Category Archives: Carers

Norfolk and Suffolk mental health patients in beds miles from home

Up to 50 mental health patients in Norfolk and Suffolk had to be sent to other parts of England last week because of a shortage of beds and a shortfall in funding.

In June Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt criticised the “unacceptable” distances Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) patients had to travel for beds.

The NSFT said the trust was committed to cutting the use of out-of-area beds.

It cut the number from 34 to six by September, but it has gone up to 50.

We can transform wheelchair services by listening to patients

Will the opinions of wheelchair users being made public change NHS commissioning and improve disabled people’s lives?

  • Guardian Professional,
  • The delivery of wheelchair services has received little attention among health commissioners.
Photograph: Uwe Anspach/DPA/Corbis

Unbelievably, there are an estimated 70,000 disabled children in the UK whose physical mobility needs, and subsequently their ability to develop skills needed for adulthood, are not being met.

Historically the delivery of wheelchair services has suffered from delays and received little attention among health commissioners. Right now, we know that wheelchair services are not often focused on providing mobility equipment that will give users independence.

Norfolk’s carers missing out on help

Wednesday, November 12, 2014
7:28 AM

Vast numbers of Norfolk’s 95,000 strong army of carers are not getting the support they are entitled to, social services bosses have admitted.

Organiser Les Eve(left) welcomes carers to the Carers Week main event at Costessey Community Centre. Photo by Simon Finlay.

Norfolk County Council officers have conceded there are “significant issues” around support to unpaid carers, of which there are an estimated 94,700 in the county.

Those carers, many of whom are looking after loved ones, save the NHS and other public services an estimated £1.6bn a year by using their time to help others.