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Hi. I’m Lydia Strachan, Founder and Director of Confident Conversations. I’m so pleased you’ve found us and you want to know more about us.

I know what you’re going through, because I’ve been through it too. I started Confident Conversations after I spent 16 months in hospital with my eldest daughter. In the beginning, I was confused, I didn’t know what was going on, and I was incredibly stressed. Over time, I developed good relationships with the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals caring for my daughter. I became a partner in my child’s care. And you can too!

 

But we don’t think you should be left alone to figure it all out for yourself. So that’s why we’re here – to give you the information and support you need to get through this.

Confident Conversations Trustee Board

Confident Conversations Trustee Board

Lydia Strachan, Founder and Chair of the Board

Lydia is a mother of two girls and an experienced public sector communications professional. Lydia also has significant experience of being a parent in hospital. Her eldest daughter was diagnosed before birth with a serious congenital heart condition. After 16 months in hospital, and many surgeries and medical interventions, her daughter finally came home, but will require ongoing medical care for the rest of her life. Lydia is also a trustee of the Brompton Fountain, the charity which supports children and their families 

Lydia Strachan, Founder and Chair of the Board

Lydia is a mother of two girls and an experienced public sector communications professional. Lydia also has significant experience of being a parent in hospital. Her eldest daughter was diagnosed before birth with a serious congenital heart condition. After 16 months in hospital, and many surgeries and medical interventions, her daughter finally came home, but will require ongoing medical care for the rest of her life. Lydia is also a trustee of the Brompton Fountain, the charity which supports children and their families 

Sarah Major, Trustee and Treasurer

Sarah is an experienced charity accountant. She has worked across the charitable sector including with religious institutions and in the arts. She is currently working in the health sector.

Sarah Major, Trustee and Treasurer

Sarah is an experienced charity accountant. She has worked across the charitable sector including with religious institutions and in the arts. She is currently working in the health sector.

Alice Riley, Trustee

Alice is a mum to two children and has been a stay at home mum since her daughter was born. In 2014, her son was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, aged three, and spent the next three and a quarter years receiving chemotherapy at two London hospitals. He is now in remission and doing well.

 

It was the support from medical professionals and a few fellow cancer parents that made Alice jump at the chance to be involved with Confident Conversations. She says “all parents and carers should have access to the support we were lucky enough to receive while my son was being treated”.

Alice Riley, Trustee

Alice is a mum to two children and has been a stay at home mum since her daughter was born. In 2014, her son was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, aged three, and spent the next three and a quarter years receiving chemotherapy at two London hospitals. He is now in remission and doing well.

 

It was the support from medical professionals and a few fellow cancer parents that made Alice jump at the chance to be involved with Confident Conversations. She says “all parents and carers should have access to the support we were lucky enough to receive while my son was being treated”

Satnam Dhaliwal, Trustee

Satnam gained Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) registration as a paediatric nurse in 2012. Following registration, Satnam worked within the paediatric critical care setting. During this time, Satnam gained the knowledge and experience of caring for critically ill children whilst also supporting parents, carers and family members.

Satnam has been in his current role since 2018. Within this role, he develops and educates paediatric student nurses to gain their professional registration. Through his role within nurse education, Satnam has achieved a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE).

Satnam Dhaliwal, Trustee

Satnam gained Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) registration as a paediatric nurse in 2012. Following registration, Satnam worked within the paediatric critical care setting. During this time, Satnam gained the knowledge and experience of caring for critically ill children whilst also supporting parents, carers and family members.

 Satnam has been in his current role since 2018. Within this role, he develops and educates paediatric student nurses to gain their professional registration. Through his role within nurse education, Satnam has achieved a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE).

Confident Conversations Patrons

Confident Conversations Patrons

Edwina Thomas

Edwina was one of Confident Conversation’s first supporters. Her generous spirit, love of adventure and commitment to social justice and equality was inspiring. 

Edwina knew how hard it was to be a parent in hospital, and her commitment to friends and family with children in hospital was absolute. Her own children, and those she knew and loved, were central to her life.

Confident Conversations would not exist without her, and we continue our work in her memory.

Edwina Thomas

Edwina was one of Confident Conversation’s first supporters. Her generous spirit, love of adventure and commitment to social justice and equality was inspiring. 

Edwina knew how hard it was to be a parent in hospital, and her commitment to friends and family with children in hospital was absolute. Her own children, and those she knew and loved, were central to her life.

Confident Conversations would not exist without her, and we continue our work in her memory.

Confident Conversations is committed to being a values-led organisation. No one should feel excluded deliberately or inadvertently by our work. All our work, including our interactions with each other, stakeholders and those we support, is guided by the following core principles:

  • Kindness in our approach to our work and ourselves.
  • Differences are our strength. Difference of background, experience and thought is vital to our success.
  • Confidence in engaging with, and challenging, our work at all levels. We must be welcoming and supportive to ensure this happens.

 

In line with the NCVO’s Charity Ethical Principles:

(i) We will respect every individual’s dignity and rights to privacy and confidentiality.

(ii) We commit to challenging any instances of sexism, gender inequality and other power imbalances that leave some people at risk of harm.

(iii) We value diversity in our governing body and volunteers.

 

We expect all those representing Confident Conversations, and/or volunteering with us, to embody these principles.

We are committed to tackling healthcare inequalities in the UK medical system. Health inequalities are avoidable and unfair differences in health status between groups of people or communities. This inequality in health begins early in life with wide inequalities in child health outcomes.

 

We are committed to ensuring all our work is accessible as possible, including ensuring our services are designed to be inclusive, and we make all reasonable adjustments needed for beneficiaries and volunteers.

 

Confident Conversations is run by parents, for parents. We are committed to remaining independent from the NHS and associated bodies (e.g. Royal Colleges). We will always prioritise the needs of those who advocate for patients in hospital.

 

If you have a concern about safeguarding from anyone who volunteers with Confident Conversations, or a trustee, please contact our Safeguarding Officer Satnam Dhaliwal.

 

If you want to report bullying, harassment, discrimination (BHD) or unacceptable behaviour from anyone who volunteers with Confident Conversations, or a trustee, please contact our BHD Officer Ali Riley.

TBC

In Spring 2021, Confident Conversations conducted original research on how confident parents and carers feel in hospital, and what factors impact on confidence. We found that almost half the parents/carers in the survey had been to hospital more than five times over the past five years (53.3%), and 87.8% of parents/carers have been more than once but only 15.6% of parents/carers say they feel ‘very confident’ in hospital. 

 

We asked parents how they felt about being in hospital with their child. Three words stood out: ‘grateful’, ‘worried’, ‘stressed’. Two of these three are negative. In the second grouping of most significant words – ‘scared’, ‘helpless’ and ‘tired’’ – all are negative.

 

Hospital visits are not positive experiences for parents/carers, though the presence of some positive words (albeit very much in the minority) suggests there is scope to develop positive relationships in hospital environments, but that it will not happen organically. It will need external direction.

 

The primary factors which impacted on parents confidence in hospital were (in order of significance):

  1. clear communication from the hospital and medical professionals
  2. how medical professionals speak to me/treat me
  3. being involved in decisions about my child/children’s care

 

Three further factors also stood out (in order of significance):

  1. knowing who is taking care of my child/children
  2. understanding hospital routines and processes
  3. understanding medical words and language

 

Multivariate analysis showed that parents/carers with children with a disability or long-term condition were disproportionately more likely to go to hospital more five times over the past five years, and that those parents/carers were disproportionately more confident in hospital. This shows that parents can learn to become more confident over time.

 

If you would like more information on our research, please contact us.


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