Monthly Archives: December 2011

£66 million programme in Scotland to recycle old computers

December 30, 2011   Carers, Scotland

Festive boost for Highland communities and children

 

Festive boost for communities and children in the Highlands

An innovative project to recycle thousands of computers for use by communities and deserving children across the Scottish Highlands has been launched, in a festive season boost for many in the area.

 

The huge initiative to renovate equipment for re-use instead of landfill is funded by technology company Fujitsu and The Highland Council.

 

It is a spin-off from the current £66 million programme to replace and upgrade The Highland Council’s office and schools IT systems and assist the council in meeting targets to reduce its energy use and carbon emissions.

 

Fujitsu is investing over £300,000 in the recycling project to have up to 3,500 computers processed by specialist north of Scotland social enterprise ReBOOT and then redistributed across the region.
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Many patients really value their relationship with their GP

December 30, 2011   Carers, health

Patients will be able to register with any GP: ministers

Patients will be able to register with a GP miles away from where they live under Coalition plans to give them greater choice, it has been announced.

By , Medical Editor

 

People will be able to have a GP near work or keep the same family doctor when the move house as ministers abolish GP practice boundaries.

The scheme will be piloted in parts of London, Manchester and Nottingham despite concerns from family doctors about the continuity of care.

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Warning over cuts to care of Norfolk elderly

December 30, 2011   Carers, Norfolk, Older care, ukcuts

Campaigners fear death rates among the elderly will increase this winter because of spending cuts.

Richard Wheeler Friday, December 30, 2011
6:00 AM

 

The concerns have been raised after Age UK director Michelle Mitchell yesterday warned elderly care will be plunged into “absolute crisis” by the government decreasing the cash available to council social care budgets.

She added this could end up costing more in the long run, with thousands of older people ending up in hospital rather than receiving care at home.

And Lady Joyce Hopwood, chairman of the Norfolk Older People’s Strategic Partnership Board, said more vulnerable and frail people were missing out on the help they needed.

She added that this was because councils and charitable groups were attempting to manage decreasing budgets and increasing workloads.

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