Petition in Ben Jay's honour
PetitionReview NHS care for 16 and 17 year oldsIt varies whether 16 or 17 year olds are treated through paediatric services, or adult care. This can mean 16 and 17 year olds don't receive the care they need in a timely way. A review could identify issues with current practice and look at how to ensure this group receive the care they need. More details
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- You say it varies whether 16 and 17 year olds are effectively treaded as children or adults, but what does it vary on? Is it a practical decision made on a case by case basis (I'd imagine some in this group would be very mature and could be treated as adults, whilst some may not be so emotionally developed and be in need of a bit more support). Does it vary according to the condition diagnosed or is it one of those horrible postcode lotteries?
- What would be the scope of the review that you'd want to see? Is it simply around the type of treatment they receive (adult v child) or are their wider questions around how they are cared for?
- What specifically would you like to see come out of any review? As a parent who has been through possibly the cruellest experience that life can throw at you, what changes would you like to see to the way that Ben was dealt with?
Thanks in advance for an additional information you can give.PLEASE sign and share far & wide until the amount of signatures required for further action to take place is reached.
Signed with love & hope x
Ben had not been well for a couple of years & we was trying to get some answers as to why. Sadly when covid hit everyone shut up shop & wouldn't do scans etc. Ben turned 16 in Oct 2020, & in early 2021 all we kept on being told was that paediatrics will not start any treatment on him as he is nearly classed as an adult ? (We still had 8 months until he turned 17). Then we was told they could not take him on as an adult until he turned 17 ?. He was left floating around slowly getting more ill. It was not until late July that a Dr listened & hot him the scans needed, but by then sadly we were told he had cancer of the liver.
We just want to raise awareness to everyone that 16-17 do matter & they need looking after until they become adults. Why can't they all work together & take responsibility in looking after our teenager's. Sadly we lost ours, but hopefully we can save someone else's close to their hearts. Hope that is ok.
Regards
Garry
Signed, only number 334 and a long way to go still but as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Each signature we can all collectively add is another single step towards getting some momentum going. Well done for starting this.
We have family & friends that have cancer in their teens. Thankfully they’ve all had wonderful treatment & are thriving. But I feel it really is a lottery & postcode dependent.
♥️
Signed No. 384
@Garry_Jay1964 it might be worth contacting your local MP about this if you haven’t done so already. They may well take it on and help get some political weight behind it.
There was a paediatric oncologist on radio 4 this morning saying how the worst part of his job is when he has to tell parents that their child's cancer is too advanced to cure. There are clearly others, like Ben, where there has been delay between the initial symptoms and getting a diagnosis.
This is obviously a matter which needs attention, but the question is how to get the media involved so this petition gets the far wider publicity it needs to reach a significant number of signatures. At the moment, the petition map of signatures clearly reflects the local catchment of Charlton Athletic, with a sprinkle of exiles like me who have moved away from the area.
There are many small local charities all over the country seeking to provide services for childhood / teenage cancer victims and their families. @Garry_Jay1964 might it be worthwhile contacting some of them, explaining as you have on here the provision-gap into which Ben fell, and inviting them to publicise this petition to their supporters?
Garry has added something I think will not only guarantee your name on the petition but also remind you just what this family have been through and of the tragic outcome. We promised that we'd never forget " Our " Ben - this is just one small but vitally important thing you can do in his memory. Thanks.
" We are doing this petition in our Ben's memory to try to help other teenagers aged 16-17. Many like Ben get lost in the system currently set up in the NHS. When they turn 16, paediatrics don't want to start any treatment as they are nearly classed as adults. The adult care won't take you on until you are 17. Sadly Ben got caught up in this & eventually got diagnosed with cancer 3 months before he turned 17. If we can help just one teenager it will be worth it."
Poignant, heartfelt words indeed. Please just add your name, post it on your FB page & share by email .
It's not much to ask when you could be part of the process needed to save the lives of those young people currently victims of the system.