Author Archives: Maureen

Carers are being let down by Government, says report

June 10, 2013   Carers, carersweek, Older care, ukcuts

 

 

Carers are being “woefully let down” when they start out and are often left with no help in their first few years in the role, research out today says.
Emily Dugan Author Biography

Monday 10 June 2013

Three quarters of carers say they were left unprepared for their caring role and eight in ten were not aware of the support available, according to a study by ten major national charities. The research into 2,100 British carers was commissioned by charities including Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, to mark today’s start of Carers Week.

There are around 6.5 million carers in the UK and the charities are calling for the Government, GPs and health and social care professionals to ensure that more support is given to carers from when they first start taking on care responsibilities.

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Hard-up families offered computers for £24

June 9, 2013   Carers, internet

Cheap as microchips

Exclusive
By DANIEL JONES, Consumer Editor
Published: 12 hrs ago

MILLIONS of less well-off families not on the internet are to be offered computers for just £24.

The offer also includes broadband from £2.99 a month, so Brits can get a PC and a year of web access for less than £60.

It is the latest push in the government-backed Get Online@Home initiative — aimed at the 10.8 million people without home web access.

The scheme is the brainchild of web expert Baroness Lane Fox, the Government’s Digital Champion and founder of lastminute.com.

She said: “With the cost of internet access cited as a key reason for not being online, this is an incredible saving and will transform the lives of everyone who hasn’t been able to get online before.”

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‘New law needed’ after collapse of care home neglect case

June 4, 2013   Carers, Older care
4 June 2013 Last updated at 08:55

‘New law needed’ after collapse of care home neglect case

By Fran Abrams BBC File on 4

A silhouette image of a woman passing a cup of tea to an elderly lady. Just 170 prosecutions for wilful neglect of the elderly were brought last year.

The collapse of Britain’s biggest investigation into elderly care home neglect has prompted calls for a reform of the law.

Former care minister, Paul Burstow wants a new offence of corporate neglect to make it easier to hold those running bad care homes to account.

He is to table an amendment to the government’s Care Bill which is currently going through parliament.

Care Minister Norman Lamb says he is considering the issue.

Mr Burstow – who stepped down in last September’s reshuffle – said he was determined to ensure the government created the new law following the end of Operation Jasmine.

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