When Compassion needs Courage

Scenario from Saturday evening:

My 94 year old Mum. Coughing and spluttering in her care home bed. I've been by her side for 11 hours considering that she might die tonight.

But her hand is in mine. My fingers are stroking her forehead. I am talking with her gently as she drifts in and out of sleep. She is as comfortable as possible.

She feels loved, safe, warm and cosy.

Her wishes re: Do Not Resuscitate and No Hospital Admission are clearly recorded in her Care Plan and end of life documentation.

I understand why the care team want to ring 111 - because they are following protocol. And what do 111 say? They advise calling an emergency ambulance.

ONLY because I was there to advocate for her and insist that no ambulance was called was she left in peace in her bed, poorly but having lived a good life.

Given the pressures on the NHS, this is Protocol gone Bananas.

Transactional protocols are sometimes fit for purpose but too often they follow procedure and UTTERLY miss the point.

Effective, authentic leadership often means using Courageous Compassion to lovingly and honestly challenge the status quo!

There are lots of practical ways to do this in my book - The Culture Trap. To get on the wait list for its release at the end of January, sign up here!