We can’t change the past but we can change the future
- Written by: Sue Lavery — The ALLIANCE — Involvement Network member
- Published: 29th March 2017
Sue, an unpaid carer and member of the ALLIANCE, tells us more about her recent experiences in our latest viewpoint.
On Tuesday 21 March 2017, twenty ALLIANCE involvement network members met with MSPs from the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee to discuss their experiences of the NHS in Scotland.
As an unpaid carer, it comforts both my mum and I to know that by discussing and alluding to aspects of Mum’s long term conditions and our shared experiences, the future can be a better one for other people.
In this vein, I braved the snowy weather and took part in an event hosted by the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee to hear the views of 20 of the ALLIANCE’s individual members who live with long term conditions and unpaid carers. MSPs from across different parties attended the session and asked us directly about our experiences of the NHS in Scotland, about what was good and what we would change. The session was held to support their ongoing inquiry into NHS Governance.
I greatly respect and appreciate the MSPs’ genuine attempts to hear the voices of those who have experienced both the great good of NHS Scotland but also the wrongs and try to improve things for others.
From my own experience, complaints about the health service are often not dealt with at an early enough point to be effective. I told committee members that I am concerned that our rights as people who use the health service on a regular basis are fewer in practice than we have as consumers in supermarkets. I think there should be an immediate hierarchy of people who will actually come to meet the individual/s at the bedside to simply seek timely resolution, trying to resolve the problem/s there and then. There is a massive bureaucratic delay of complaints when they do not even meet with the complainant and they can take weeks to respond. It makes you feel that the individual is an A4 bit of paper – not a person.
The Convenor of the Committee, Neil Findlay MSP, and Alison Johnstone MSP both picked up on these points in the Committee’s meeting later that morning.
Watching the Committee’s round up during the formal session, it’s evident that the MSPs have listened carefully about the issues and I thought that many good points were raised by fellow ALLIANCE members, concerns about medication management and record of administration (MAR sheet) and the very logical suggestion of coordinating different hospital appointments into the same day i.e. one visit.
It was well worth standing at a bus stop at 6am to get to Edinburgh even though it snowed…! I wish the Committee every success with its ongoing inquiry. We can’t change the past but we can change the future – thanks to our ALLIANCE.
End of page.
You may also like:
Isabella Goldie of Deafblind Scotland reflects on the value of partnership work.
Continue readingFind out more about the inaugural Power of Attorney Day taking place on 22 April 2026.
Continue readingDr Hannah Tweed reflects on 20 years of the Scottish Sensory Hub, the important work they do and why it matters.
Continue readingAs part of our 20 year anniversary, Kerry shares her reflections on how far the ALLIANCE has come, our achievements, and our impact.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on 20 years since Scotland moved to put children at the centre of policy.
Continue readingCancer care in Scotland is at a critical moment. Macmillan is calling for urgent action ahead of the parliamentary elections in May
Continue readingMhairi Campbell reflects on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) not being recognised as having a severe impact on life.
Continue readingLucy Mulvagh shares how she used the Centre for Public Policy Practice Fellowship to examine prevention and its barriers to implementation
Continue readingLaura from Perth and Kinross HSCP shares how we can celebrate World Social Work Day through the lens of 'What Matters To You?'.
Continue readingReflections on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education) Bill
Continue readingLouise Hall from Pain Association Scotland reflects on the event she delivered as part of Self Management Week 2025.
Continue readingAct Now for Autistic Rights calls for a transformative Bill for autistic and neurodiverse communities
Continue readingIn the next decade, the role of digital in health and social care must embed our digital human rights principles to reduce inequalities.
Continue readingRead some reflections from ALLIANCE colleagues, who had the opportunity to sponsor and attend Scotland's Annual Human Rights Conference.
Continue reading“Our Collective Voice” is a hopeful vision for the next five years, and I encourage ALLIANCE members to bring it into their own campaigns.
Continue readingBy standing together, we can help ensure that everyone in Scotland has access to the compassionate, high quality palliative care.
Continue readingALLIANCE Scottish Sensory Hub Manager Dr Hannah Tweed reflects on the launch of the BSL network for public bodies.
Continue readingSimone Janse van Rensburg reflects on the impact of their Women Living Well event which featured as part of Self Management Week 2025.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingWellbeing Scotland’s Chief Clinical Officer Ashleigh Ronald highlights why we must shift stigmatising narratives around child abuse.
Continue readingAs we mark twenty years of the ALLIANCE, Person Centred Voices continues to show the power of listening, kindness and connection.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.
Continue reading