I don’t get to say this often enough, so I’m going to shout it out loud. Just a wonderful truly humanising experience these last 24 hours with my surgery. I felt seen & looked out for. An amazing impact on patient wellbeing. The diff was a listening specialist who set the tone

Heard from my surgeon today, who gave me a wonderful amount of safe space to tell him how I was feeling in recovery. The impact of empathy is so crucial in patient interaction. Vigilance lessens & feeling supported means I don’t have to worry about self advocacy. Game changer.

To be clear, that space isn’t “amount of time he spent with me” - it’s room for me to be part of the conversation. How he phrased things, or involved me in his considerations. Acknowledging wider picture. It’s rare. Very grateful for it.

I don’t think non-disabled people realize that medical providers don’t truly manage your healthcare for you… the best you can hope for is that they clearly tell you how to manage it yourself. For many patients, managing their health is a full time, unpaid job.

Friends who want an update on things and why we had to cancel the upcoming #longcovid hui - I did a wee health update here. facebook.com/share/v/g4wBho…

Last night #moongaze #moonhaze #moonhalo

🚨 FUNDRAISING HELP NEEDED 🚨 Kia ora everyone! Our funding has hit a wall, jeopardizing our ability to support those with Long Covid. We need $10-15k to keep the lights on—please consider donating or sharing our cause. Every bit helps! #longcovid givealittle.co.nz/cause/long-cov…

A worthwhile listen discussing the very real issues men are facing today as society and roles change. Well timed for me, as we face many of these issues in my home town right now. Our young men are in crisis. open.spotify.com/episode/6VMAby…

Interesting macro discussion about American capitalism and the way forward. Thought provoking open.spotify.com/episode/7lBEeq…

My blog about the tendency to use the term ‘self-reported’ to dismiss and discredit. #LongCovid nisreenalwan.wordpress.com/2024/07/18/let…

Health NZ was running a surplus when Labour left office. While Shane Reti is right in saying the lack of performance monitoring obscured his view of the state of the books, he was ultimately the minister responsible when the department went into deficit. newsroom.co.nz/2024/07/23/the…

Frontline doctor here. Whatever issues Te Whatu Ora has, this government is making nearly everything worse in every conceivable way & it’s already hurting patients and staff.

This is a pretty impressive piece of work nzherald . Launched on FB and they even took time to monitor comments, fact check and redirect misinformation. Refreshing change. nzherald.co.nz/nz/whenua-inte…

Wild Wild West.

I watched The Lie on Netflix. I found it deeply upsetting. The lengths her killer went to in such cold calculating ways unnerved me. I tell my daughters to meet in public first, but that won’t save them from men like this. Luck of the draw. It’s not “be careful” but “be lucky” 😱