Author Archives: Maureen

NHS and social care ‘at breaking point’, medics and charities warn

The NHS and social care services are “at breaking point”, a group of leading medical groups and charities have said.

Writing in the Independent, they said the NHS had been through its “longest and most damaging budget squeeze” ever.

The letter says patient care and staff morale have suffered, adding: “Things cannot go on like this.”

It is addressed to the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats – all three parties have made major NHS pledges in recent days.

Leading figures from the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives, the Alzheimer’s Society, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Faculty of Public Health are among those who have signed the letter.

Disability benefit delays criticised

Delays in paying the new disability benefit are leaving many people without enough money to afford essential living costs, according to a report.

Citizens Advice Scotland said people are waiting an average of six months between claiming the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and receiving the payment.

This can have a knock-on effect on other benefit claims, it said.

PIP has been introduced in Scotland over the past year.

It is part of wider welfare reforms by the UK government, and has replaced the Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) as the main benefit that helps disabled people meet the costs of their basic daily living.

Pledge to make Norfolk businesses more dementia friendly

A project to make Norfolk the first dementia friendly county in the country has received a boost with the support from a number of major employers.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014
6:16 PM

A business breakfast was held in Norwich today, which was organised by the Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance, to explore ways of making local businesses more supportive towards people with dementia and their carers.

The meeting included representatives from Aviva, the East of England Co-op, Kettle Chips, Bernard Matthews, First Eastern Counties buses and was also attended by Norman Lamb, North Norfolk MP and government care minister.