A new podcast has been developed by two colleagues in NHS Lanarkshire.
The ‘Our Big Blether’ podcast, hosted by Paul Graham and Maureen Lees, sees the duo make connections across health and social care in Lanarkshire and beyond.
The aim is to encourage connectedness across these large organisations which they believe contributes to an increased sense of resilience and wellbeing. They describe the podcast as a mix between ‘Desert Island Disks’ and ‘Off the Ball’!
In the launch podcast, Paul and Maureen are joined by Peter McCrossan, director of Allied Health Professions.
In the podcast, Peter shares his story, gives an insight into his interests and details his wishes for the future.
Speaking during the podcast, Peter discussed his early life: “My mother and father married later in life, having both come through the forces during the Second World War. Their time in the forces resulted in them having a history of bad health.
“My mum attributed her illness in later life to her experiences during the war.
“My father died when I was nine and I have very scant memories of him. In those days’ things like completely different. The diet was completely different. Everything was cooked in fat, but my father also smoked. So obviously that had a big impact on his health and he died at the age of 54, so quite relatively young.
“My mother then developed tuberculosis and was hospitalized actually in Wishaw Hospital which was an old sanatorium for about six months. I was actually a young carer for a significant period of time.”
“I have to say I wasn’t a good scholar at school, I wouldn’t say they were the best years of my life.
“There was a marvellous teacher at school who had a chat with me about the careers that I could look at. Though I didn’t like the sound of them as they were all behind a desk.
“It’s quite ironic now you know that I spend most my life behind the desk.”
Peter’s interest in health and social care was sparked following a conversation with a relative at a family funeral.
He said: “I asked a relative what she was doing now and she mentioned that she was doing chiropody. She explained it all to me and I thought it sounds really good and decided to explore it.
“I applied for chiropody schools and chose Glasgow so that I could be close to my mum and make sure she was ok.”
“Before starting in podiatry I had a role as a nursing assistant. I learned a lot. I found that care wasn’t as person centred as it is now.”
Peter began his career in NHS Lanarkshire before moving to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for five years. When he began his family, he moved back to Lanarkshire to gain a better work life balance.
During the podcast, Peter also highlights his love of being involved in musical theatre.
Peter said: “I was just about to graduate. There was a girl who was a year below me studying Podiatry who was an absolutely fantastic singer.
“We used to travel in the train from Wishaw and she keeps saying to me ‘I want to join this local operatic group, would you come and join with me? You can come for six weeks, then you can go away and I’ll stay.’
“I didn’t think it was my scene, you know. But I went along.
“I ended up loving it. She lasted six weeks and I never saw her again. It just so happens that’s then where I met Mrs McCrossan and the rest as they say is history.”
A new episode of the podcast will be shared every two weeks. To listen, visit: https://ourbigblether.buzzsprout.com/
You can also keep up to date with the podcast by following on Twitter (@OurBigBlether), Facebook (@BiggyBlether) or by emailing ourbigblether@gmail.com.
