West Sussex carers to have health check-ups at home

November 5, 2013   Carers, Uncategorized

Carers living in West Sussex will now have access to a new service to help them improve their own health.

Published on the 05 November 2013 20:00

TEMPLATE

The Sussex Community NHS Trust’s Carers Health Team will visit carers in their own home and check on their general state of health and wellbeing.

Wilma Thomas, Carers Health Team manager at the Trust, said: “Many carers report a decline in health since becoming a carer and some might not even have time to visit their GP for a check-up.

“Our new service means we can support carers in their own home and give them practical advice and support about everything from safe moving and handling techniques to managing medication and eating healthily.

“Long-term we hope that this support will also benefit the person being cared for.”

There are an estimated 84,000 unpaid carers based in West Sussex – which save the county around £1 billion per year, according to the latest figures.

Peter Catchpole, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Health, said looking after carers’ needs is a ‘key priority’ for the county council.

Read More

The preventative care revolution depends on closing the digital divide

November 5, 2013   Carers, disability, Independent living, internet

Across the UK, 11 million people have poor digital skills and half those who are offline have a disability. Digital inclusion is now a matter of life and death

 

Over-65s account for half of NHS spending, but more than a third have never been online.

There’s a clear consenus over maintaining the great national treasure that is the NHS and preserving its ethos of providing care free at the point of delivery. But demand for health services is rising fast as society changes, so how on earth do we afford it?

It’s crucial that the NHS makes the best possible use of the funds available. Preventive care is key objective: by encouraging people to take care of their own health, pre-empting and preventing illness before it happens, the NHS can ensure its limited resources are directed towards those who need them most.

Can technology help with a preventive care revolution in healthcare? Many of us now have constant internet access and can find health information easily. I see it every day: patients use wristwatches, GPS devices and apps to track steps, heart rate, calories burned and other personal statistics.

Read More

NHS Direct to receive additional funding to extend 0845 service as NHS plans for winter pressures

November 5, 2013   Carers, disability, health

£15m has been allocated to support NHS 111 through the winter period

NHS England will fund an extension of NHS Direct’s 0845 number – despite the service being decomissioned from February – under NHS England’s plans to reduce the winter pressures on the health service.

Read More