Category Archives: Carers

Many patients really value their relationship with their GP

December 30, 2011   Carers, health

Patients will be able to register with any GP: ministers

Patients will be able to register with a GP miles away from where they live under Coalition plans to give them greater choice, it has been announced.

By , Medical Editor

 

People will be able to have a GP near work or keep the same family doctor when the move house as ministers abolish GP practice boundaries.

The scheme will be piloted in parts of London, Manchester and Nottingham despite concerns from family doctors about the continuity of care.

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Warning over cuts to care of Norfolk elderly

December 30, 2011   Carers, Norfolk, Older care, ukcuts

Campaigners fear death rates among the elderly will increase this winter because of spending cuts.

Richard Wheeler Friday, December 30, 2011
6:00 AM

 

The concerns have been raised after Age UK director Michelle Mitchell yesterday warned elderly care will be plunged into “absolute crisis” by the government decreasing the cash available to council social care budgets.

She added this could end up costing more in the long run, with thousands of older people ending up in hospital rather than receiving care at home.

And Lady Joyce Hopwood, chairman of the Norfolk Older People’s Strategic Partnership Board, said more vulnerable and frail people were missing out on the help they needed.

She added that this was because councils and charitable groups were attempting to manage decreasing budgets and increasing workloads.

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Free NHS helpline for whistlblowers launching 1st January 2012

December 30, 2011   Carers, hospital

NHS whistleblowers helpline due to be launched

 The new free helpline is being launched on 1 January 2012

A free helpline for whistleblowers in the NHS and social services is to be launched on Sunday.

The move is part of Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s drive to ensure staff can raise “genuine concerns” about standards “without fear of reprisal”.

But a whistleblowers’ group said the announcement was an “admission of failure” that existing internal processes were not working.

The helpline – 08000 724 725 – will be provided by the Royal Mencap Society.

It will operate Monday to Friday between 0800 GMT and 1800 GMT, and there also be an out-of-hours answering service at weekends and bank holidays.

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