Author Archives: wendy

Care for the elderly is not good enough

March 19, 2013   Carers, health, hospital, mental health, Older care

Basic care for elderly ‘lacking’

By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News

Elderly patient in hospital corridor The CQC looked at standards across care homes and hospitals

Basic care for the elderly in hospitals and care homes in England is still not good enough, the regulator says.

The Care Quality Commission report, based on a snapshot of services, found about a third failed to meet all the standards for nutrition and dignity.

It cited examples of call-bells being left unanswered, bad manners and a lack support at meal times.

It comes after the NHS was criticised by the Stafford Hospital scandal public inquiry for not putting patients first.

The Stafford report, published last month, said the NHS system was more focused on corporate self-interest than getting services right.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections were carried out before those findings were released.

Read More

Patients and carers will get more help

March 18, 2013   Cancer, Carers, Depression, Diabetes, disability, health

Thousands of patients with long-term conditions and dementia could benefit as GP contract proposals are unveiled

March 18, 2013

Thousands more patients will soon feel the benefits of better care at their GP surgery as an ambitious vision to improve the lives of people with long term conditions and people with dementia becomes a reality.

From April, changes to the GP contract, which have been announced today, will see millions of pounds redirected into better care for patients.

Money that was once given to doctors for performing routine office functions like record keeping will now be used to reward steps which directly support and benefit patients. This includes better control of blood pressure and cholesterol, to prevent heart attacks and stroke, and assessing patients at risk from dementia.

In total, £164 million will be pulled away from bureaucratic box ticking exercises and into better care.

Read More

Fighting in High court for Care

March 18, 2013   Arthritis, autism, Carers, disability

Disabled pensioner set for High Court battle with council over One Barnet scheme

Campaigner Maria Nash outside Barnet House in Whetstone. Picture: Polly Hancock. Campaigner Maria Nash outside Barnet House in Whetstone. Picture: Polly Hancock.

by Tim Lamden Monday, March 18, 2013
7:00 AM

A disabled pensioner is preparing for a High Court battle with Barnet Council this week in a bid to topple its controversial £320million outsourcing plans.

Lawyers instructed by New Barnet resident Maria Nash, 68, will go head-to-head with the council’s legal team in the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow for a three-day hearing challenging the legality of the One Barnet outsourcing scheme.

Ms Nash, who has received government aid to fund the legal bid, called for the judicial review, citing a lack of consultation about the plans to outsource a swathe of council services to two private companies.

She also insists the council has failed to meet equality obligations in relation to the plans, which attracted a petition with 8,000 signatures in January calling for a referendum on One Barnet.

In a cabinet meeting last month it was revealed that should the High Court rule in favour of Ms Nash, it would cost the council £15million annually to deal with the collapse of One Barnet and would force a re-think on plans to freeze council tax over the next two years.

“This is a warning to everybody else that there is a better way of doing things,” said Ms Nash. “If a council consults with residents they can give more insight on how better to spend money and how better to cater for the needs of the citizens – much better than a private company which only caters for profit.”

Ms Nash is confined to a wheelchair due to severe arthritis and requires a full-time carer to help her with daily life. She also suffers from osteoporosis and diabetes.

The mother-of-one, whose husband died in 2001 after contracting a hospital bug and who lost her 13-year-old daughter to meningitis in 1992, has an autistic son she also helps to care for.

Read More