Author Archives: Maureen
Family’s fears over budget cuts to carers
Family’s fears over budget cuts to carers
Glen Padley (pictured left) with his sister Gillian Webster and her partner Ron Sawyer who fear Glen will be forced into a home if his budget is cut.A carer fears she will be unable to continue looking after her mentally disabled brother due to budget cuts, which may force him into a home.
Gillian Webster has been caring for her 47-year-old brother Glen Padley for the past two years in Skegness with funding from Sheffield County Council – where Glen used to live with their father until his death.
With Glen’s care budget transferring to Lincolnshire County Council in November, Gillian claims the money will be cut leaving her unable to afford the additional help she requires to keep Glen out of a home and in the community.
She said: “I think it’s disgusting, they’re just passing him around like a parcel.
New era of five-yearly doctor checks starts
New era of five-yearly doctor checks starts
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt: “Doctors will get a chance to address deficiencies”
Regular checks on doctors’ skills will start from December, heralding the biggest shake-up in medical regulation for more than 150 years.
The UK’s 220,000 doctors will have annual appraisals, with a decision taken every five years on whether they are fit to continue working.
But it will be April 2016 before the vast majority of the first round of checks have been done.
The health secretary said it was about addressing “deficiencies” in skills.
Jeremy Hunt said that if doctors failed to satisfy the standards of the General Medical Council (GMC) they would be prevented from practising.
But he said the new system was about identifying where there were “gaps” in knowledge or skills and giving doctors a “chance to put those issues right”.
Universal Credit: Disabled people 'to lose out'
17 October 2012 Last updated at 09:19
Universal Credit: Disabled people ‘to lose out’
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson: “We want to bring to people’s attention how their benefits might change”
Up to half a million disabled people and their families stand to lose out under the government’s proposed Universal Credit, a report says.
The Children’s Society, Citizens Advice and Disability Rights UK say 100,000 households with children could have incomes reduced by up to £28 a week.
They are urging ministers to reconsider their plans.
But the government called the report “highly selective” and said it could lead to “irresponsible scaremongering”.
The Universal Credit will replace Jobseeker’s allowance, tax credits, income support, employment and support allowance – formerly known as incapacity benefit – and housing benefits with a single payment.
The system will be “piloted” in parts of north-east England next April and will come into force across Britain for new claimants from October 2013.
