Category Archives: health

NHS to pay for singing lessons and hotel stays

November 30, 2012   Carers, disability, health, Older care

Tens of thousands of people will be able to get money from their doctors which can be used for activities including singing lessons and hotel stays.

Personal health budgets enable people to choose what help they need and who to buy it from.

By Stephen Adams, Medical Correspondent

7:00AM GMT 30 Nov 2012

Norman Lamb, the care minister, said the option of having a ‘personal health budget’ would be made available to some 56,000 people in England with significant health needs. It would “put them back in control of their care,” he said.

The idea is to give people the power to choose exactly what care they need for their condition or disability – and buy it from whoever they like – rather than having it decided and provided by the NHS.

Charities for the elderly and disabled have broadly welcomed the initiative, which has been trialled for three years, but there are worries about some people misusing the money.

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Health bus aims to help those dedicated to looking after others

November 29, 2012   Carers, health

 

A HEALTH bus has put wheels into motion to help raise awareness of carers.

And on board is one woman who knows all too well the physical and mental strain of looking after others.

Grimsby Telegraph

ALL ABOARD: A carers health bus is touring supermarkets across North East Lincolnshire. Back, Angie Hunt, carer support worker, Amanda Pearce, Adult Social Care, Helen Tinmurth, massage therapist, Helen Kirk, of the Carers Centre, Mandy Burkitt, parent carer support worker, Tracy Slattery, Young People Support Service, Abigail Lord, health trainer. Front, from left, Lisa Revell, strategic lead for palliative and end-of-life care, Christine Wallis, former carer and Debbie Burres, carers project co-

Former carer of nine years Christine Wallis, of Grimsby, looked after her mother-in-law, mum and dad prior to their deaths – the most recent being her mum who died in January.

Now the 57-year-old has hitched a ride on the latest campaign that will deliver advice and guidance to others like her.

A carers health bus, packed with individuals from various organisations including Care Trust Plus (CTP), Young People’s Support Service, a parent carer support worker from North East Lincolnshire Council, Adult Social Care, end-of-life care service and more, will be stopping at all supermarkets across North East Lincolnshire during the next few months.

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Ambulance response times for Norfolk stroke patients “completely unacceptable” – health minister

November 26, 2012   Carers, health, hospital, Norfolk, stroke

 

Fears lives were being put at risk

Alex Hurrell, Reporter Monday, November 26, 2012
7:00 AM

Health minister Norman Lamb said he feared lives were being put at risk after receiving figures showing the time it took the East of England Ambulance Service to take Norfolk stroke victims to hospital.

For most of this year, fewer than a quarter of Norfolk stroke patients arrived at hospital within the guideline 60 minutes and the situation was even worse in north Norfolk where he is the MP.

Earlier this year, the EDP launched its Ambulance Watch campaign in response to growing public concern about the performance of the ambulance service.

The figures for stroke patients were provided to Mr Lamb following a Freedom of Information Act request by a third party. In the best month in north Norfolk, May, the ambulance trust managed to transport 7pc of patients within the critical period. Last month the figure was just 2pc.

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