What is your name? My name is Ulrike Halsch
What are the benefits of working within a patient organisation?
The voluntary work in the patient organization is a lot of fun and is very diverse, but it requires a lot of responsibility. It is not guided by economic interests and has a social value because of its members. In the patient organization, you can work together towards goals for the patient. It is motivating to have so many other support points and encouraging to achieve something for the community as a whole. That’s why it is also very important that the organizations are also supported by each individual to tackle problems and find solutions together. For me, it is also important to have good, neutral cooperation with other health associations, doctors and health insurance companies. Networking between politics and associations is also indispensable in order to be able to demonstrate organizational expertise from different perspectives.
How do you like spending your free time?
I like to spend my free time with my hobbies, glass art and gardening. My family, dog and nice friends are very important to me. If there is time left I love to travel.
What keeps you motivated on the tough days?
In the basic work you experience a lot of suffering and tough stories from the patients. On the one hand it is an absolute highlight when you have made it and were able to help patients to achieve happiness and progress in life.
What makes you angry or frustrated?
Rarely anything makes me really angry, but what I don’t like are falsehood and being deceitful. I always try to be calm and adjust to the situation, because you can’t make other people change. What you can do is change yourself or at least your attitude to change something in the overall situation.
Ulrike Halsch
President of Dystonie und Du e.V, Germany
