This episode 2 of this blog follows on from Episode 1 on sickle cell. Sickle cell and thalassaemia have similar characteristic on individuals’ health and similar pain management with occupational therapy perspective. Thalassaemia awareness is important because it is one of the most common inherited haemoglobin disorders worldwide. It represents a significant, yet often under‑recognised, global health burden. More than 1 million people…Continue reading Understanding an inherited blood disorder: Thalassaemia
Tag: hospital
Understanding inherited blood disorders: Sickle Cell Disease (Post 1)
This 1st series blog will be followed by thalassaemia in series 2 and their link to occupational therapy. This blog came about sickle cell and thalassaemia are not well talked about and their characteristics can easily be mistaken for extreme exhaustion or laziness to name a few I have decided to write about sickle cell because it has been a personal challenge, and despite its prevalence, it does not receive…Continue reading Understanding inherited blood disorders: Sickle Cell Disease (Post 1)
Self-advocacy in healthcare
Hi, I’m Emilia, a BSc Occupational Therapy student currently on placement with JB Occupational Therapy. I also have many years of lived experience of being chronically ill. I wanted to write a blog post about self-advocacy, as I have consistently found within my own experiences and on this placement the importance of being able to…Continue reading Self-advocacy in healthcare
Medical gaslighting
Medical gaslighting is a term that refers to The dismissal or invalidation of a patients symptoms, concerns or feelings by a medical professional. The patient isn’t taken seriously, and the healthcare professional does not properly investigate. Instead, they usually attribute the symptoms to being psychological. After spending time on placement with Jo I felt a…Continue reading Medical gaslighting
Telehealth is awesome, here’s why!
Telehealth is something very new to me as I believe it is to most healthcare workers. Until I met Jo, my only experience of telehealth was sending triage photographs to a GP who was over worked and under trained in telehealth. So, I was skeptical about at how person-centred care could be delivered without ever…Continue reading Telehealth is awesome, here’s why!
Understanding a chronic patient’s experience…
Healthcare professionals have a duty of care to each patient, client, individual we see. We are taught to listen, understand, and problem-solve, all in the best interest of the individual. We all want to see our patient ‘get better’, ‘progress’, ‘recover’. Sometimes we get lost in these words and don’t take the time to support…Continue reading Understanding a chronic patient’s experience…
Injury Self-Management
I am a small island Caribbean girl, born in London but raised in Carriacou, Grenada. In my world and from my experience, there is a remedy for almost any illness which does not involve seeing a medical professional. Using hydrogen peroxide to clean a cut or bruise at an early age. Drinking a tea when…Continue reading Injury Self-Management
Chronic Pain – What does it actually feel like?
This is something I’ve been meaning to write about for a long time. While doing my dissertation before christmas I repeatedly read that most newly qualified healthcare professionals do not have a modern understanding of pain. I reviewed 9 articles for my dissertation, one common theme was the negative patient experience. Patients not feeling validated,…Continue reading Chronic Pain – What does it actually feel like?
Hypermobility Syndromes – When to seek medical help?
Living with Ehlers Danlos or any of the other hypermobility syndromes does mean you are going to get injuries at some point. That’s not me being negative, it’s the truth. Living with these disorders is risky! Simply rolling over in bed or putting on socks can lead to ridiculous injuries. I do my best to…Continue reading Hypermobility Syndromes – When to seek medical help?
Therapeutic Relationships – Getting the most from Healthcare
I’m often asked how I’ve managed to get the most out of healthcare appointments, there is no quick answer so I’ve decided to write a longer one. As always, this post is written from the dual perspective of expert patient and healthcare professional. Much of this post is written from my own personal experience. During…Continue reading Therapeutic Relationships – Getting the most from Healthcare

