Category Archives: Carers

Dementia patients’ ‘postcode lottery’ of care

March 7, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Dementia patients across England are receiving a “postcode lottery” of care, with health authority spending per patient varying 21-fold.

By , Medical Correspondent

7:00AM GMT 07 Mar 2012

 

Freedom of information requests to 134 primary care trusts (PCTs) have found the amount spent per dementia patient varies from £38 at NHS Nottinghamshire County to £802 at NHS Barnsley. The average for the 54 which provided information to GP magazine, which submitted the FOI requests, was £160. Four in 10 spent less than £100.

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Hundreds of pensioners and disabled people will descend on Westminster today

March 6, 2012   Carers, charities, disability, Older care

Only the elderly with £100,000 in assets ‘should pay for care home fees’ argue campaigners ahead of mass rally

By Daniel Martin

 

No family should be forced to dip into their savings to pay for care in old age if their assets fall below £100,000, campaigners will argue today in a mass rally at Parliament.

At present, anyone with assets of more than £23,250 has to pay for residential care costs – forcing thousands to sell their homes.

Now Age UK is calling for this means-test level to be raised to £100,000, allowing thrifty pensioners to safeguard their homes and pass on more to their children.

Helping the aged: Thrifty pensioners would be able to safeguard their homes and pass on more to their children if the means-test level was raised.
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Cancer fear and denial ‘is killing thousands’

March 6, 2012   Cancer, Carers

 Delaying diagnosis can lead to poorer outcomes

By Michelle Roberts Health reporter, BBC News

 Delaying diagnosis can lead to poorer outcomes

Thousands of people in the UK are dying unnecessarily because they are too scared to mention early symptoms of cancer to their doctor, say experts.

A survey of 2,000 for Cancer Research UK suggests 40% might delay getting symptoms checked out because they are worried what the doctor might find.

Yet early diagnosis is key to treating cancer successfully.

Data suggest that if Great Britain matched Europe’s best cancer survival rate 11,500 deaths could be avoided.

Prof Peter Johnson of Cancer Research UK said: “Our report highlights just how much more we have to do to raise awareness about the early signs of cancer.

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