Author Archives: Maureen

Carers at breaking point

November 29, 2013   Carers, ukcuts, Wales
29 November 2013 Last updated at 08:09

Carers at breaking point, Older People’s Commissioner Sarah Rochira says

 Sarah Rochira says the system should fit around carers

More needs to be done to support carers who are at breaking point, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales says.

Sarah Rochira is concerned that too many carers across Wales are missing out on much-needed help and their work is often undervalued.

She said it can often lead to a deterioration of their mental and physical health.

Ministers said a “significantly strengthened and expanded policy” was in place to support carers.

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'Bedroom Tax' Leaves Disabled Fearing Eviction

November 27, 2013   Carers, disability, ukcuts

‘Bedroom Tax’ Leaves Disabled Fearing Eviction

 

11:00am 27th November 2013

 

Thousands of disabled people are cutting back on food and heating to pay for the so-called “bedroom tax”, according to a group of leading charities.

The chief executives of leading groups including Disability Rights UK, Scope, Carers UK, The Royal National Institute of Blind People and the Council For Disabled Children say the policy is having a “devastating impact” on people with disabilities.

More than 50 organisations have signed a letter to Iain Duncan Smith calling for immediate action to exempt disabled people from the Spare Room Subsidy.

They claim that it is harder for people in adapted housing to move and that “it is hitting disabled people who need an extra room for essential home adaptations or equipment which enable them to live independently”.

The letter to the Department of Work and Pensions states: “We have been deeply frustrated at reports that disabled people and their families are protected from this policy.

“The stark evidence since the policy was implemented in April clearly shows they are not.

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Should we have more access to our medical records?

November 26, 2013   Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Carers, hospital

Should we have more access to our medical records? Norfolk MP George Freeman presents bill to call for “full and unfettered” access

MP George Freeman MP George Freeman

Tuesday, November 26, 2013
10:28 AM

Patients should be given “full and unfettered” access to their medical records, Norfolk MP George Freeman will tell parliament today as he calls for a change in the law so patients own their own medical data.In a Ten Minute Rule Bill the Mid Norfolk MP will call for patients to be able to hand their medical data over to researchers to help drive new treatments for hard-to-cure diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.

His bill is supported by more than 50 UK medical charities including the prostate cancer campaign group Movember, Marie Curie, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, and a number of leading research doctors.

George Freeman MP said that patient records were too often sitting on hospital shelves gathering dust – allowing failed treatments to be repeated over and over without anyone gathering the evidence to see what works and what fails – and why.

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