Category Archives: Norfolk

Thousands of Norfolk young people reveal which issues matter most ahead of Westminster debate

October 25, 2012   Carers, disability, Norfolk

25 October 2012

More than 2000 young people in Norfolk have cast their votes in a national poll to find out which issues most concern young people ahead of a debate in the House of Commons later this month.

A total of 2,737 young people from across Norfolk voted in the UK wide Make Your Mark ballot that gives young people aged between 11 and 18, the chance to choose the top five issues they consider to be the most important to young people today.

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‘I think it’s amazing how committed care staff are, who we don’t deserve to have’

October 23, 2012   Carers, health, Norfolk, Older care

Pay concerns are leading to around 200 home carers used by a council to look after vulnerable people to leave their jobs each year.

Richard Wheeler Tuesday, October 23, 2012
7:00 AM

Norfolk County Council spends £34m a year on using 25 main agencies to provide care to around 5,800 older and disabled people in their homes.

But people who use the service have raised concerns about the quality and continuity of the care they receive, due to staff leaving on a regular basis.

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Health secretary Jeremy Hunt visits Norwich dementia unit

October 20, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Carers, dementia, health, Norfolk

 

The reality of living with and caring for someone with dementia is extremely tough, and Thorpe St Andrew pensioner Maurice Bartle was among carers who told health secretary Jeremy Hunt more about the difficulties they face when he visited Norwich yesterday.

Kim Briscoe, Health correspondent Saturday, October 20, 2012
6:30 AM

Jeremy Hunt talking to dementia carer Maurice Bartle at Hammerton Court in Norwich. Photo: Bill Smith Jeremy Hunt talking to dementia carer

The 72-year-old lives in South Hill Road with his wife Shirley, also 72, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago.

Mr Bartle, a retired maintenance electrician, said: “At the moment we are going through a difficult patch. The wife has got a bit of a rejection of drugs and of me sometimes.”

The pair visit Hammerton Court’s day centre one day a week and Mr Bartle said he valued being able to meet other carers.

The £13m unit, in Bowthorpe Road, has 36 bedrooms and also houses the Norfolk Dementia Care Academy – which aims to be a centre of excellence in training staff and carers to look after people with the illness.

He said: “I have found it ideal, but it’s not for long enough and I wish we could come for longer.

“I have found it very informative and it’s given me a lot of extra information I wasn’t aware of until I came here.”

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