Morning,

After a week of moving house, packing, unpacking, cleaning and now waiting for my house to exchange and complete, I am in a period of learning. Learning what my new routines are. Learning how to ensure I show consideration for the well established routines of others, as we are living for the next 7 months with my future in-laws, in their home.

One thing I have learnt through coaching, personal reflect and experience is the importance of looking after yourself. This isn’t a selfish thing, this isn’t to say I don’t consider others also, it just means that right now my priorities are about being gentle to myself and to allow this new time of change to take place.

I share this because whatever the circumstances, change, transition and new routines are a certainty. In health care the same is true at a rapid pace, and when people come along and change long established routines, this can cause upset, annoyance, stress, upheaval. So here in lies the challenge. As people who want to help improve healthcare systems and experiences for staff and patients, how do we ensure we are not actually causing more harm than good? 

I’m brining up two observations here….

1. The risk we pose as ‘improvers’ of inadvertently causing harm to healthcare staff when we change “improve” their systems.

2. The need to support people to take responsibility for their own well-being and self-care. Creating opportunities to make this easier in healthcare and indeed a priority.

I would love to hear the thoughts of others on these issues 🙂