Category Archives: Norfolk

Tommy on tour to spread the word about dementia

For years, he toured the globe with some of the biggest names in pop. Now he tours hospitals, spreading awareness about dementia.

Tommy Whitelaw ran the global merchandising operations for U2, the Spice Girls and Kylie until 2007, when his mum, Joan, was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

He was her carer for five years, until she died in September, 2012. Now Mr Whitelaw, from Glasgow, works on the Dementia Carers Voices project with the Health and Social Care Alliance.

Norfolk and Suffolk mental health patients in beds miles from home

Up to 50 mental health patients in Norfolk and Suffolk had to be sent to other parts of England last week because of a shortage of beds and a shortfall in funding.

In June Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt criticised the “unacceptable” distances Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) patients had to travel for beds.

The NSFT said the trust was committed to cutting the use of out-of-area beds.

It cut the number from 34 to six by September, but it has gone up to 50.

Norfolk’s carers missing out on help

Wednesday, November 12, 2014
7:28 AM

Vast numbers of Norfolk’s 95,000 strong army of carers are not getting the support they are entitled to, social services bosses have admitted.

Organiser Les Eve(left) welcomes carers to the Carers Week main event at Costessey Community Centre. Photo by Simon Finlay.

Norfolk County Council officers have conceded there are “significant issues” around support to unpaid carers, of which there are an estimated 94,700 in the county.

Those carers, many of whom are looking after loved ones, save the NHS and other public services an estimated £1.6bn a year by using their time to help others.