Monthly Archives: March 2012

Terminally-ill north Norfolk woman weds partner at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

March 16, 2012   Cancer, Carers, Norfolk

A terminally-ill woman from north Norfolk has fulfilled a life-long dream of getting married, despite being given only weeks to live.

By DONNA-LOUISE BISHOP
Thursday, March 15, 2012
9:37 PM

 

With only days to live after being diagnosed with cancer, Heather Cutting marries Trevor Collings in the chapel at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Photo by Simon Finlay

Cancer sufferer Heather Cutting, 48, and her partner Trevor Collings, 47, tied the knot at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital today, in front of 40 of their closest family and friends.

The couple, who met 11 years ago when Mr Collings parked outside her previous home in Gimmingham, moved to Chapel Road at Roughton eight years ago after finding their “dream bungalow”.

They had almost finished renovating their home when she became ill on New Year’s Eve last year.

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Home care is disgraceful, says consumer group Which?

March 16, 2012   Carers, Older care, ukcuts

Older people are suffering “disgraceful” home care

Josie Clarke    Friday 16 March 2012

Older people are suffering “disgraceful” home care including
missed medication and confinement to soiled beds, an undercover
investigation revealed.

Undercover researchers for the Which? consumer group reported missed visits, food out out of reach and vulnerable people left without a way of getting to the bathroom.

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Childline founder Rantzen plans Silver service for the elderly

March 16, 2012   Carers, disability, Older care
Esther Rantzen is launching a new telephone counselling service for vulnerable elderly people.

Esther Rantzen

Esther Rantzen is launching a new telephone counselling service for vulnerable elderly people.

Writing about her plans in the Daily Mail, the television presenter and one-time parliamentary candidate explained that she wanted the new charity to combat loneliness and the feeling “that if you ceased to exist no one would miss you”.

She said the new telephone befriending service would be called “The Silver Line” and would be a point for older people to gain information, friendship and help with serious problems, as well as advice about organisations to contact as the next step.

It comes a quarter of a century after she established Childline, launched in the wake of a BBC programme about child abuse.

Ms Rantzen, 71, said: “Loneliness particularly strikes older people who are used to having a purpose in life, to being needed.

“Gradually, the community they used to belong to has shrunk away to nothing; children have moved out, bereavement or divorce means their partners have gone ” .

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