Here is a brief update to the SW London carers group facilitated by Matthew McKenzie and Ava.
Matthew discussed the importance of engaging with Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for carers, emphasizing its role in providing support, advice, and information to patients and their families. The group also shared their experiences with PALS and other healthcare services, highlighting the need for transparency, accountability, and effective complaint resolution. Plans were made for upcoming meetings, including a speaker on PALS and discussions on expanding membership and increasing attendance.
Welcome to a brief update of my ethnic mental health carers forum for January 2025.
Quick recap
The meeting focused on discussing the Patient Care Race Quality Framework (PCREF) and sharing experiences and ideas among participants. The importance of incorporating equity and inclusion into organizational operations, particularly in relation to patient care, was emphasized, along with the need for better community engagement and the importance of making Personalised Care Framework more meaningful and reflective of people’s lived experiences. The meeting also highlighted the importance of education in addressing and understanding bias in mental health care, and the need for culturally competent care.
Here is a health and wellbeing blog by carer champion Matthew McKenzie. On this blog post, we can explore the significance of Health Information Week in providing reliable health information, empowering individuals to make informed decisions, and combating health misinformation online.
Learn how this annual campaign promotes health literacy and supports patients and carers in navigating complex health systems.
Welcome back to a brief update of the National Triangle of Care Commnity Group. A meeting organised by myself as a carer of lived experience to give a chance for mental health carers to find out developments on Triangle of Care. The online group is attended by unpaid mental health carers, Carers Trust triangle of Care leads and NHS carer representatives and mental health staff.
Agenda of Meeting
The meeting focused on discussing the Triangle of Care program, gathering feedback from carers, and addressing challenges in mental health care. Attendees shared experiences and insights on carer involvement, communication issues, and the need for improved support systems. Key topics included progress updates on the Triangle of Care implementation, the importance of carer perspectives in healthcare decision-making, and strategies to enhance carer engagement and representation across diverse groups.
In this latest blog by Matthew McKenzie, writes on how to counter the rise of hate speech, xenophobia, and discrimination inspired by Trump’s rhetoric. Here in the video and blog post, people can discover basic legal, educational, and community-based approaches to protect human rights and promote inclusivity.
The video has a more indepth lecture, but parts of the video had to be cut since it went on too long. The video also has an index so people can skip to specific parts.
Are you passionate about making healthcare more accessible? We’re inviting patients with physical or sensory disabilities, impairments, and carers to share their experiences and help shape improvements to our outpatient services.
Take part in a two-hour walkaround and meeting at University Hospital Lewisham (Tuesday, 28 January at 10am) or Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Wednesday, 5 February at 2pm). Your insights will directly influence changes to ensure our services are inclusive and accessible for everyone.
Why Unpaid Carers Should Connect with Other Carers
Unpaid carers play an essential role in society, often providing support to loved ones with long-term illnesses, both physical and mental. However, the journey of caregiving can be challenging and isolating, making it crucial for carers to connect with others in similar roles. Establishing these connections can provide numerous benefits, including emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community. In this blog by Matthew McKenzie, we will explore the reasons why unpaid carers should connect with other carers, structured around several key areas: emotional support, reducing isolation, accessing resources, practical advice, and mutual support for self-care.
If you want to watch the 20 minute in depth lecture, the click the video below.
Are you passionate about building stronger, healthier communities? Oxleas NHS Trust is hosting an incredible event, the “Trusted Leaders Project,” designed to bring people together, enhance communication pathways, and foster meaningful information exchange across diverse communities.
This event is an excellent opportunity for individuals, community leaders, and organizations to:
Learn about Oxleas NHS Trust’s ongoing efforts to engage and support local communities.
Share valuable insights and experiences to help shape future initiatives.
Network with like-minded individuals who are committed to creating positive change.
By attending, you’ll not only strengthen your connection to local services but also contribute to building a more informed and empowered community.
Whether you’re a carer looking after someone using Oxleas services, community leader, healthcare advocate, or simply someone who cares about making a difference, this event is not to be missed!
👉 Mark your calendars and join us on 22nd January 2025! Together, let’s build stronger connections and a brighter future.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Oxleas NHS trust – Reshma Jerin at reshma.jerin@nhs.net or click on the poster for details.
Let’s make a difference – one conversation at a time. See you there!
Welcome to another blog post from Matthew McKenzie (who runs the London Cancer carer group) advocating for cervical cancer awareness, prevention, and support in 2025. In this blog you can learn about screenings, HPV vaccinations, and the crucial role of caregivers in the fight against cervical cancer.
To watch the 3 minute Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2025 video, please click below.
Hello everyone, I’m Matthew McKenzie, and in this blog I want to raise awareness about the various forms of discrimination and bias that unpaid carers, especially those looking after individuals suffering from mental illness or cancer, might encounter. Moreover, I am deeply involved in addressing racism and discrimination, sharing my firsthand knowledge of these issues, particularly in the mental health system.
In this article, we’ll dive into some of the crucial terminology that are essential for anyone working within healthcare settings, caring for people from minority groups, or even interacting as patients themselves.
In this blog, I’ll focus primarily on the acute settings within general hospitals. Most of these terms and definitions, however, are broadly applicable across the entire mental health system. We will go over around 12 to 13 key terms, highlighting their relevance and providing examples to illustrate how they manifest in healthcare contexts.
You can also watch the video lecture off my YouTube Channel.
Discrimination
Discrimination in healthcare involves treating individuals unfairly based on their race, ethnicity, or other characteristics. This unfair treatment leads to poor health outcomes for those affected.
A Caring Mind 