Category Archives: ukcuts

Charity cuts fear for those with learning disabilities

April 3, 2012   Carers, learning difficulties, ukcuts
The Learning Disability Coalition is calling for urgent reform of the system
3 April 2012 Last updated at 18:10

People with learning disabilities are becoming isolated because of cuts to support and day services in England, says a joint report by 14 charities.

The Learning Disability Coalition said 77% of the local authorities it questioned were making cuts or savings and most expected to make further cuts.

The coalition said half of the 312 people surveyed said they now got less or no support, or paid more for help.

The government said urgent reform of the care and support system was needed.

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Why I’m resigning from the panel that scrutinises work capability assessments

April 3, 2012   Carers, mental health, ukcuts

The DWP won’t act on growing concern about the effect of the reassessment process on people with mental health problems

 

 

People march against welfare changes at the Hardest Hit protest in May 2011. Photograph: Martin Argles for the Guardian

For the last couple of years, welfare reform has consistently been an important issue for people with mental health problems. And one aspect in particular has dominated: the work capability assessment (WCA). It’s worth remembering that the WCA was initially conceived before the recession, when this country was estimated to be within a year of achieving full employment. Even in those early days, we at Mind urged caution as we had real concerns about how a new system would be applied.

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NHS reforms: what do they mean for patients?

April 3, 2012   Carers, hospital, ukcuts

It is difficult to gauge what effects the Health and Social Care Act will have, and potential gains are mostly unreliable

 

The top request of National Voices members was for the integration of health and social care.

It is difficult to predict what effect the new Health and Social Care Act will have on patients, service users and carers. The bill was like a giant treatment decision, with the benefits uncertain and the risks considerable.

National Voices, a coalition of health and social care charities, has found it impossible, during the last year, to gauge accurately how the act’s provisions would affect direct patient care and treatment. Hence there could be no simple “for or against” position on the bill – but there was a lot of pushing to improve it.

Among members of National Voices, the strongest concerns have been that: localisation will exacerbate inequalities and social exclusion; gains from successful national strategies and frameworks will be at risk; and the needs of patients with less common conditions will not be identified and responded to by GP commissioners with low awareness.

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