Rachel Adam-Smith
@rachela-s.bsky.social
Mum & carer. Original “Mustard patient”. Powered by batteries #CHD ❤️. Ex cabin crew. Law graduate. Disability Campaigner. Views mine 📸dogs mine 🐾
Too old for Carer’s Allowance.
Too tired to fight.
Too essential to rest.
They call it love.
And it is.
But it’s also unpaid labour.
A broken system
propped up by women
who should have been free
Too tired to fight.
Too essential to rest.
They call it love.
And it is.
But it’s also unpaid labour.
A broken system
propped up by women
who should have been free
August 8, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Too old for Carer’s Allowance.
Too tired to fight.
Too essential to rest.
They call it love.
And it is.
But it’s also unpaid labour.
A broken system
propped up by women
who should have been free
Too tired to fight.
Too essential to rest.
They call it love.
And it is.
But it’s also unpaid labour.
A broken system
propped up by women
who should have been free
“She’ll be safe,” they said.
But the moment you turn your back, your complex-needs child is at risk — because staff aren’t trained, protocols aren’t followed, and documents are ignored.
So you stay. 24/7. Because no one else is equipped.
But the moment you turn your back, your complex-needs child is at risk — because staff aren’t trained, protocols aren’t followed, and documents are ignored.
So you stay. 24/7. Because no one else is equipped.
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
“She’ll be safe,” they said.
But the moment you turn your back, your complex-needs child is at risk — because staff aren’t trained, protocols aren’t followed, and documents are ignored.
So you stay. 24/7. Because no one else is equipped.
But the moment you turn your back, your complex-needs child is at risk — because staff aren’t trained, protocols aren’t followed, and documents are ignored.
So you stay. 24/7. Because no one else is equipped.
“Just ask when you need a break,” they said.
I did.
“Sorry, staff haven’t turned up today — we can give you half an hour.”
Half an hour of rest in a 24-hour shift, doing meds, hygiene, advocacy, crisis care.
If I were employed, this would be illegal.🧵
I did.
“Sorry, staff haven’t turned up today — we can give you half an hour.”
Half an hour of rest in a 24-hour shift, doing meds, hygiene, advocacy, crisis care.
If I were employed, this would be illegal.🧵
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
“Just ask when you need a break,” they said.
I did.
“Sorry, staff haven’t turned up today — we can give you half an hour.”
Half an hour of rest in a 24-hour shift, doing meds, hygiene, advocacy, crisis care.
If I were employed, this would be illegal.🧵
I did.
“Sorry, staff haven’t turned up today — we can give you half an hour.”
Half an hour of rest in a 24-hour shift, doing meds, hygiene, advocacy, crisis care.
If I were employed, this would be illegal.🧵
“Let us know when she’s home & you are caring for her,” said the @DWPgovuk case handler.
But I was already caring — 24/7 in hospital, doing meds, feeding, fluids, personal care.
Hospital stepped back because they didn’t have the staff or training 🧵
But I was already caring — 24/7 in hospital, doing meds, feeding, fluids, personal care.
Hospital stepped back because they didn’t have the staff or training 🧵
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
“Let us know when she’s home & you are caring for her,” said the @DWPgovuk case handler.
But I was already caring — 24/7 in hospital, doing meds, feeding, fluids, personal care.
Hospital stepped back because they didn’t have the staff or training 🧵
But I was already caring — 24/7 in hospital, doing meds, feeding, fluids, personal care.
Hospital stepped back because they didn’t have the staff or training 🧵
Visiting hours? Only if you’re not an unpaid carer.
@NHSEngland hospitals rely on parent-carers to stay 24/7 — doing meds, care, and crisis management — because trained staff aren’t available.
No pay. No rest. No choice.
This isn’t sustainable. It’s exploitation. 🧵
@NHSEngland hospitals rely on parent-carers to stay 24/7 — doing meds, care, and crisis management — because trained staff aren’t available.
No pay. No rest. No choice.
This isn’t sustainable. It’s exploitation. 🧵
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Visiting hours? Only if you’re not an unpaid carer.
@NHSEngland hospitals rely on parent-carers to stay 24/7 — doing meds, care, and crisis management — because trained staff aren’t available.
No pay. No rest. No choice.
This isn’t sustainable. It’s exploitation. 🧵
@NHSEngland hospitals rely on parent-carers to stay 24/7 — doing meds, care, and crisis management — because trained staff aren’t available.
No pay. No rest. No choice.
This isn’t sustainable. It’s exploitation. 🧵
Dear @NHSEngland — this is what’s happening in your hospitals.
Parent-carers doing meds, fluids, and care 24/7 while clinical staff “step back.”
No breaks. No pay. No safeguarding. Just assumption we’ll stay — whatever the cost to us.
This isn’t care. It’s exploitation.🧵
Parent-carers doing meds, fluids, and care 24/7 while clinical staff “step back.”
No breaks. No pay. No safeguarding. Just assumption we’ll stay — whatever the cost to us.
This isn’t care. It’s exploitation.🧵
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Dear @NHSEngland — this is what’s happening in your hospitals.
Parent-carers doing meds, fluids, and care 24/7 while clinical staff “step back.”
No breaks. No pay. No safeguarding. Just assumption we’ll stay — whatever the cost to us.
This isn’t care. It’s exploitation.🧵
Parent-carers doing meds, fluids, and care 24/7 while clinical staff “step back.”
No breaks. No pay. No safeguarding. Just assumption we’ll stay — whatever the cost to us.
This isn’t care. It’s exploitation.🧵
4am. Still caring.
This is what unpaid care really looks like — exhausted parents sleeping on camp beds, doing meds, hygiene, and crisis care while staff wake us to ask about lunch.
Thousands of us are caring beyond any paid job. But @DWP still stops our support 🧵
This is what unpaid care really looks like — exhausted parents sleeping on camp beds, doing meds, hygiene, and crisis care while staff wake us to ask about lunch.
Thousands of us are caring beyond any paid job. But @DWP still stops our support 🧵
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
4am. Still caring.
This is what unpaid care really looks like — exhausted parents sleeping on camp beds, doing meds, hygiene, and crisis care while staff wake us to ask about lunch.
Thousands of us are caring beyond any paid job. But @DWP still stops our support 🧵
This is what unpaid care really looks like — exhausted parents sleeping on camp beds, doing meds, hygiene, and crisis care while staff wake us to ask about lunch.
Thousands of us are caring beyond any paid job. But @DWP still stops our support 🧵
Why are @DWP removing PIP & Carer’s Allowance during hospital stays — when hospitals don’t actually take over the care?
In reality, they rely on family to stay & manage everything for those with learning disabilities — often because staff aren’t trained in complex needs 🧵
In reality, they rely on family to stay & manage everything for those with learning disabilities — often because staff aren’t trained in complex needs 🧵
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Why are @DWP removing PIP & Carer’s Allowance during hospital stays — when hospitals don’t actually take over the care?
In reality, they rely on family to stay & manage everything for those with learning disabilities — often because staff aren’t trained in complex needs 🧵
In reality, they rely on family to stay & manage everything for those with learning disabilities — often because staff aren’t trained in complex needs 🧵
Multitasking - whilst staff step back. Did they ask me? No.
Is it because it’s better for the long person or because they know they aren’t trained and don’t have the skill
So, why do DWP take benefits away when you’re providing more hours than any paid medical professional? 🧵
Is it because it’s better for the long person or because they know they aren’t trained and don’t have the skill
So, why do DWP take benefits away when you’re providing more hours than any paid medical professional? 🧵
June 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Multitasking - whilst staff step back. Did they ask me? No.
Is it because it’s better for the long person or because they know they aren’t trained and don’t have the skill
So, why do DWP take benefits away when you’re providing more hours than any paid medical professional? 🧵
Is it because it’s better for the long person or because they know they aren’t trained and don’t have the skill
So, why do DWP take benefits away when you’re providing more hours than any paid medical professional? 🧵