In a former life in newspapers, it was at this time of year that the dreaded churn of annual reviews and previews came…
Ups and downs of the months gone by and ill- informed soothsaying for the year ahead served only to plug the festive news glut.
Pity the junior reporter seeking their highlights of 2020. This year feels less a series of chronological news events and more a mighty tempest that has shaken our entire reality off course.
There are some positives shining through the storm, but their longevity can barely be contemplated before we’ve worked out exactly what 2020 was all about.
There has been much talk of the great technology embrace; and telemedicine and digital health purveyors have certainly been among the winners this year.
New ways of working have emerged and now feel like they’re here to stay, with hours spent travelling to meetings replaced by a few moments positioning laptops and checking audio.
Other silverlinings of the year include fresh investment in health innovation and greater respect for key workers in all their many roles.
Perhaps the most widely felt positive of 2020, however, is its hammer-blow reminder of the importance of human interaction. Smiles hidden behind masks. Embraces blocked by glass. Conversations hindered by dodgy wifi. Each momentary expression of COVID life reminds us of what we’re missing – and hopefully what we can look forward to in 2021.
Neuro-rehab professionals have fought hard to preserve what remnants of direct human interaction they safely can in the lives of their clients.
Many facilities have moved heaven and earth to enable safe visiting of family members, and the crucial interactions with the cast of professionals helping them on the road to independence.
And this is no mere sentimentality or what corporate speak terms a ‘nice-to-have’. It is borne out of a recognition of the pivotal input of people, both family members and professionals, in the rehab journey which no amount of machinery or bandwidth can replace.
I wish all our readers the very best for 2021 – a year which is loaded with optimism and an eagerness to move on from 2020’s challenges.
As the Blairite anthem goes, things can only get better!
Andrew Mernin is editor-in-chief at NR Times.
