Caring for the ill can cost you your freedom
It was 1996 and I had travelled to Bordeaux in France, with my sons, for a family wedding. My husband, Richard West, chose not to come along. That was OK by me: we were not one of those couples who did everything together and family weddings were not his gig. Richard’s gig, preferably, was being in Vietnam, or the Balkans, or anywhere, really: he’d been a foreign correspondent and wandering reporter all his life.
This was just before the era of the ubiquitous mobile phone, so I am not quite sure how the message reached me: but family networks were alerted and I received the instruction to ring London because Richard, then aged 66, was in hospital after a stroke. He was not in any danger but I needed to return to England as soon as possible. I remember thinking, “Our life is going to change: but I am not going to let this take over my life.”
No such thing as typical day for a home carer
Recent bad press about care in the community has included stories about home carers turning up late, or not at all, not having time to talk, getting people out of bed mid-morning and putting them back there in the afternoon.
It’s a very demanding job but for every ‘bad’ carer there are many more good carers who are dedicated, professional, do a sterling job and deserve a pat on the back.
Their job is so much more than just turning up and making a cup of tea. They help with a huge number of tasks such as washing, dressing, cleaning, using the toilet, and, above all, helping clients retain their independence in their own home.
Carers provide a lifeline to many eldery people who depend on people like Agnes Hinrainer
New Health and Work Service to get long-term sick back to work
People off sick for more than four weeks are to be offered advice to get them back to work more quickly under a scheme being set up by the government.
The Health and Work Service, which will cover England, Wales and Scotland, will offer non-compulsory medical assessments, starting in April.
It will be run by the private sector and paid for by scrapping compensation to employers for statutory sick pay.
Ministers say employers will save money overall by having fewer staff off sick.
They said it may save companies up to £70m a year in reduced sickness pay and related costs.
No law change
