Today is Children in Need here in the UK. For the past week and all of next week I'm on the paeditatric oncology unit (children with cancer/cancer-like conditions). This unit is part funded by the charity CLIC Sargent, as are some of the staff who work with the kids I've been meeting.The staff include two outreach nurses. These women work bloody hard traveling to the homes of these kids to provide treatment for them in their own home, this saves the parents time and money by saving them a journey into the hospital.
It also includes a social worker, who has the job of helping these families come to terms with what has happened and to provide support for them during this difficult time. The social worker isn't employed by the council or the government, so they don't have targets or protocols that would hinder the care they can provide (although many of the protocols are for the benefit of those that are being cared for - always a good thing!).
What bothers me is that the social worker is entirely funded by charity. The outreach nurses have half their salary paid for by charity. A rest home in Bristol for the families of the children is run by charity.
The list goes on and on; and not just in the paediatric oncology unit but right across paediatrics. And the reason............... it's not deemed necessary by the NHS.
So, like I said, tonight is Children in Need. If you happen to be watching, and you see some of the children who are fighting neuroblastomas and leukaemia, don't think "Hmmm that's sad, but there's loads of people giving money, I'll leave it." or "It's all a big con anyway." just spare a thought for all the children and their families who benefit daily from the help of charities. Think about how much stress they are under, the fear that their child could be snatched away at any moment. Then think about what these charities do.
And lastly, don't just think about digging into your wallet and donating..... do it.
