Avalyn speaks to the PerCIE Network

Avalyn recently had the opportunity to chat with the PerCIE network about her experiences of navigating education and health care with Long COVID and POTS.

The Personalised Care Interprofessional Education Network (PerCIE) is a group that brings people together to share ideas about putting individuals at the centre of care. They believe that when professionals from different fields work together, it leads to better care for everyone. Avalyn was given the opportunity to talk about her lived in experiences with the group. She was able to talk about how it when teachers and schools got things right and what happened when they didn't. She also discussed what it felt like to be a young person with a chronic illness in education and the challenges in accessing appropriate resources and support. Her experiences of healthcare were also up for discussion, looking at the sort of support that works, when health care professional have made an impact on her wellbeing - both positive and negative.

"I just want to say thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us this morning. So many people in the group made comments that what you shared is transferable to their areas of practice - you have had a real impact."

Joanne Outteridge, MSc PgDipHE PgDipEthics BN(Hons) RNT RN(Child) Doctoral Student, Senior Lecturer Children's Nursing; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care

"Your presentation and talk was amazing - and has truly inspired us all... you are already making a difference through the PerCIE network" 

Dr Michelle Howarth, Professor in Health & Social Care, Associate Director CSR (Centre for Social Responsibility), Faculty of Health, Social Care & Medicine

After the call was finished Avalyn said it was a great opportunity to talk to people who might be able to make a change in the way children and young people are treated in health and education. She felt that its not every day peopel like her get the opportinity to talk openly and honestly about their experiences with such a divserse group of professionals. She hopes that through the discussions they had changes will be seen for young people like herself. She's looking forward to the opportunity of working with PerCIE again in the future.

Whilst Avalyn found the session engaging the same can't be said for Astarion and Scratch who dozed through the whole thing, remarkably unimpressed by the situation.