Have your say on the future of health and social care in Wales
‘DON’T SIT AT HOME COMPLAINING ABOUT HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE - YOU HAVE A CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE AND NO CONTRIBUTION IS TOO SMALL’
A new, independent body has launched in Wales to offer every person and every community the opportunity to help influence and improve health and social care for everyone.
Llais replaces the positive work of Wales’ seven Community Health Councils and aims to engage with everybody living in Wales.
Volunteers will play a significant part in the success of Llais, by listening to other people’s views and feeding back to Llais, which operates locally, regionally and nationally across Cardiff & The Vale of Glamorgan, Cwm Taf Morgannwg, Gwent, West Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea, North Wales and Powys.
Volunteering will appeal to different people in different ways and no matter how much or how little time you have available, Llais is keen to hear from Wales’ diverse communities. It has never been more important to get involved.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Bamidele Adenipekun from Swansea had very personal reasons for becoming an executive board member for Llais last summer, in the organisation’s development stage.
She has valuable experience of health care in Wales, as both a breast cancer patient and a carer for her mum and sister, who both tragically passed away at the age of 46.
Mum of one, Bami, is now 46 herself and remembers her mother’s three-year journey with breast cancer in 1993 and losing her sister to the same disease in 2017, six years after diagnosis.
The author, academic researcher and wellbeing consultant said: “Breast cancer has been part of my life for 33 years through my mum and my sister and I’m a patient too.”
CHALLENGING TIME
Despite taking the significant decision to have a preventative double mastectomy in 2014, two years after pre-cancer cells were found in her breasts, Bami was stunned to discover, at a post-op appointment, that she already had early-stage breast cancer.
She opted for hormone therapy to lower her oestrogen levels rather than chemotherapy to prevent her cancer from growing and chose a full hysterectomy and surgery to remove her ovaries.
She added: “Thankfully, the majority of us won’t need health or social care continuously during our lives, but when we do need it - from the cradle to the grave - we are encountering the experience at times when we are vulnerable.”
Bami is still being treated with exemestane and said: “Success and accolades don’t matter when we step into hospital as a patient.”
“It is a challenging time, which is why Llais is all about affording dignity to each and every person in Wales, regardless of status or estate. These things don’t matter when it comes to equity in health and social care.”
“When you’re connected with the health care system, you see the good, the bad and the ugly. And that is the same for social care.”
SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS
Bami is now nine years cancer-free and is keen to encourage anyone with any experience of health or social care in Wales to volunteer and share their insights.
She said: “Even if you only have a few hours available, there are plenty of flexible opportunities available for changemakers to become involved.”
“Don’t sit at home complaining about health and social care. We will be going out to people, meeting people wherever they are, wherever is easiest for them, no matter how remote, and we will be listening to their views.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re
17 or 40, have a family or live alone – this affects you. You have a contribution to make and no contribution is too small. Nobody can make big changes alone – this new body is for every citizen in Wales to have a sense of belonging.”
A TRULY REPRESENTATIVE CITIZEN VOICE
Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services, also urged people in Wales to ensure their opinions are represented.
She said: “Llais will strengthen people’s voice and representation, giving them a say in, and helping them to shape their health and social care services.”
“Llais will help build greater connections between health and social care services, individuals and communities,
promoting a truly representative citizen voice for all people, of all ages, wherever they live in Wales.”
Bami insisted that collaboration is key to the success of Llais: “Ultimately, we all have a common goal: for everyone in Wales to be well-supported and to live well. The Future Generations Commissioner has set out this ambition and we are not just passive participants.”
“Barriers to access need to be removed and health and social care in Wales is in our hands, no matter our social economic status.”
“Your voice matters.
We are not envisaging this as a short journey - this will be a marathon and will take time, but this is our commitment. This is a new dawn for Wales and every voice is welcome. Llais is a rare organisation that is there for everyone.”
FIND OUT MORE?
Have your say on the future of health and social care in Wales. For further information or to get involved, go to www.llaiswales.org