Monthly Archives: January 2013

Care charities ‘would be subject to new corporate abuse law’

January 17, 2013   Carers, charities, disability

A new offence of corporate neglect

Governance | Tania Mason | 17 Jan 2013

Care charities have lined up to support a proposed new law to hold care providers from all sectors – including charities – criminally accountable for neglect and abuse in hospitals and care homes.

Former care services minister Paul Burstow introduced a new Bill in Parliament yesterday that would amend the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to include a new offence of corporate neglect.  It attempts to ensure that abuse of the kind suffered by residents of the notorious Winterbourne View care home can never happen again.

Under the Bill, corporate bodies – whether private sector corporations, public sector entities, or charities – would face unlimited fines, remedial orders and publicity orders.  Such penalties mirror the sanctions introduced in the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.

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Disabled people 'could be forgotten' amid social care reform

January 17, 2013   benefits, Carers, disability

A third of people getting social care are younger people with disabilities

By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News

Adults with disabilities in England are being deprived of basic care and support and are at risk of being forgotten in the wider reform of the social care system, campaigners say.

Much of the focus on care has been centred around the crisis facing the elderly.

But a coalition of charities has warned people with disabilities under the age of 65 are being neglected too.

They said the squeeze on council care meant many were already missing out.

And the groups, including Mencap, Scope, the National Autistic Society, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Sense, warned the situation could deteriorate under the forthcoming reform of the system.

Ministers are soon expected to announce a cap will be placed on the costs people face for care.

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Dementia patients going undiagnosed

January 17, 2013   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Half the people who have dementia have not been diagnosed

 

Published on Wednesday 16 January 2013 09:03

Latest figures reveal there are almost 5,500 living in central Lancashire who have dementia.

However, it is believed that around half the people who have dementia have not been diagnosed and are living with the disease without receiving the help and support they need.

The Alzheimer’s Society has revealed an increase in the number of people living with dementia with 42,000 people diagnosed with the condition – an increase of almost 4,000 since last year.

However, there are thought to be another 43,000 people living with the condition who have not been diagnosed yet.

In the central Lancashire area which includes Preston and surrounding areas, there were 2,544 diagnosed with dementia in 2012 compared to 2,313 in 2011.

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