Monthly Archives: March 2012

Norfolk and Suffolk’s new mental health trust marks its launch with a showcase

March 6, 2012   Carers, mental health, Norfolk

Events 22 to 29 March 2012

Edited by Andy Porter editor@wellbeingnorfolk.co.uk
Members of the public are invited to join–in a program of events to mark three–months of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust was formed at the start of this year when Suffolk and Norfolk mental health services merged, to create one organisation.
The aim of the events, which take place between 22 March and 29 March, is to raise awareness of the Trust and showcase its services to local communities that it provides services for.
The events start on 22 March with an evening of art and drama to commemorate St Clement’s Hospital in Ipswich, the last Victorian asylum in Suffolk.

The following day the Trust will host the regional launch of Triangle of Care, a new national initiative aimed at including people with mental health needs and their carers more effectively in care planning.
On Saturday 24 March the Trust will be on–hand at Chapelfield in Norwich and Tower Ramparts in Ipswich to meet with members of the public, and get talking about mental health.
From 26 to 29 March there will be a series of mental health roadshows at libraries across the two counties – including Wymondham, King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, and Felixstowe, Stowmarket, Beccles and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

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Dealing with dementia

March 5, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers

Dealing with dementia is frustrating for the person with the condition, but also for family carers.

5 March, 2012 | By Katie Smith

Providing this sort of care at home is a 24-hour, seven-day a week job with little or no time to relax. From personal experience, I have seen the devastating effect of Alzeimer’s on my family and the difficulty in getting support from health and social services.

My grandparents celebrated 60 years of marriage last year. Since my Nan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago, her mental state has inevitably worsened. My Grandad is now her full-time carer although my parents, myself and our family help as much as we can.

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Joint letter to Andrew Lansley on reform of care funding

March 5, 2012   Carers, disability

An alliance of charities, care homes and housing providers says the government must not duck its commitment to reform

Dear Secretary of State,

On Tuesday 6th March, hundreds of older and disabled people, their families and carers will travel to Westminster with the same message for Parliament: we must end the crisis in our social care system.

They will speak for the millions of individuals and families we represent who are in desperate need of care and either going without or receiving inadequate support.

Years of underfunding, combined with rising demand have resulted in a social care system that is in crisis: an unfair and confusing postcode lottery which is now facing additional cuts. This is a challenge which successive Governments have failed to overcome – but we cannot wait any longer.

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