When I finally got a chance to meet the General Medical Council this year, the Chairman of the Fitness to Practise panel asked one of the witnesses, a Professor, whether I was in a better place compared to a few years ago.
That witness said, “Well, I wouldn’t say necessarily ‘better’. He is successfully living with a disability, but he has been in recovery for seven years now.”
And so it went on.
The GMC asked me what my favourite areas of law are.
I explained curtly, “Whistleblowing”.
“Are there any areas of corporate law which interest you?”
“Yes – compromise agreements”.
I think the GMC smelt a rat at that stage.
“And your MBA? What did you enjoy the most?”
“Leadership”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think the NHS has any effective leaders.”
And so it went on.
The purpose of this blogpost is to thank the people who’ve made my year.
I should like to thank my witnesses for my GMC hearing for helping me to return to the UK medical register. I consider it a massive honour to be a practising Doctor on that Register.
Being chucked off it ripped me apart. Going back to it was the most unbelievable happy event of my life.
I should like to thank Jos – though I have no photos of us. Jos Bell is simply smashing for keeping me going – for being interested – for not accepting any crap.
I should like to thank Kate Swaffer. I regret that the only time I met her, I didn’t know her at all. I chat with her on Facebook when I can, very frequently. My life would be utterly devoid without her.
Chris and Jayne also made my year. I feel as if I’ve known them ages. And Monica.
And it’s been a delight I’ve met in my world of dementia policy.
You see, I haven’t had a job since 2005. There’s an important reason for that. Dementia policy for me is not a hobby or a job – it is a passion. I don’t get paid for any of it, apart from very basic royalties.
I funded myself to go to Alzheimer’s Europe in Glasgow, and Alzheimer’s Association in Copenhagen – though I had a wonderful time.
Toby Williamson really ‘got it’. I can’t thank him enough for ‘getting’ the importance of the disability lens to dementia policy, as well as with a mutual friend of ours Grainne in Ireland.
It was truly wonderful to chat with Prof Martin Rossor who used to be my boss at Queen Square more than a decade on the dementia and cognitive disorders firm at the National Hospital at Queen Square.
Possibly the kindest man I’ve ever met (apart from my late father.)
I’ll be going to Perth and Adelaide next year – hopefully will catch up with Tru, Kate, Chris, Jayne, Pete and Boris.
I loved meeting Charmaine and the whole Hardy clan – and Tony and the Ostrich in Robertsbridge of course!
Thanks to Martin from the Socialist Health Association for keeping me going during my numerous visits to Manchester.
Thanks to Dr Phil Hammond whose article on alcoholism and the medical profession was the best thing to have happened to me for years.
Dementia is not a brand.
But here are some random memories.
Have met some remarkable people for the very first time – like Tommy Whitelaw and Sam – both feisty Scots!
Good luck Andy Burnham next year! I will be intensely proud when you get a chance to bring together the NHS and social care, and to begin to make whole person care a reality for me and many people living with dementia (and the caregiver community.)
