Inverse Care Law ... at Social Care's Door

Since 2015 I've had four 'conversations' with the doctors at A&E upon mum's attendance and subsequent admission on a couple of occasions. Initially, I was surprised if not shocked by the speed with which the 'conversation' followed on treatment, the extent of this and the question of resus. The further interactions were still emotionally jarring, even when expected and telegraphed. I also understand: to an extent. Repeated chest infection or urine infection had resulted in confusion, delirium that varied. on one occasion, at the nursing home there was also suddenly talk of a diagnosis of dementia, which prompted social services to wonder, like family and staff, where exactly this diagnosis had come from and investigate. (Another post?)

Mum has been very poorly, most recently in November. What surprised and shocked was the 'conversation' at the end of the bed when I knew mum - with mental capacity at that time was most likely listening. The primacy of person-centredness seemed to be by-passed. I suggested the doctor ask mum since once hydrated she would be fine. There has been a sense of a script being followed with some pressure - urgency behind it, if not a 'prescription'. I empathised with the doctors, often FY1 FY2; such matters are never easy. Now amid COVID-19 there is alarm as social care are challenged with taking on a new role, for which they are ill-equipped. 

In health care you are always conscious of the inverse care law, it seems there is another care law in operation that gives cause to worry for those who cannot advocate for themselves or have no independent advocate. Perhaps there is another inverse law that runs concurrently concerning ethics. Triage, is real. Objectively, as a nurse you think "Am I being selfish?". But, as eldest son - absolutely not. These conversations, and the future aside, the doctors and team as a whole have worked (absolute) wonders for which mum and the family will always be grateful.

Be Well, Be Safe All.

 

individual

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INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES

humanistic ----------------------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL

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group - population

"There should be no wrong door and every  service should reverse the ...	... Inverse Care Law, which simply states those people in need of health and social care the most  get them the least."
https://www.smithsltd.co.uk/doors/composite	By MrPanyGoff - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19702555

A comment at The King’s Fund, by Lord Victor Adebowale.

Partnership Working, Time to Talk, Drink and Drugs News, October 2018, pp.10-11
https://drinkanddrugsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DDN-October-2018.pdf

If anyone has a photo of a red door at a care or nursing home that I can display above please let me know.