Author Archives: wendy

Tommy on tour to spread the word about dementia

For years, he toured the globe with some of the biggest names in pop. Now he tours hospitals, spreading awareness about dementia.

Tommy Whitelaw ran the global merchandising operations for U2, the Spice Girls and Kylie until 2007, when his mum, Joan, was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

He was her carer for five years, until she died in September, 2012. Now Mr Whitelaw, from Glasgow, works on the Dementia Carers Voices project with the Health and Social Care Alliance.

‘Take care complaints more seriously’ regulator says

Complaints about health and social care should be taken more seriously, says the Care Quality Commission regulator.

Its report said there was a wide variation in the way complaints were handled across the NHS, primary care and adult social care services in England.

Too often people were met with a “defensive culture”, the report said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has welcomed the move to improve care and said progress had been made.

Disabled man ‘put up for auction’ on care website

James Knight’s sister, Emma, was shocked to find his details on a website

The family of a man with a learning disability say they are horrified that their local council put him “up for auction” on a care website.

Emma Knight found Devon County Council was inviting companies to bid to look after her 45-year-old brother James.

The website listed other personal details that James’s family say could easily identify him.