BBC radio drama about 15-minute care sessions inspired by real care worker

A radio play about a care worker campaigning against 15-minute care visits has been inspired by the challenges of a real care worker.

The Radio 4 play called ‘Flying Visits’ is loosely based on the experiences of real-life care worker Caroline Firmin, who is given only 15 minutes to carry out her care duties.

Ms Firmin was feeling exhausted at having to look after the elderly and vulnerable people on her patch in such short visits and campaigned in her area to get the practice eradicated.

In a symbolic gesture, each episode of the new radio drama will also last for 15 minutes. Playwright Charlotte Bogard Macleod explained the concept behind the play. She said: “I’ve always been obsessed by time and wondered what could be achieved in a quarter of an hour. From Jamie Oliver’s meal plans to Andy Warhol’s fame, 15 minutes is an iconic slot of time.

“Research led me to an article about home care workers and the flying visits they are forced to make. It seemed extraordinary that as a society we could allow so little time to care for the elderly and most vulnerable.

“For the Flying Visits research, I talked to care workers, home care companies, councillors, MPs, doctors and government ministers. All were struggling with a system that clearly wasn’t working and all agreed social care was in crisis. But two years on, nothing has changed. It’s time to fix that now.”

The drama stars BAFTA-winning actress Claire Rushbrook as the lead figure, Hayleigh.

Many of the character’s experiences will be reminiscent of those of Ms Firmin, who recently gave an impassioned speech to councillors at Southwark Council, the South London borough responsible for commissioning care services.

Although there has been some improvement in the industry to try to eradicate 15-minute visits in recent years, they are still being commissioned by around a fifth of councils in England and Wales, according to UNISON.

UNISON national care officer Matt Egan – who helped Charlotte Bogard Macleod with her research – said: “This drama shines a light on a national scandal that must end.

“Care workers and the people they look after are being pushed to breaking point as dangerously short care visits have become the new norm.

“The elderly and those dedicated to caring for them are being failed by a government that’s slashed councils’ care budgets, requiring workers to do more and more in less and less time. This not only puts huge stress on employees, it also denies dignity to the vulnerable people they’re trying to help.

“In his first speech on the steps of Downing Street, the new Prime Minister pledged to fix social care. He must act now to save a system that’s creaking at the seams.”

Flying Visits was broadcast every day for a week on BBC Radio 4 immediately after Woman’s Hour. You can catch up on all episodes of the drama on the BBC website.

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