Who cares? Support for carers of people approaching the end of life
The Government’s first national survey of end of life care experiences revealed that only half of the sons, daughters, partners, siblings, parents and friends caring for a dying person receive the help they need
Holiday Inn Regents Park, London, W1W 5EE, United Kingdom
Overview
Why this conference?
The Government’s first national survey of end of life care experiences revealed that only half of the sons, daughters, partners, siblings, parents and friends caring for a dying person receive the help they need. The needs of unpaid carers are too often overlooked or left unmet by ‘the system’. This can have a devastating impact on people’s experience of caring and bereavement. It also makes it difficult, if not impossible, to achieve the Government’s ambition of allowing more people to be cared for and die in their preferred place, which is usually at home. A home death can put enormous pressure on carers on a 24/7 basis.
This national conference, organised by leading charities, explores the needs of carers of people approaching the end of life and some of the particular issues, concerns and dilemmas that accompany this stage of caring. It will look at how the national End of Life Care Strategy (DH, 2008) and Carers Strategy (2008) can be brought together and, by showcasing good practice examples, how they can be translated into a reality on the ground.
Councils urged to replace social workers with non-qualified staff
Money can be saved without hurting quality if councils with high spending on assessments and reviews used more non-professionally qualified staff instead of social workers, says Audit Commission.
Savings of £300m could be made on assessments, the commission says
Councils have been urged to replace social workers with non-professionally qualified staff in assessments and reviews, on the grounds this can save money without hurting quality.
The recommendation comes in a report today from the Audit Commission, which found that £180m-£310m a year could be saved from annual adult social services spending in England – about 1% to 2% of the total – if councils with relatively high spends on assessments and reviews reduced their costs towards the level of lower spenders.
The biggest potential area of saving was from “changing the mix of staff grades and skills that councils employ” to carry out assessments, by replacing social workers and occupational therapists with social work or OT assistants or other staff without professional qualifications.
Choose Well this bank holiday
NHS Norfolk and Waveney is urging everyone to “Choose Well” and plan ahead whenever possible for their medical care over the forthcoming bank holiday weekend.
Anyone who has medication on prescription is advised to make sure they order it early so they have enough medicine. Anyone who knows they will need an appointment to see their GP should ensure they book it in good time.
Ian Small, of the prescribing and medicines management team at NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said: “We want everyone to have an enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend, and so we advise anyone needing medical care to follow the Choose Well message. Selecting the right service for your needs may reduce the time you wait for appropriate treatment.
