Author Archives: Maureen

Norfolk’s pledge on mental health care

August 12, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, mental health, Norfolk

Police, political leaders and health service chiefs have joined forces to pledge an improvement to mental health care in Norfolk.

12th August 2014

The county is the first in the country to sign up to the government’s mental health crisis care agreement, a joint statement on how public bodies should work together to tackle mental health problems.

The declaration has been signed by bodies including Norfolk Police, the county’s police and crime commissioner, Stephen Bett, and Norfolk County Council, plus a host of health trusts, commissioning groups and charities.

It states: “We will work together to improve the system of care and support so that people in mental health crisis are kept as safe as possible.

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Lack of funding could threaten Care Act reforms, councils warn

August 8, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, Older care, Social care, ukcuts

Local Government Association poll highlights council concerns over cost burdens of landmark reforms

By on August 7, 2014 in Adults, Care Act 2014

Nine out of ten councils believe that key planks of the Care Act will be jeopardised unless the government gives local authorities ‘adequate’ funding to implement the reforms, a survey by the Local Government Association has found.

In reforms to be introduced in April 2016, the Act will allow self-funding service users to request an assessment to be considered for a ‘cap’ on their care costs. But the LGA poll of 152 local authorities found that councils had “major” concerns over the cost of the policy.

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Life should go on after caring stops

August 6, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, Scotland

Carers have a lot of skills and experience to offer once they stop care-giving  but we need to offer them more support.

6th August 2014

by DR JOYCE CAVAYE

Carers: is there life after care-giving? Have you or anyone you know, ever been an unpaid carer? Three in every five people will be carers at some point in their lives so it is likely that you will know someone who is or has been a carer.

The number of carers in the UK is estimated to be around 6.5 million.

In Scotland, there are about 650,000 unpaid carers providing care and support to family members, partners, friends and neighbours who are affected by ill health, frailty or disability. These numbers are projected to rise over the next 20 years, in response to an aging population and fewer social services.

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