Kindness is the Secret
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 16th February 2021
As its Random Act of Kindness Day we are sharing a lovely poem from Gillian McAuley.
Carer Voices has been proud to share a platform on many occasions with Gillian McAuley, Nurse Director at NHS Lothian. Gillian has been a great partner in the pursuit of kindness in caring, having launched the Kindness Is the Secret programme for creating a person-centred culture within healthcare.
This programme is designed to support clinical and non-clinical staff to develop a person centred culture for patients and staff within their clinical or work place environment. Moving away from professionals deciding what is best, to patients being experts in their care. Empowering teams to change the system they work in and support a positive staff and patient experience.
Our National Lead Tommy Whitelaw is a sponsor of the programme and has worked closely with Gillian in spreading the programme’s aims. For Random Act of Kindness day Gillian shares a poetic reflection on what kindness means to her.
Kindness is a smile
Kindness is being clear
Kindness is acknowledgement
Kindness is self-awareness
Kindness is kinship
Kindness is a value
Kindness is a practice
Kindness is human need
Kindness is asking what matters
Kindness is connectedness
Kindness is the glue of the NHS
Kindness is the secret!
Gillian McAuley, February 2021
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