Category Archives: Uncategorized
Norwich disabled man’s holiday from hell
An amputee says he suffered a ‘holiday from hell’ in Turkey and has complained to a travel firm about his experiences.
David Bale Saturday, June 9, 2012
11:00 AM
Patrick Martin, 64, from St Barnabas Court, off Orchard Street, in Norwich, uses a wheelchair and crutches after having one leg amputated, and was on holiday last month for the first time since the death of his partner.
He booked the 14-day trip with Norwich’s Thomas Cook in Brigg Street and requested medical seats on the flight, which was operated by Pegasus Airways.
He said he was assured that his disability would not be a problem and he would be well looked after, but he says he started having problems on the plane.
Mr Martin said he had to sit in cramped seats away from the front rows, where there is more leg room, received no help putting his crutches and rucksack into the overhead compartment and had to stand on his crutches while waiting to use the toilet instead of being seated.
When the plane arrived in Turkey he again had to get the crutches and rucksack from the overhead compartment. While he was wheeled to the airport carousel to collect his luggage, he said he was left to drag himself and his luggage to the coach.
The holiday rep on arrival in Turkey did not even know a disabled person was on the flight, he said.
His problems continued at the hotel where he was not given an adapted room, despite being assured one.
Creative Carers Group by the BBC
Family Carers invited to make arts and crafts to take home
THU 7 JUN
FREE
Creative Carers Group
Nursteed Centre, Devizes
Run by: Carer Support Wiltshire
Come along and make some lovely arts and crafts with us to take home!
09:30–12:30
Suitable for 18+
Amenities available at this location:
The Creative Carers group is a time out opportunity open to all unpaid Carers living in Wiltshire.
An unpaid carer is someone giving help and support to a relative or friend who cannot manage without their help due to age, physical or mental illness, substance misuse, eating disorder or disability.
The creative group hosted by the charity Carer Support Wiltshire meets regularly to give carers someone time out from their caring role.
Elderly care petition could go to Parliament after gaining 130,000 signatures
Campaigners for an overhaul of the elderly care system hope to trigger a debate in Parliament after collecting more than 130,000 signatures on a petition to David Cameron.
By John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor
7:00AM BST 15 May 2012
The petition, supported by more than 50 organisations working with elderly and disabled people, demands urgent action to introduce a new system of social care.
It comes amid claims of “betrayal” after last week’s Queen’s Speech which included a commitment only to a draft bill to reform the system with no mention of how care should be funded.
A white paper is due in the coming weeks to set out some aspects of how social care could be reformed.