuring advice to a friend on disturbing visual migraines. Can’t say I miss work much any more- that seems like a lifetime ago.

Got a new Triride tyre – mine was f’d after only 5000 Miles ??! Thanks to the guys in the London Bicycle Workshop for fitting it for me. I now have grip up slopes!

Went for my first ever drink of alcohol by myself the other night – on the river whilst out exploring my new vicinity. I don’t think one glass of wine on your own makes me a Billy no Mates? I did chat to Chris M on the phone whilst there, and the people sat next to me, so not exactly the start of a slippery slope!

Feel a little tired today after a few drinks with my neighbours Plus Wendy, and hardly any sleep afterwards… well that s thé trouble with new relationships, you don’t actually get that much sleep, do you. Never mind. I don’t care at all about sleep – I’ll always get what I need once I’m tired enough, and just crash.

B&Q is my new favourite place- soooo many useful things for a new home, that can be used strategically to make life easier.

At last I seem to have a competent Carer, though of course I can never really tell until a few days have passed. Wendy has been giving me a help with stuff, which has lightened the Carer’s already light load, but hey.

Ive had to struggle to get the entrance door to my building to be adapted so that I can actually get it – a fairly essential thing, right?

When you report this stuff, the most striking thing is how slowly things happen. Look, I can’t actually get in FFS, so it’s not something that you can leave for a week and eventually get around to it. It’s bloody urgent, as guess what? Yes, getting in and out is a  blimmin basic requirement!

I use the ‘ reasonable adjustments ‘ clause quite a lot, to hurry them up, and do a lot of looking the person in the eye and speaking firmly… giving them absolutely NO doubt as to what it is that is required.

That seems to work fairly well…

Outside cinema this week in Kensington Palace, a band in Barnes, and mates to see, as well as cracking on with various home improvements to make life easier and more ordered.

Whilst I’m not OCD… i do have strong opinions on how my own property is ordered… and I think that’s my right.

Right?

Email to PROMEDICA.

Tina,

For the absolute avoidance of all doubt, the Hashimoto Syndrome detail WAS NOT a joke. She actually had that, and it’s not a transistory condition.

There is NO WAY that an agency with ANY staff verification processes would allow this.

Promedica24 are on a very sticky wicket.

I am woman is out of my flat, and my life, for ever.

What a complete disaster of a placement as a ‘ carer’.

This isn’t over yet, for sure. I’m not paying the invoice for her ‘ services’ given how disastrous she was.

Promedica24… I wonder what the Pro bit stands for?

Promise the Earth and fail to deliver?

My ability to make light of my situation has reached breaking point. The woman that they gave me has Hashimoto’s syndrome.

The symptoms include extreme sluggishness, tiredness for no reason, and memory lapses.

Can you imagine a less suitable person to be with me as my Carer? Those 3 and poor English?!

How can PROMEDICA24 let her get through their filter? That’s easy – they don’t have any filters.  They obviously take on anyone at all. All those Polish people we all see being capable, the cleaners, the builders, the drivers, the unemployed doctors that work as labourers,  and I get someone with a thyroid condition that renders her useless, and then forgetting that she was useless several minutes later…..

My mental health ( my ability to not have Dark – suicidal- thoughts ) has reached breaking point. Today I’m in that zone. It’s taken her 3 hours to get me out of bed ( her lack of speed, and definitely not mine )  Yesterday my girlfriend did what I need doing in half an hour – and she isn’t a Carer.

I have called PROMEDICA24 repeatedly and emailed them many times. It’s only 5 days since she started, and I must have sent a dozen emails of complaint. It seems that often the people in charge have low IQ, so just can’t see it in their staff.

This woman HAS to get out of here, and fast. I can see myself killed her at this rate, Hashimoto’s or not.

Christ, she’s just asked me ( again ) if my legs are cold? Spot thé stupid and incredibly insensitive question?

Dear Sirs,

As someone who has spent time in a care-based role I felt that it is important to give you some important feedback regarding one of your Carers (Bog.) that is meant to be caring for Russell Dawkins.

Unfortunately, she shows a complete lack of competence and empathy as well as an inability to perform the basic necessities required in a role as a Carer.

Russell and I were both really looking forward to her arrival and getting a new Carer settled in. By the end of the first day Russell was feeling that she was incompetent and things weren’t going to work out but we decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.  We discussed the situation and decided that I would take the following day off work as we felt that it may be beneficial to her if she has someone to show her how to do things and walk her through all the processes.  Unfortunately, this has proven to be a complete waste of a day off for me as it has made no difference.

Bog. appears to have no common sense and an inability to follow basic instructions – when we were trying to demonstrate how to do a transfer and Russell asked her to watch she started walking off!  She has an inability to remember the simplest things and Russell is having to repeat himself constantly.  I showed her how to wash Russell, move him and where basic items such as the night bags are – last night she asked Russell where they are.  I asked her to never wake Russell up in the morning as he sometimes has trouble sleeping, but this morning she knocked at his door and woke him up.  She even struggled with a basic task on her first day – putting a sock on Russell’s foot..

She repeatedly asks if he can feel his legs – Russell is paralysed so no he can’t.  This sort of conversation from a carer shows a total lack of understanding and empathy and suggests that they are not suited to their role.

When I am staying over she does very little – yesterday she woke up at almost 12 noon and then ate a breakfast of baked oats that I had prepared.  I washed Russell – she had very little to do.  She complains that it is a long day but Russell is very self-sufficient and independent in all areas he possibly can be.  If she is in poor health or that easily tired she is not suitable for the job.

Your agency have a Duty of Care to provide someone who is suitable to do a job – she is clearly not suitable.  You are charging for a service that you are not providing and Bog. is bordering on being a risk to Russell rather than a Carer.  She clearly does not understand the basics of looking after someone like Russell and has to continuously be told to keep her phone on her in case he needs her (her hearing when she is called for doesn’t seem too great!).

Please can you take steps to rectify this situation immediately – I don’t see how you can justify charging your full rate for someone who is obviously under-skilled and incompetent.  As a care-provider you should be aware of how vulnerable your customers are and how reliant they are on the care that you provide.  In this instance it is sub-standard and bordering on dangerous – a thoroughly unacceptable situation.  I am going to wrap up this email here as I now have to drive from Abingdon (Oxford) to London to assist Russell as the person who is being paid to is incapable of doing her job.

I look forward to receiving your response outlining the steps that the Agency are taking to sort this unacceptable situation out.

Yours faithfully,

Wendy *******

M****,

Référence her claimed skill ( organisation ), I’d say that you don’t just accept a candidate’s word for everything, and seek proof.

Just a thought,

Russ Dawkins

( former 100 mètres world record holder, and 11th man on the Moon )

Sent from my iPhone 9.6 prototype.

On 27 Jul 2018, at 17:53, Russell Dawkins wrote:

I’d say that that is an error.

It’s standard procedure in other agencies.

Maybe rethink your policy.

Russ

Sent from my iPhone 9.6 prototype.

On 27 Jul 2018, at 16:13, M*** wrote:

Hi Russell

Unfortunately we do not do FaceTime or Skype calls with potential care workers, so you will not be able to speak to them prior to their arrival.

Kind regards M

Wysłano z telefonu Samsung

M***
Care Manager

Promedica24
Cassiobury House,
11-19 Station Road,
Watford
WD17 1AP

tel.

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For information on Promedica24’s policy on mail protection and confidentiality,click here

——– Original message ——–

From: Russell Dawkins

Date: 27/07/2018 13:33 (GMT+00:00)

To: M

Cc: T

Subject: Re: Promedica24/Arriving carer/25th July/R.D

She is very disorganised and doesn’t remember many things I say she needs to do.

I can’t imagine her in an administration job – she’d be totally unsuitable.

She walked into it – twice!

Extraordinary.

I did tell you that in the first ten months I could tell. I’d suggest you let me talk to the next potential candidates on FaceTime before they just turn up?

I’ve employed hundreds of people in my career, probably far my than you.

I CAN tell if they are not going to work.

Russ

Sent from my iPhone 9.6 prototype.

On 27 Jul 2018, at 12:52, M wrote:

Hi Russell

Thank you for your email, I have checked her file and she has had experience of looking after a person with paralysis and states her strengths as being organised. I am not sure where walking into the glass door has come from or being forgetful and miss placing things. The Polish team are contacting B*** now to find out what happened with walking into the glass door as an incident report needs to be raised.

Hi Russell

Thank you for your email, I have checked her file and she has had experience of looking after a person with paralysis and states her strengths as being organised. I am not sure where walking into the glass door has come from or being forgetful and miss placing things. The Polish team are contacting Bog**** now to find out what happened with walking into the glass door as an incident report needs to be raised.

( GOOD GRIEF )

I have asked the team to look for another care worker for you, the change over will be ideally next week – however I am away on annual leave next week so another of my colleagues will be there to do the introduction.

Please can I ask that all emails are directed to me and not to Magdalena as she cannot action any points or concerns raised, also I need line of sight on what is happening.

As soon as we have a profile I will forward to you

Kind regards

M**** ****

Care Manager