'Forcing carers out of work doubly disastrous': Good Morning Ulster interview with Allan Leonard 5 June 2023 Joel TAGGART: Now many of Northern Ireland's unpaid carers are begging for help for greater support from the health service. They're at breaking point and calling for more opportunities for a short-term break from caring, or respite … Continue reading ‘Forcing carers out of work doubly disastrous’: Good Morning Ulster interview with Allan Leonard
‘Our voice is starting to be heard’: On Your Behalf interview with Allan Leonard 22 April 2023 Linda MACAULAY: Now, there was a call this week from Northern Ireland MLAs for Stormont officials to begin work on a strategy to help thousands of unpaid carers. The letter to the Department of Health's permanent secretary, … Continue reading ‘Our voice is starting to be heard’: On Your Behalf interview with Allan Leonard
Developing an esprit de corps to transform health and social care services by Allan LEONARD 4 April 2019 I delivered the following speech at a presentation on Integrated Care Partnerships, at a conference event, "Transformation: Paving the Way Forward", organised by the Northern Ireland Healthcare Leadership Form (NIHLF): My name is Allan Leonard and I … Continue reading Developing an esprit de corps to transform health and social care services
Allan LEONARD and Beverley BEATTIE The following article was published in the 2015–16 annual review of the Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke: Don’t leave carers in the dark While we often hear what it’s like to fight the long battle of recovery after stroke, we don’t always hear what it’s like to be a carer … Continue reading Don’t leave carers in the dark
Seeking better patient outcomes: Music to the ears of occupational therapists by Allan LEONARD 11 November 2016 The College of Occupational Therapists (COT) held a launch event at the Long Gallery of Parliament Buildings, for their campaign on the value of occupational therapy, “Improving lives, saving money”. The event was sponsored by Claire Hanna MLA, … Continue reading Seeking better patient outcomes: Music to the ears of occupational therapists #ValueofOT
I was part of a five-member panel of stroke survivors and carers who presented short stories of our perspectives, to an audience of delegates at the fifth Northern Ireland conference organised between the Northern Ireland Multidisciplinary Association for Stroke Teams (NIMAST) and the UK Stroke Forum (UKSF), held at La Mon Hotel, Belfast. Lisa LECKY … Continue reading Living the stroke experience: NIMAST 2016
I told a story at the Tenx9 event at Belfast’s Black Box venue. Tenx9 is a series of monthly events, where nine individuals tell a true, personal story, for up to ten minutes (hence the title). There are six Tenx9 city sites to date (why not start your own!); the Belfast series is led by … Continue reading Life objects: Tenx9 Belfast
This morning, I spoke about my experience as a carer, on Downtown Radio programme Daytime with Siobhan McGarry: Allan LEONARD, Gerry MAGUIRE (HSC Board), and Helen FERGUSON (Carers NI) interviewed by Siobhan McGARRY. Allan Leonard, in his mid-forties, suddenly found himself in a caring role for his spouse, Beverley, who suffered a severe stroke two … Continue reading Advice to new carers: Get support from wherever you can
“Be Catholic and have a large family”: Tim McGarry at Carers Week launch Thousands of people across Northern Ireland provide care for others throughout the year. Carers Week is organised by several charities that come together to celebrate this contribution, signpost carers to further information and support, and encourage ‘hidden’ carers to come forward and … Continue reading “Be Catholic and have a large family”: Tim McGarry at Carers Week launch
Reading this book was always going to have a special meaning to me, as my wife had a stroke about two years ago. Like James and Bev, my wife and I are writing a book together about our experience. We honestly came up with the same chapter layout as them — alternative narrations. In these types of … Continue reading Book review — Touching Distance (James Cracknell)
Earlier this week, Madame Oui (aka my awesome wife Beverley) went up to Parliament Buildings to address a group of MLAs at the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was a very positive and constructive meeting, resulting in some agreed steps forward (next stop: the Assembly’s Health Committee). Beverley later remarked, “I’ve become a campaigner!” And one … Continue reading Integrate emotional support says stroke survivor
I woke up next to my partner, to a spokesperson from the Stroke Association talking about their new report, “Feeling overwhelmed: The emotional impact of stroke”: Joe CORNER discusses launch of Stroke Association report, Feeling Overwhelmed, on emotional impact of stroke. “Are you listening to this?” I asked Madame Oui. “Yes.” My wife had a … Continue reading The emotional impact of stroke
