Rons Law

Ron’s Law is a fundraiser to help Ron with a new wheelchair, but it is also a fundraiser to introduce new legislation to protect all pensioners from abuse and neglect.

Pensioners are freezing. Pensioners are being robbed, they are being abused, they are being USED!

Meeting Ron and his wife, I am deeply, deeply saddened by what I see, and what I hear. It really is shocking how pensioners are treated.

This short story grapples with neglect, and how little help there is for those who have given us their lives, many literally.

In January 2024 Ron went into hospital of what should have been a routine procedure to fit a pacemaker, however, it turned out to be far more than routine. Admitted to a hospital which had been placed into special measure for, FOUR years in a row, Ron didn’t know what he was letting himself in for, no one did.

The fitting of a pacemaker began on 21st January, on the 23rd Ron was rushed back in for corrective surgery. The person who fitted the pacemaker admitted that he did not scan patients after these procedures, had he have done so, then the lead to the pacemaker would have been secured correctly, and would not have been stabbing through his heart shortly after the fitting, and whilst still in hospital. Never-the-less, despite the agony in his chest, Ron was discharged a few hours after the first op.

In pain after the botched procedure, Ron was taken home. Tentatively he sat in his arm chair and put the TV on. Such was the pain, he was taken to his local practitioner, there he was treated with pain relief, told the pain was muscular and advised to take laxatives and sent on his way. Odd treatment for someone who has just had a pacemaker fitted.

Back home, Ron was in such pain that Paramedics were called, this time they took Ron back to the hospital. It was only at this point after several checks, even concerns that the scanning device used to check the pacemaker may have been faulty, with a nurse marching off stating, I’m going to contact the manufacturer, did they realise the severity of their botched work.

Rushed in for emergency corrective procedure Ron was kept in hospital for observations. Why didn’t they do this the first time? All they wanted to do was get Ron in, and out as fast as possible. This is not ‘care’. A week later Ron was discharged again. Later the same day, it was time for bed. A short time later there was a loud bang and groaning being heard by his wife, who herself is suffering from Parkinsons, cancer, and other medical issues, therefore unable to get to help Ron. Ron was on the floor, slurred speech and unable to move. Clear signs of a stroke. Immediately a 99 call was placed by his son, who, fortunately had been at the family home at the time Ron had the stroke. The 999 operator informed the son that there were no available ambulances and that Ron would have to wait 7 hours before help could arrive. Ron’s son knew of the importance of acting fast for those who had suffered a stroke, he even advised the 999 operator that there was an area directly opposite the property for a helicopter to land (helicopters had used the area several times in the past), however, this was quickly dismissed.

Once again, Ron was taken to the same hospital, this time he was admitted to the ‘stroke unit’, where a jovial Russian stroke doctor bounced on in to the room, backslapping Ron across his face to see if there was any reaction.

Some 2 weeks later, Ron now unable to move his arm, leg or speak properly he was discharged to another hospital, one further away, and one which ‘specialises’ in stroke therapy and recovery. Well, lets just say that a few minutes a week of therapy, trying to enable Ron to stand and walk is specialist treatment, and the rest of the time left in bed on propped in an arm chair. It was not help. By now Ron was exhausted, feeling abandoned he asked to be discharged back home to be with his wife. The physiotherapy would continue back home, and hopefully he would be able to recover.

Knowing Ron required help at home the local authority provided a care company, they would arrange carers to visit Ron 4 times per day and help with his needs, however little information was provided. The home physiotherapy was withdrawn from Ron in 5 weeks, this consisted of two physiotherapists visiting him at home for 15 minutes twice per week, if they could manage it. Now Ron has been left to sit in a broken wheelchair with absolutely no help what-so-ever. The NHS did however provide his wife (who can barley stand and walk) a ‘sack-truck’ to lift Ron and wheel him around the house. Incredible stuff! The care company that was arranged by the local authority consists of all Africans, some of who can hardly speak English, who tare up the home, ramming chairs into doors, damaging furniture, leaving bins full, cant cook, can’t use a microwave, leave dirty washing on the floor, can’t make a bed, handle him roughly, severely bruising him, leave the cap off from his catheter for urine to spill out…..then spend the majority of the time sat around the house on the mobile phone typing in all the hard work they have done. Not true? Indoor CCTV was installed and many, many, recordings can demonstrate just how appalling this so called ‘care’ is that has been provided through the council. But, it gets better, because Ron is expected to contribute £1200 per month for this service, despite the fact that the council did not even bother to carry out a financial assessment, nor have they even bothered with a health assessment. So what do the council want? They want Ron and his wife's house!

A challenge has been made to the complete disregard to pensioners, there must be a change in current legislation where councils are held to account for the care they provide. Moving on from the disaster of the Tory government, Labour swung into power with a massive majority, yet with the smallest of turnouts to announce their ‘Build Back Better: Our Plan for Health and Social Care’. We can see their plan, it’s as clear as the stars shine above. Keep importing none vetted carers from Africa, you know, the same ones that have provided YouTube videos offering advice how to get into the UK to become a ‘carer’ for a settlement visa. The Labour government have pledged to “crack down on care providers making excessive profit” from care placements. Rubbish! There are an estimated 14,000 care companies in the UK, with HUNDREDS of them springing up since Labour took power. Labours plan is clear, import, import and import, but at the same time, keep feeding NHS management massive sums of money, whilst taking every penny out of the pocket of pensioners.

Ron now has a challenge, but his challenge is the same for many others, to be provided the correct type of care and support he needs. Not to be left to sit in a broken wheelchair day-in, day-out, to be provided support to enable him to walk, carers who actually care. His other major challenge is to take the dangerous hospital through the legal process for destroying his life, but not just his, prevent the same from happening to many others. He needs a new wheel chair, he needs a frame to assist him to stand, he doesn’t want to be left in his own waste from 2am until 9am the following day because ‘carers’ are unable to go out at that time. Why should he give up his home for what he had worked all his life for? Through tears of sadness and pain, both Ron and his wife shout to one another across the room, they are together, but one cannot get to another, they have to wait until the next strangers bounce in, and bounce out again. Such simple things from making a cup of tea for one another has gone, eating meals at the same time together, has gone out the window, lives destroyed by failures, but failures we will all face unless direct action is taken. These are not just pensioners, they are out parents, out grandparents, our family members. Labour can keep on killing, but we can keep on giving.

Thank you.