Monthly Archives: September 2013

A new project is giving voice to people with dementia and their carers

Love letters

A new project is giving voice to people with dementia and their carers

by Sep 25, 2013

Tommy Whitelaw-JG

Over the last two years, Tommy Whitelaw has received hundreds of love letters. Wives write pouring out their feelings for their husbands. Sons tell of their devotion to their mothers. Childhood rivalries are long forgotten as siblings affectionately put pen to paper.

Two years ago, Whitelaw began sharing his own love story. His experiences as a full-time carer to his mum, Joan, who had developed vascular dementia, had opened his eyes to the crushing blow the condition deals some families. Seeking comfort and support, he launched a campaign from his bedroom asking others to write to him about their experiences. He pledged to take their letters to the Scottish Parliament and pounded the streets of Scotland to collect many in person.

“Every letter I’ve received has the word love in it. Every letter. But in all those letters love is matched with loneliness and isolation – the exact same things that I was feeling.”

Many of the letters end with a declaration that the author just wanted to write to someone who wouldn’t judge them – a sentiment he was also all-too-familiar with.

“I felt judged at all times caring for my mum. And sometimes when you feel judged it stops you asking for help. When you feel judged, you think, ‘Well, I will try to do this myself.’ And you can’t do it yourself.”

Call for Norfolk groups to work together to give louder voice for cancer patients

“We will not settle for the status quo”.

Cancer summit meeting at the Assembly House in Norwich. Jean Mossman. Photo: Bill Smith Cancer summit meeting at the Assembly House in Norwich. Jean Mossman. Photo: Bill Smith

Wednesday, September 25, 2013
6:30 AM

 

“We will not settle for the status quo”. That was the message from cancer patients, carers and support group officials yesterday at a cancer conference in Norwich.

Forty delegates from a host of charities and support groups gathered for the first Norfolk Voices for Cancer event, which is aimed to give patients a stronger voice by joining forces.

The summit at the Assembly House was organised following the disbandment of the Anglia Cancer Network earlier this year as a result of a major reform of the NHS.

4,000 care homes have been allowed to break the law

More than 4,000 care homes are being allowed to break the law by regulators, with no registered manager in charge of residents.

CQC chief executive David Behan

CQC chief executive David Behan Photo: REX

The Care Quality Commmission (CQC) has turned a blind eye to the failing, even though its chief executive has admitted that said such homes are far more likely to be putting vulnerable people at risk.

A non-executive for the regulator described the situation as “shocking,” as the organisation announced plans for a crackdown, with criminal sanctions and fines of up to £4,000 for homes which have no-one in charge.

A report to CQC said there were currently more than 3,900 care homes without a registered manager, equivalent to two per cent of all the residential homes.

Of these about a quarter had not had a registered manager for more than two years and would be the first to be targeted.

Registered managers of care homes are supposed to be held accountable for the quality of services in care homes, and be held accountable for failings.