Tag Archives: health

Esther Rantzen launches ‘Silver Line’ helpline for lonely elderly

September 12, 2013   Carers, Older care

A new helpline for elderly people who struggle with loneliness will be launched across the UK by Esther Rantzen, the founder of ChildLine.

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Esther Rantzen has launched The Silver Line Photo: Martin Pope

By Claire Carter

3:31PM BST 11 Sep 2013

The Silver Line aims to help elderly people by giving them someone to speak to 24 hours a day, and will work like ChildLine by giving support and advice to those suffering neglect or abuse.

Ms Rantzen said a £5m grant means the Silver Line will be able to launch before Christmas – often the loneliest time of year for older people. She said the line aims to tackle the “stigma” attached to being lonely which “makes it impossible” for older people to ask for help and can damage their self esteem.

The Silver Line aims to tackle loneliness for older people and is run by volunteers who will refer callers to activities and organisations that can help them.

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Becoming a carer shouldn't mean the end of your career

September 11, 2013   Carers, health, internet, Social care

Jackie Ashley’s reflections on caring for her husband Andrew Marr have highlighted a critical social issue

 

 

Jackie Ashley wrote about the tough realities she had to deal with in caring for her husband Andrew Marr.

Jackie Ashley’s honest reflections on the tough realities she had to deal with in caring for her husband Andrew Marr, and the reaction of so many to her very powerful personal account have cast a welcome spotlight on a rising and critical social issue.

Whether through serious illness, disability or growing older, rising numbers of people need help with daily living. Most often it is family and friends who give the everyday care and support they need and, as Jackie so rightly observes, we need society to grasp the impact not simply on individual lives, but on business, workforce, personal, health and social services and all aspects of our lives.

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General Medical Council to check doctors’ English skills

September 7, 2013   Carers, health

7 September 2013 Last updated at 00:54

GMC to check doctors’ English skills

A tired GP GPs are among those whose English language skills could be checked

The General Medical Council is to be given new powers to check the English-language skills of all doctors working in the UK, under government proposals.

At present it can only make language checks on doctors from outside Europe.

The government is carrying out a 12-week consultation on the changes.

In April, the government created a national list of doctors who can treat NHS patients. GPs wishing to be included will have to demonstrate their ability to speak English.

It also appointed senior doctors who have a legal duty to ensure all doctors in their local area can speak the necessary level of English to perform their job in a safe and competent manner.

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