They Laughed, So I Fought: My Journey to Patient Advocacy

You don't just fall into patient advocacy or wake up one day thinking this is what you feel like doing with your life.

It is something you learn to do when the system fails you.

As a child I was regularly sick with something or the other, nothing big but still noticeable and every day i would sprain my ankle. Eventually I started getting chronic infections, my heart was doing all sorts, I was struggling with my breathing, I would faint from time to time, had surgery, missed a lot of school, my periods were from hell and i ended up in resus.

All whilst being told I need therapy, repeatedly, by my GP and not having any support to look for answers.

I started googling, which is a scary place to be when you are desperate. I found a lot, cut it down somehow and presented it to the GP.

He laughed at me.

After this i went to privatecare. It was a whole new world but such a wonderful place to be. They helped me more than anyone ever had before this.

Yes I pay them for the help and no it is not a magical place where only positive things happen.

The doctors were talking to me and not at me.

They didn’t laugh at me or tell me I just need a therapist.

They worked with me.

This is where I learnt that healthcare is a partnership between patients and medical professionals and that my opinions and knowledge mattered too.

I learnt a lot from them over the years because they taught me to fight and think for myself. They taught me what to look for and how to look for things. They explained information clearly and let me ask my questions.

I took this information and continously built on it and I still do. A work in progress.

I took it to the NHS and learnt how to work things that are not working.

I started talking about my journey openly and volunteering in any way possible.

I became a patient advocate because I stood my ground and fought for myself.

Being a south asian woman did not make any of this easier. I had barriers to face and I did it successfully.

There is so much more to this but this is my beginning.