“Mine is a story about hope and about love and the difference that you can make by caring.”

These were the words of Tommy Whitelaw, UK Lead and Campaign Lead for Dementia Carer Voices, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, as he met Karen Buckwell-Nutt,Head of School - Nursing and Allied Health, at Buckinghamshire New University’s Uxbridge Campus.

Tommy works to raise awareness of the issues facing people living with dementia and their carers and he travels around the UK sharing his story of the experiences he encountered when caring for his mum Joan, who had vascular dementia and sadly passed away in 2012.

He visited Bucks New University on the final leg of a four-year tour that has taken in 900 talks around the UK, forming part of the Leading Change, Adding Value NHS England nursing strategy, which builds on the original ‘6Cs’ of core values for nursing, midwifery and care staff.

This strategy supports nurses, other professionals and carers to deliver high-quality, compassionate practice and to make a difference to all in their care.

Tommy worked for years in the music business, touring the world with rock and pop stars like U2, The Spice Girls, and Kylie Minogue, selling official merchandise at concerts, before returning home and subsequently caring for his mum.

He delivered two sessions with Nursing, Social Work and Allied Health professional students, as well as staff and practice partners.  

“It’s a talk about care,” adds Tommy, his smiling and positive disposition an obvious indicator why he has garnered such praise for his work raising awareness of issues facing people living with dementia and their carers, through seminars and talks.

Picture caption: Karen Buckwell-Nutt, Tommy Whitelaw, and Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE.

“Nursing is the most beautiful of professions so this is a wonderful opportunity for me to speak at Bucks New University.

"I want to impart on people the appreciation that no matter the role you play you have the skill, knowledge and potential to take the opportunity to transform lives by caring.

"The people these students will care for in their careers all matter and by adopting a value-based practice, with a focus on care, they can all make a difference.”

Third-year BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) student Chelsea Sheridan was among students inspired by Tommy's talk.

“It was such a motivational talk from Tommy Whitelaw," said Chelsea.

“I left the session feeling very emotional, but emotional in a good way, where I now feel inspired that I can personally make a positive change whilst caring for my patients in my future placements and nursing career. Thank you Tommy.”

Ms Buckwell-Nutt said Tommy’s talk struck a chord with all present and students fed back afterwards that they felt it was ‘one of the most poignant presentations they’d ever had’.

She said: “It was a thought-provoking talk from Tommy reminding us how the little things we do can make the biggest difference to those we care for"

“It is about what matters to them, not what is the matter with them. It touched a personal chord with me and so many in the audience when sharing his story about how he cared for his mum.

“Tommy expressed many times that he thinks nursing is a beautiful and special profession so it was inspirational for us all.

“As Head of School I felt proud that we were able to host such an emotive, valuable, and motivational event for our students. Thank you to Senior Lecturer Mel Hayward for her work in arranging it.

“Dementia is now common and we need a workforce increasingly prepared and equipped for it. Tommy’s visit was a vital learning experience for our students.”

Phill Hoddinott, Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Nursing, added that Tommy’s talk had provided ‘the most important 90 minutes of my career’.

The University also welcomed Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE, Director of Health & Wellbeing at Royal Hospital Chelsea, and Sue West, Senior Nursing Education Adviser at The Nursing and Midwifery Council, to deliver opening addresses at the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively.

The visit came comes after Bucks New University won the Teaching Innovation of the Year Award for its training with dementia simulation at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2018.

Follow Tommy Whitelaw on Twitter at @tommyNTour.