Monthly Archives: October 2013

NHS Direct to close down next year

NHS Direct to close down next year

Woman on the phone Patients have struggled to get through to the 111 helpline

NHS Direct – one of the most recognisable names in the NHS – will be closed down in England next year.

The organisation, which is an NHS trust, got into financial difficulty after winning a number of the contracts for the 111 phone line.

It had already said it was pulling out of those – and this latest decision means its other services will closed or transferred to other NHS bodies.

The NHS Direct service began 15 years ago.

It ran the national telephone advice line from the late 1990s until April this year, when the 111 service was launched.

The 111 service was split into 46 different contracts and NHS Direct won 11 of them.

The easy ways for carers to avoid agonising back pain and injury

70 per cent of carers suffer back or shoulder pain.

Back pain is second only to stress as the most common cause of long-term sickness absences among UK employees. At the same time, 70 per cent of carers suffer back or shoulder pain.

These grim figures were reported last week by BackCare, the charity for healthier backs, to mark Back Care Awareness Week.

The Care Bill: the fight to end 15 minute home visits continues

The government has said it “fully agrees” with a shocking report which revealed earlier this month that local authorities are delivering more than 75 per cent of their care visits in just 15 minutes.

By: Information Daily Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 – 14:30 GMT
Leonard Cheshire Disability, a charity campaigning for good quality personal home care visits, revealed through a Freedom Of Information request that older or disabled people were being washed and dressed in just 15 minutes.

The Department of Health (DoH) in a response to the report said it fully agrees that it is unrealistic to think that 15 minutes is enough time to help people who are older or have a disability to do everyday things, “it is not fair” on those who need support and “it is not fair” on care workers.

DoH said, however, that ministers would not be able to support the charity’s campaign, but hoped that the charity will accept the amendments that the House of Lords have agreed in the Care Bill.

The Care Bill, which has been scrutinised by the House of Lords this past month, is aimed at reforming care and support for adults and making provision for safeguarding adults from abuse or neglect. It will outline care standards and the support carers expect to receive.