Peter Metherall

I have been very lucky in my life.  I had a happy and healthy childhood, a good working life and happy marriage.  I had no bad health at all, so little in fact, I had not seen a doctor since I was 9 yrs old with appendicitis.  On reaching 60 years old I thought I should give up my heavy smoking habit.  This I did and six months later was diagnosed with severe hypertension, followed by asthma and bronchitis.  This was the beginning of a long and ongoing period if ill health and I am saddled with taking a lot of regular medication.  I realized that up to this point I had never taken any interest in my own health, nor that of others.  This was in spite of the fact my wife has been a sister and midwife for many years.  She then changed her job and became the manager of a Sheltered Housing Scheme, which required us to take up residency.  It was here I realized the true impact if ill health, particularly in the elderly residents of the Scheme.  I began to take an interest in their problems with mistakes in their medication, and the problems experienced by the less eloquent and disabled among them. I saw more and more mistakes in their care and aftercare, much of it caused by a lack of awareness on the part of the medical profession.  I approached my local MP Patrick Hall, who was on the Parliamentary Group of Patient and Public Involvement in Health.  He suggested I apply to my local Hospital NHS Trust to become a member of the Patients' Panel.  I became a member over 2 years ago.  I now represent the Patients' Panel on the hospital's Safer Medication and Patients' Safety Committees.  I still take a great interest in my fellow residents, as they are my ‘sounding board'.  As I am now deeply involved within the local hospital, it saddens and frustrates me to see dedicated and well-intentioned people making mistakes because of the systems and logistics of the organisation.