Category Archives: Carers

Autism Cannot Be Diagnosed By Brain Imaging Alone

November 6, 2012   autism, Carers

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 06 Nov 2012 – 0:00 PST

To diagnose autism reliably, we need to better understand what goes awry in people with the disorder

In a column appearing in the current issue of the journal Nature, McLean Hospital biostatistician Nicholas Lange, ScD, cautions against heralding the use of brain imaging scans to diagnose autism and urges greater focus on conducting large, long-term multicenter studies to identify the biological basis of the disorder.

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What do you think? Government pledge for end-of-life care welcomed by Norfolk families

November 6, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, hospice, Liverpool Care Pathway

Hospitals which fail to consult patients and their families over end-of-life care decisions could face legal action under new rules unveiled by North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb yesterday.

By DAVID BLACKMORE Tuesday, November 6, 2012
9:28 AM

Roy Cooper is unhappy that his wife Mary was put on the Liverpool Care Pathway at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt
Roy Cooper is unhappy that his wife Mary was put on the Liverpool Care Pathway at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt

Hospitals which fail to consult patients and their families over end-of-life care decisions could face legal action under new rules unveiled by North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb yesterday.

The care services minister said a new legal obligation in the NHS constitution would make “clear and explicit” the right of patients and their families to be informed over end-of-life treatment decisions, including the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP).

The announcement was last night welcomed by two West Norfolk families who claim their partners were put on the controversial care plan without being consulted or agreeing to it.

It also came as Denise Charlesworth-Smith, who lives in Brookville, near Methwold, yesterday met Conservative peer Baroness Knight who is calling for an independent inquiry to the care plan.

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Norfolk County Council announces £100,000 boost to help older people get through the winter

November 5, 2012   Carers, Norfolk, Older care

Norfolk County Council announces £100,000 boost to help older people get through the winter

Surviving winter campaign - Case Study: Daphne Claxton. Picture: James Bass Surviving winter campaign – Case Study: Daphne Claxton. Picture: James Bass

Dan Grimmer Monday, November 5, 2012
11:33 AM

Older people in Norfolk have been handed a surprise £100,000 boost to help them get through the winter.

Norfolk County Council’s cabinet today agreed to hand the cash to Age UK Norfolk for the charity’s warm winter fund.

The one-off grant, which comes from a forecast underspend on the County Hall budget, will be used by Age UK Norfolk to offer small grants of between £100 to £200 to older people struggling to pay fuel bills.

It will also help pay for further work to look at the underlying need for such support as heating bills continue to rise.

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