Escape from Covid

One common theme was rediscovering nature, especially in that first lockdown. Everyone was commenting on the spring bird song and the peace. Then the noticing of flowers, buds and interesting things on our walks. As if our vision had sharpened in the clearer air?

We could certainly see further and hear better without the traffic. Everyone is hoping we can hang on to that understanding of a better world and work towards it on a more permanent basis. Dealing with air and noise pollution has moved up the agenda. Let’s keep it there.

Another was learning new things, particularly on the internet. It’s been rather exciting to see how quickly clubs and classes woke up to the possibility of using Zoom for virtual get togethers.

It has been a big learning curve for most of us hasn’t it? Certainly it has altered the picture for people stuck at home. Far more social contact and interests are accessible without transport now. Possibly, like me, you have benefitted.

My family are either 200 miles away or abroad. I rarely see them in the flesh, and we’re not in touch as much as we might have been. Covid transformed us. We set up regular family zooms as many others did and it truly enriched our family life. We have talked face to face for hours, eaten together virtually, done quizzes, played games, argued over ideas and really got to know each other much better and in a different way. We could have done it before I suppose, but somehow Covid drove us forward into action  I’m so glad it did.

Church attendance benefitted too. People who can’t easily get there were able to join in via virtual services. I have friends whose congregation swelled with people who had left the area enjoying coming back to their old local Church once services were accessible via zoom.

Yoga and exercise classes have boomed and so have hobbies, like family history and painting.   I have been taking a variety of short free courses. I did one on scriptwriting and one on poetry. It’s been good to meet other like minded people that way too.

Education will, I believe, be a gainer long term.  A swift transition to more independent learning using technology and distance classes has really suited some children who prefer to work at their own speed. Faster or steadier. And the new technologies must benefit all of us at all life stages. Work upgrades, retraining, and retirement studies should take off. Access to the best teaching for all! They will certainly change University courses.  I was an OU student and loved it - it’s been good to see their ideas being picked up by many others. 

My professional background was in Physiotherapy. And, with delight, I saw the profession and the NHS generally rapidly push through with using video and phone consultations which could and should have been done years ago!  We can certainly give Covid the credit for that rapid and much needed change. So long as it doesn’t go too far, of course!

We can’t not talk about shopping and High streets, could we? Is online a bad thing? Is it better for those stuck at home? Will there be markets for more small independent stores if we start living in our town centres and don’t just shop in chain stores? More varied local shops would be a hugely significant gain. It’s thought provoking what possibilities are opening up.

Especially for people that are working more from home - that is probably one of the major gains from all this: the move to flexible working from home. Better life quality, less commuting and associated pollution. For me, this is one of the best changes and absolutely the right way to go.

We need fresh thinking...

...don’t we, and the use of stored computerised health information is another way forwards that will change our lives. And is so sorely needed. 

I was taken to hospital as an emergency recently; a mild stroke, luckily recovered. But it alarmed me because, although I had carefully made a living will and written my care choices  with my lawyer, with copies available to family and my GP, the NHS had no record of them available to the Stroke Unit or A&E. At that time, I did not have a MedicAlert bracelet.

One thing I will now be pushing for is for our health information and our care choices to be made available to NHS professionals in a very simple and guaranteed way like yours.

MedicAlert is currently the only charity that helps you to ensure that all your vital medical details are available to those caring for you, with a curated record ensuring the most important information is apparent in a digestible manner. This type of technology needs to be fully recognised and available to all.

Which is why I am very happy to write this blog. You are doing something important, for yourselves and for us all.