Tommy to you: Tommy Whitelaw Lincolnshire Tour Report

A joyful exploration of intelligent kindness, gentle honesty, Civility Saves Lives and so much more.

Well, the Tommy Tour happened - and it was fantastic!

It's fair to say that Tommy Whitelaw's recent visit to Lincolnshire has left a lasting impact on the county's health and care community.

Travelling 240 miles, and delivering 17 events at 8 venues, Tommy treated over 350 people working in health, care, and wellbeing, along with people with lived experience, to a joyful exploration of the importance and realities of person-centred care.

Tommy is the National Lead for Person-Centred Voices for the Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland and a passionate healthcare changemaker, delivering workshops all over the UK and North America, sharing person-centred care best practice.

For five years Tommy Whitelaw was a full-time carer for his late mother Joan who had Vascular Dementia. In 2011 he undertook a walk around Scotland’s towns and cities to collect hundreds of life stories and letters detailing the experiences of individuals who care for a loved one living with dementia.

Civility really does save lives!

It was a journey that taught him the importance of gentle honesty, that Civility really does Save Lives, and that listening is absolutely the best drug available. 

He shared powerful stories about the impact of kindness in healthcare, how small, meaningful interactions can transform a person's care, and why self-reflection—not criticism—leads to lasting change,

He also introduced the concept of ‘intelligent kindness’ and how the impact of 'busyness' affects our ability to care.

"When we are busy we do less of the beautiful stuff first…"

Tommy struck a particularly poignant chord when he reminded us that anyone who interacts, supports, or cares for a person becomes part of that person’s life story and love story.

And in Tommy's words:

“Who doesn’t want to be in a love story these days?”

Thank you, Tommy.

To read our Tommy Whitelaw Lincolnshire Tour report presentation as well as the Summary Report, see the right- hand panel of this page.  

Frustrated that you missed Tommy this time around? Then listen to his It's All About People Podcast episode (see link in right-hand panel) - and keep your eyes peeled for Tommy's return in Spring 2025 (yes, he's coming back!)