Author Archives: Maureen

WEST NORFOLK: Dementia patient angry at cutbacks

May 5, 2013   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia, ukcuts

Sunday 5 May 2013

WEST NORFOLK: Dementia patient angry at cutbacks

Published on 05/05/2013 13:00

A mental health patient has criticised planned cuts in dementia services as a money-saving operation.

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust announced two weeks ago that staff numbers in Dementia and Complexity in Later Life services in West and Central Norfolk would be cut from 178 to 137.

The redundancies were said to be part of a four-year strategy involving “huge and complex” changes including new local commissioning arrangements and financial restraints caused by the recession and public spending cuts.

A former patient of the Fermoy Unit in Lynn, James Cramp, 69, of Columbia Way, was concerned about job cuts at the Chatterton House dementia unit and the Fermoy Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

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Muscular dystrophy sufferer told he must move into care home to save NHS money

May 4, 2013   Carers, Muscular dystrophy, ukcuts

Muscular dystrophy man told he must move out of his Wisbech home and into care home to save NHS money

Lee Thorne, muscular dystrophy sufferer is appealing against a decision for him to be in a care home and not in his bungalow. Left: Christine Morgan, Lee Thorne and Wendy Trowler. Lee Thorne, muscular dystrophy sufferer is appealing against a decision for him to be in a care home and not in his bungalow. Left: Christine Morgan, Lee Thorne and Wendy Trowler.

By Kath Sansom
Saturday, May 4, 2013
8:58 AM

A 45 YEAR old man with muscular dystrophy is appealing against a decision by NHS officials which will force him to move out of his Wisbech bungalow and spend the rest of his life in a care home in Peterborough.

Lee Thorne, who has been in his purpose built bungalow for 13 years, says the decision would destroy his quality of life. Mr Thorne, who enjoys days out to London, trips to the coast, concerts and museum visits with friends or carers, says being in a home would mean a future of “existing” instead of living his days to the full.

“My dignity has not been taken into account. This has been forced on me. I just want to live my own quiet life in the comfort of my own home,” said Mr Thorney of Victoria Road, who this week was allowed back to his bungalow for one day for the first time in 10 months.

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Postcode lottery of care for Scots MS sufferers

April 29, 2013   Carers, Multiple Sclerosis, ukcuts

GLARING gaps in the treatment and support available for multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers in Scotland are revealed in a report out today – described as a sobering wake-up call for the health service.

According to the study, only about one-third of sufferers who could benefit from life-transforming medicines are taking them – one of the worst rates in Europe.

Four NHS boards are failing to meet official standards for giving patients access to the range of specialists they need, according to the research by the MS Society.

The report, titled A Lottery of Treatment and Care – MS Services across Scotland and the UK, reveals one-quarter of patients say they cannot see a neurologist when they need help with their symptoms.

Christine Carlin, director of the charity in Scotland, says in the foreword: “This report should be a sobering wake-up call for all of us working to improve the lives of people with MS in the UK.

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