Screen carers for depression, say doctors' leaders
The Royal College of GPs said carers often neglected their own healthcare needs
11 May 2013 Last updated at 14:27
Carers should be routinely screened for signs of depression by their GP to ensure their health needs are not neglected, doctors’ leaders say.
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) estimates one in every 20 patients registered with a GP practice is providing unpaid care.
About 40% of carers are thought to be at risk of depression or stress because of their caring role.
Charity Carers UK said GPs had a vital role to play in supporting carers.
It is estimated that seven million people in the UK currently provide unpaid care to a sick or disabled child or an adult who could not otherwise live independently.
Many of them are already known to GPs, but the RCGP says more should be done to improve the support and services offered to carers.
British hospital to become first in Europe to use Skype for consultations
A hospital in Staffordshire is set to become the first in Europe where doctors consult with their patients via Skype
11:23AM GMT 10 Mar 2014
Managers at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire claim using the online video calling service could reduce outpatient appointments by up to 35 per cent.
They argue that using Skype will help free up consultants’ time and car parking spaces – while also helping patients who are unable to take time off work.
If approved, they would become the first UK hospital to use Skype to consult with patients.
The proposals, by Staffordshire’s biggest hospital, also include doctors treating patients via email consultations.
The move – which is part of a range of schemes to ease pressure on the hospital, which is coping with big increases in demand – has been welcomed by health campaigners.
Care for the elderly: warning over £135m cash that could be squandered on admin
Money intended to improve care for elderly and disabled people could end up being spent on bureaucracy, an alliance of councils and charities warns
Care for elderly and disabled people will be jeopardised by a £135 million gap in funding for a long-awaited overhaul of the system, an alliance of council leaders, care chiefs and charities is warning.
Details in the fine print of the Coalition’s Care Bill, which is going through its final Parliamentary stages, suggest that cash transferred from the NHS to the care system will have to be used to make the reforms happen, they say.
It means that money set aside to improve social care would be diverted into bureaucracy, the councils and charities fear.
