Category Archives: ukcuts
A glimpse of the unseen absolute poverty in 21st century UK
Most people are completely unaware of the extent to which there is poverty today
Posted on by Vicki Fitzgerald
With thanks to Rhiannon Lockley who wrote this blog for us. Rhiannon is West mids regional women’s officer for UCU.
“We were really struggling. It really did get to the point where we just didn’t know how we were going to cope. It was literally pick one thing and do that, a case of either stay warm or eat.”
(Michaela, a Birmingham mother helped by Gateway Family Services Pregnancy Outreach Team, talks to ITV news, Wednesday 11th April 2012)
Usually when people talk about poverty in the UK they are referring to relative poverty. A person classed as relatively impoverished is significantly below average in wealth, meaning they are economically unable to participate fully in society. High levels of relative poverty indicate high levels of social inequality, which as has been argued in Wilkinson and Pickett’s 2009 book The Spirit Level are linked to a variety of negative problems in society. Relative poverty impacts on things like physical health, mental well-being, educational and career opportunities.
Anger at increase in costs for adult care
Pensioners are set to be hit in the pocket as the cost of day care rises by up to 1,200 per cent as Peterborough City Council puts up its charges.
By BEN TRUSLOVE
Published on Thursday 12 April 2012 09:24
Ivy Carafa (93) goes to Greenwood House care home from Monday to Friday but may have to reconsider with the increase in charges.
Before January she paid £2 a day, when the charge increased to £13 a day, and it is now due to rise to £24 a day from April 23. The latest rise will mean she is spending more on care than she receives in her monthly pension and it may force her son Richard to stop work to care for her.
Disgust after Lancashire woman’s care funding is refused
Disgust after Knuzden woman’s care funding is refused
12:21pm Wednesday 11th April 2012 in Blackburn
THE family of a woman paralysed from the neck down are appealing against a decision by health bosses to refuse funding for her continuing care.
The children and husband of Jean Hannon, who was left paralysed following an operation last August, said they were ‘appalled and disgusted’ by a decision by NHS East Lancashire not to grant the family funding for her continued care.
And now a health scrutiny boss has vowed to highlight the family’s plight.
Jean’s husband Terry, 72, who is registered disabled and relies on a mobility scooter and stairlift, said he is left to care for his wife and do the cooking, cleaning, washing and ironing despite his own health issues.
The couple, of Knuzden Brook, Knuzden, had to get rid of their furniture to make way for a medical bed, hoist and wheel-chair in their living room.
Son Terry, 52, of Kingsley Close, Blackburn, said: “My mum was discharged from the Royal Blackburn Hospital a week ago after eight months in hospital. We had a meeting prior to that with the PCT and they told us she wasn’t eligible for funding towards her care.
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