Tag Archives: care

Sick and disabled made to wait for more than six months to know if they will get benefit

Controversial new benefits system.

People with disabilities and severe illnesses are being made to wait for more than six months to find out if they are eligible for financial support from the Government under a controversial new benefits system.

In a highly critical report, a committee of MPs described delays in processing the Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) as “unacceptable”. They called for ministers to invoke penalty clauses for the delays on the two private companies, Atos Healthcare and Capital Business Services, which provide the assessments.

Sir Michael Parkinson: the shock of cancer is worse for the other person

Sir Michael Parkinson tells Mark Nicholas how his battle has strengthened his marriage and family

Michael Parkinson and his wife Mary

Constant companion: Sir Michael Parkinson and Lady Mary, his wife of 54 years. Her devotion after his diagnosis shows ‘what a marriage or partnership is all about’  Photo: REX FEATURES

May 27 2009, Rome. It is a hot day and thousands of tourists flow in and out of the Colosseum. Many are dressed in red shirts, the colours of Manchester United. Others are in scarlet-and-blue stripes, the colours of FC Barcelona. Today, Rome hosts the final of the Champions League, Europe’s greatest sporting prize.

From the west side of the Colosseum, taking the short walk towards the Forum entrance are two familiar figures from the golden age of television, Sir David Frost and Sir Michael Parkinson. At first, the vast tribes are a concern to men past their 70th birthday, until those in the red shirts – hundreds, maybe thousands of them – stop, stare and begin to part as if Moses had demanded it.

Patients 'imprisoned' in care homes, report finds

The committee said it was “very concerned by what we heard about the safeguards”

 

The report highlighted the case of Steven Neary, who has autism and a severe learning difficulty.

Vulnerable adults are being kept virtual prisoners in care homes because of misuse of mental health laws, a House of Lords committee says.

The report expressed serious concerns that safeguards brought in to protect vulnerable patients are actually being used to “oppress” them.

It looked at how reforms passed in 2005 are working, but called for a new system to be drawn up from scratch.

The Ministry of Justice said it welcomed the report.