Tag Archives: carers
England’s mental health services ‘in crisis’
The mental health service in England is in crisis and unsafe, says one of the country’s leading psychiatrists.
Dr Martin Baggaley, medical director of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, spoke out as an investigation by BBC News and Community Care magazine reveals more than 1,500 mental health beds have closed in recent years.Many trusts have all their beds filled.
Care Minister Norman Lamb said the current situation was “unacceptable” and provision must improve.
While there was a drive to treat more people in the community, he said beds must be available when patients needed them.
System ‘inefficient, unsafe’
Care inspector could use hidden cameras
“Winterbourne View happened two-and-a-half to three years ago. Things should be happening now.”
The new inspections will determine whether services are caring and safeHidden cameras and mystery-shopper exercises may form part of a revamped inspection regime for care homes and domiciliary care in England next year.
New adult social care chief inspector Andrea Sutcliffe said she wanted to explore the role such techniques could play in uncovering abuse and neglect.
But she admitted their use would have to be balanced against the need for privacy and dignity in such settings.
The move will be considered ahead of the launch of a new system next year.
From next autumn, services will be given an Ofsted-style rating of outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate to mirror the system being rolled out for hospitals.
“Start Quote
Confidence in the regulation regime has been shaken, but we have turned a corner”
Norman Lamb Care and Support Minister
The new Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections will determine whether services are:
- safe
- caring
- effective
- well led
- responsive to people’s needs
Edith Cavell festival celebrates Norfolk’s great heroine
Edith Cavell festival at Swardeston
Edith Cavell festival at Swardeston, on the 98th anniversary of her execution during the Great War. Nick Miller as Ezra Parr giving visitors a guided tour of the village as it was in the Cavells day. Photo: Bill Smith
Mark Shields Sunday, October 13, 2013
8:05 PM
The life of one of Norfolk’s great heroines was celebrated by villagers from her birthplace and visitors from around the world at a weekend of events.
Saturday marked 98 years since the death of nurse Edith Cavell by firing squad, after she was found to have helped some 200 soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the first world war.
The occasion was marked by an Edith Cavell festival in Swardeston, which included an exhibition of memorabilia, talks, fancy-dress guided tours of the village and even a presentation by a descendant of one of the men saved by the heroic nurse.
Robert Tunmore is the second cousin, once removed, of Sgt Jesse Tunmore, of the 1st Norfolks, who was helped to cross the border into Holland by Edith Cavell in August 1914 after he was captured by the Germans.
The 53-year-old, who is a nurse in London, has begun a project to unite the descendants of the ‘Cavell 200’ and to raise funds for the Cavell Nurses Trust, which supports nurses in need.
