Category Archives: learning difficulties

‘Injustice’ to vulnerable NHS patient slammed

July 25, 2013   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia, Downs syndrome, learning difficulties, mental health, Older care, Scotland
SCOTLAND’S public services watchdog has raised concerns about the care of vulnerable adults in Scotland’s hospitals following complaints about patient treatment.

 

  • by ANDREW WHITAKER AND LYNDSAY BUCKLAND

Officials from the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland have now been asked to investigate the complaint in what the ombudsman said was an “injustice” to the 55-year-old patient, who had learning disabilities and severe dementia.

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The farm giving disabled people the chance to experience rural life

July 14, 2013   Carers, disability, Downs syndrome, learning difficulties, mental health

Medicine comes in many different forms

11:00am Sunday 14th July 2013 in News By Maria Court

 Paula with Will Payne and volunteers and participants at High Mead Farm

Medicine comes in many different forms. Whittling wood, tending the land, caring for animals and feeling the sun on your skin can do wonders for physical and mental wellbeing.

Providing that therapy for many members of the community is High Mead Farm near Longham.

Since last autumn the four-acre plot has offered a supported work environment for people with learning and physical difficulties as well as youngsters who are out of work or who have been excluded from school.

Will Payne and Mark Gregory took over the land, which was in a run-down state, but with the help of local people it’s back on track to becoming a sustainable farm.

“We wanted to make it accessible to the whole community,” explained Will.

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People with learning difficulties and their carers face disruption!

June 19, 2013   Carers, learning difficulties, ukcuts

Day centres face axe in bid to save £250k

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

By dave knapper

DATED day centres used by vulnerable adults face being axed and other care services outsourced as part of a major council review.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council hopes to save £250,000 by closing the two centres for adults with learning difficulties and transferring the users elsewhere.

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    Portland House.

The authority is also planning to outsource its remaining facilities and some of the 150 staff to voluntary or not-for-profit organisations in a bid to cut costs.

Now 750 people using the council’s learning disability service are set to be asked for their views in a three-month public consultation starting on July 8.

Members of the council’s cabinet are expected to approve the consultation process at a meeting next week.

The proposals include:

Discontinuing services at Duke Street, in Fenton, and Portland House, Middleport;

Investing £2.8 million in refurbishing The Meadows, below, in Bucknall;

Re-designing Meakin House, in Shelton, St John’s Centre, in Abbey Hulton, Waterside, in Blurton, Riverside, in Stoke and the Able Project, in Fenton;

Considering retaining or transferring some of the 150 staff employed across the centres to outside organisations.

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