As we hear so much about the pressure our healthcare system is under, the wasting of valuable resources must surely be something we’re striving to avoid. However, in recent weeks, within my own immediate circle of friends, neighbours and family, I have come across three separate situations where one of the most valuable resources of all – the family or friendship carer of a person with dementia – has been ignored, sidelined or excluded, each time to the clear detriment of the patient and ultimately to the detriment of the service involved.
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Unpaid carers of people with dementia are too valuable a resource to waste. I am grateful to Butterfly Scheme hospitals and healthcare teams in all the outreaches of the scheme – now including community healthcare teams, hospices, crisis / hospitalisation prevention teams, post-diagnostic support services and across teams of volunteers, the clergy and prison services – for respecting, harnessing and valuing the goodwill and expertise of those carers and for working in partnership with them.