Category Archives: health

Junior doctors urged to ‘know their limits’ on Black Wednesday

Junior doctors have been urged to “know their limits” to prevent an expected rise in death rates as more than 6,000 medical graduates start their first hospital jobs.

Today has become known as “Black Wednesday” because mortality rates rise by an average of around six per cent when new trainees start work and other junior doctors swap specialties.

Studies have shown that patients admitted as an emergency on the first Wednesday in August – during the changeover – are six per cent more likely to die than on the previous Wednesday.

For those suffering heart attacks and strokes the figure is yet higher, with an 8 per cent increase in deaths.

Bedroom tax’ has sent 400 Norwich people into rent arrears, claim council leaders

Households are finding it very difficult to bridge the gap

Friday, August 2, 2013
7:30 AM

More than 400 people in Norwich have fallen into rent arrears since the introduction of the so-called “bedroom tax”, city council leaders say.

The controversial changes to cut housing benefit payments, dubbed the “bedroom tax” by Labour, came into force in April.

How can the third sector help improve support for carers?

Personalisation has the potential to bring real benefits for carers – but charities will have to become more entrepreneurial

Couple Laughing

Personalisation can lead to better relationships between carers and the people they care for. Photograph: Ondrea Barbe/Corbis

Carers play a vital role in meeting social care needs and their numbers are expected to grow rapidly as the population ages and medical advances continue. The government has committed to tailoring services to the needs of carers as well as those they care for. The personalisation agenda arguably offers the opportunity to do this.

Third sector organisations have traditionally played a significant role in supporting carers. Arguably too, their mission, skills, and networks put them in a better position than many to provide personalised support. The Third Sector Research Centre has been looking at how the personalisation agenda is affecting third sector services, looking particularly at support for carers. Following a literature review and workshop with key stakeholders, we interviewed those working in third sector organisations, and within related roles in the public sector.