Category Archives: health

Health and social care will need half of Government spending unless changes made: King's Fund

Health and social care could consume half of government spending in 50 years’ time if current trends continue, a think tank has predicted.

 

Currently nine per cent of the UK’s income is spent on health and social care, and this is predicted to more than double to 20 per cent by 2061

By , Medical Editor

7:30AM GMT 31 Jan 2013

By 2060, half of all Government spending could go on health and social care unless major changes are made, the King’s Fund has reported.

The new report states that population changes, increases in wealth and medical advances will increase pressure to spend more on health and social care in the future.

Currently nine per cent of the UK’s income is spent on health and social care, and this is predicted to more than double to 20 per cent by 2061. Taking into account economic growth, current levels of taxation and Government expenditure this would mean one in every £2 spent by the Government went on care.

Prof John Appleby, author of the paper, said that increases on this scale were not inevitable.

How does depression affect the elderly?

 Guest Blog from Jason Tucker

Depression can affect anyone regardless of age or gender but it is particularly common in elderly patients. Although the onset of depression is often attributed to specific events, a particular incident or situation may simply be a contributory factor rather than the cause. Whilst a specific event or set of circumstances may contribute to the onset of depression, the illness will manifest itself in the same way regardless of the cause of the trigger. Studies have shown that the brain circuits of patients suffering depression show changes to the way the brain manages mood, appetite, sleeping and behaviour. Whilst depression can be a distinct illness and appear without any other illnesses, patients often develop depression as a result of other illness. Elderly patients may find they develop depression following the onset of another illness but Doctors are often able to treat the depression successfully.

Success of personal health budget following Norfolk pilot

Scheme will be rolled out across the country next year.

By Adam Gretton Saturday, January 19, 2013
6:30 AM

A scheme to give patients more control over their care has been hailed as a success by health chiefs and patients in Norfolk who trialled a NHS pilot.

NHS Norfolk and Waveney rolled out a personal health budget initiative two years ago, which is set to be made available across the country from next year.

The primary care trust (PCT) is pioneering the scheme in the east and allows patients with long-term, complex needs to have control over how money is spent on their care.