Monthly Archives: December 2012
Christmas charity song launched by boy who communicates by blinking
Christmas charity song launched by boy who communicates by blinking
HE has spent most of his Christmas Days in hospital, but now a young boy who can only communicate by blinking is looking to bring some festive cheer to others with the release of a Christmas single.
Adam Bojelian, 12, who has cerebral palsy, is blind and suffers from a severe seizure disorder, is donating 50p from every download of Christmas Gibbons to the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.
And the Forthview Primary pupil has been given a boost after getting the backing of film star Ewan McGregor.
‘Never mind the patient, tick the box’
Regulation and inspection are often increased after a crisis
By Prof Sue Bailey President, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Scandals lead to inquiries and to recommendations – leading to a focus on filling in forms and ticking the right boxes.But in this week’s Scrubbing Up Sue Bailey, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, says it’s time to listen to those receiving the care.
Why do care standards break down? We’ve all read heartbreaking stories of elderly people with dementia or patients with learning difficulties being neglected, mistreated and abused.
When things go wrong, inquiries are set up, reports are published and lessons learnt.
Think Winterbourne View; Mid-Staffordshire; childcare in Rochdale, or the Carlisle Report.
At heart, the recommendations boil down to improving communication, listening, learning and acting. It means taking notice of what patients and service users have to say.
Blame culture
But when trying to deliver the right kind of care, the health service often addresses regulation, standard setting, inspection and monitoring.
Families face choice between food and heating, warn charities
By Gabriella Jozwiak, Thursday 06 December 2012
Families on benefits could be forced to choose between paying for food and heating, as a result of measures announced in the autumn statement, children’s charities have warned.
Children and young people’s organisations warned that families would be hit by the real-terms cuts to working-age benefits and tax credits.
Jobseeker’s Allowance, income support and child tax credit are among the working-age benefits that will increase by just one per cent over the next three years, equating to a real-terms cut, given that inflation is currently running at more than two per cent.
The Children’s Society suggested the one per cent cap would mean an unemployed, lone parent with one child and no other income will only receive about £4 more each month after housing costs in 2015.
