Author Archives: Maureen
Disability tests ‘sending sick and disabled back to work’
People deemed too sick or disabled to work are being refused their benefits because the current assessment is inadequate, according to the expert appointed to review it.
By Andrew Hough
12:00AM BST 30 Jul 2012
Prof Malcolm Harrington, the government appointed adviser on testing welfare claimants, admitted the work fitness test was “patchy”.
He said that as a result of the flaws in the 13 week assessment, which tests physical fitness as well as mental skills, some claimants who were genuinely unable to work, have suffered.
He made the comments during an investigation into the system, introduced by the last Labour government, by the BBC’s Panorama programme.
“There are certainly areas where it’s still not working and I am sorry there are people going through a system which I think still needs improvement,” he said.
The programme, which airs on Monday night, features the story of one man who suffered from heart failure and died 39 days after being declared fit for work.
Norwich Door to Door charity raises £30,000 to buy new bus for elderly and disabled people
The accessible transport charity Norwich Door to Door has raised more than £30,000 in just six months to add a new minibus to its city fleet.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
2.39 PM
Norwich Door to Door charity will be adding an eighth bus to its fleet after raising £30,000.With £33,000 in the kitty, an order has been placed for the charity’s eighth bus, which is scheduled for delivery in November.
It will give the charity the capacity to wipe out the two month waiting list of people who want to begin using the service, which is designed for the disabled and elderly whose mobility problems prevent them using ordinary public transport.
Norwich Door to Door chief executive Jill Gaul said: “We’d like to thank everyone who chipped in to help us meet the demand that we know is there. The new bus will be the crowning achievement of our 20th anniversary year.”
Contributions to the fundraising have been large and small. They included £10,000 from the National Lottery Awards for All fund and £5,000 from the Geoffrey Watling Charitable Trust, down to supporters and users of the service making individual donations of a few pounds. Two supporters, Ruby Clift and Chris Yeates, raised £901 with a sponsored cycle ride.
Older people urged to drink more water
Drinking water helps to maintain your body temperature during hot weather
Jul 24 2012 By David Godsall
CARE bosses in Leicestershire are urging older people to drink more water, tea and soft drinks during the current warm spell, to avoid dehydration.
Leicestershire County Council raised the issue due to concerns that many older people are not drinking enough, which can lead to health problems.
David Sprason, the council’s acting deputy leader, said: “People need to drink two and a half pints of fluid per day and even more when its hot. Tap water is one of the best things you can drink its cheap and its high quality.
