Wiltshire health group aims to bring more care to surgeries

GPs in Wiltshire are working on a plan to bring care closer to people’s home rather than sending them to hospital.

Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which took over planning and buying health services from NHS Wiltshire in April, is going to have teams of health professionals and social carers working with particular GP practices to provide services to populations of 20,000 people.

At last Tuesday's annual meeting of the CCG, Dr Simon Burrell, a GP in Corsham and chairman of North and East Wiltshire group of GPs, said: “We want to make sure the patient is at the centre of what we do. We are creating a single bunch of people in a locality to look after you.

Full Article on Wiltshire Times

Swap skills with other generations at Devizes Corn Exchange

People can swap skills at an event to celebrate Older People’s Day at Devizes Corn Exchange on Wednesday, October 2.

The day will feature a cooking demonstration by Devizes chef Peter Vaughan and a chance to have a go at zumba, bagatelle, new age kurling, tai chi and various craft activities.

Full Article on Gazette & Herald

'It shouldn't be this hard to care for my elderly parents'

Figures have emerged that more women are returning to work after having children than ever before. However, the statistics do not reveal why these women are returning to work. It is a genuine choice or is it an economic necessity? Either way the issue of child-care for pre-school aged children is a hot potato.

Political parties are doing everything to make it possible for parents to work and are providing subsidised nursery places. They are doing their best to help with that five year gap before the child begins full time school. I don’t have children but it would appear that if you do then the powers that be are trying to be on your side. I’m not saying it’s easy to juggle parenthood with work. I imagine it’s very difficult and it’s one of the many reasons that I chose not to have children.

Full Article on Telegraph / Women

New health and social care watchdog launches

A NEW Wiltshire watchdog to help improve heath and social care services is launching on Thursday.

Healthwatch Wiltshire will pick up on any concerns about health and social care and if serious issues are found it has the power to look at services directly.

Full Article on Salisbury Journal

Vulnerable older people's plan: 1 week left to comment on proposals

Over the summer, the department has been testing and seeking comments on a set of proposals that will be used to form a vulnerable older people’s plan.

The proposals set out improvements in primary care and urgent and emergency care to make sure vulnerable and elderly people have the support they need to keep them in better health and out of hospital. They also seek to establish ways for NHS and social care services to work together more effectively for the benefit of patients – in and out of hospital.

Full Article on Gov.uk

EVENT: Swap cooking, craft and zumba skills in Devizes

Come along and celebrate Older People’s Day at a skills swap event on Wednesday 2^nd October at the Devizes Corn Exchange.

The day will feature a cooking demonstration by Peter Vaughan and a chance to have a go at zumba, bagatelle, new age kurling, tai chi and various craft activities.

There will also be an opportunity for some IT taster sessions for those wanting to learn how to use the internet.

Debbie Martindale, Events Coordinator at Carer Support Wiltshire, said: “Everyone has a parent, grandparent, colleague or friend who they can learn from so we want to celebrate later life through this event.

“This year’s Older People’s Day is all about bringing older and young people together to learn from one another and mark the huge contribution that older people make to our communities.”

The event, organised by Carer Support Wiltshire and funded by The People’s Health Lottery, will also seek to try and find hidden carers in the community who might be giving support to a family member or friend.

Members of Devizes Sixth Form will be there representing the younger generations and it is hoped that older people will come along to join in on the day.

The event will run from 12noon – 3pm and is free to attend with refreshments available.

To find out more, contact Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or email info@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

ENDS

Notes for editors

For more information about the skills swap, please contact Debbie Martindale (Events Coordinator) at Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or email Debbie@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

This event is being funded by The People’s Health Lottery for the specific purpose of reaching and supporting older carers.

Carer Support Wiltshire is a registered charity that offers support, information, advice and break opportunities to people looking after family members and friends across Wiltshire. Find out more at www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

 

A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse issues.

In the 2011 census it showed that there were 47,608 carers who provide unpaid care in Wiltshire.

Older People’s Day celebrates the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society and tackles negative attitudes and outdated stereotypes.

 

Is it time for a new wheelchair access icon?

The stick figure in a wheelchair has become one of the most widely-used and instantly recognised symbols in the world - but a group of American designers want to change this famous icon of disability. 

Seen on toilet doors, parking bays and practically every public building in the developed world, the International Symbol of Access has been in circulation since 1969. But now a group calling itself the Accessible Icon Project want to give the design a more 21st Century, even paralympic, feel.

Full Article on BBC News

Elderly care needs 'set to treble' by 2050

The number of older people needing care is set to nearly treble globally by 2050, campaigners say.

Currently 101 million people require care, but a report from Alzheimer's Disease International warns the figure will rise to to 277 million.

Many needing care have dementia, and the report warns there will be a "global Alzheimer's epidemic".

Full Article on BBC News

MPs say 'No Go Britain' must end for disabled people

For followers of No Go Britain, it will not come as a surprise. But perhaps this time it will make more of a difference.

In a new, wide-ranging report, the transport select committee has branded access to transport for disabled people as "unacceptably poor" and said it is essential that the government and the transport operators work harder to improve the situation.

Chair of the committee MP Louise Ellman told Channel 4 News: "The Paralympics were successful particularly in assisting disabled people getting to the games, and improving access to vehicles and trains. But some of the impetus seems to have gone - and we should hold on to that."

Full Article on Channel 4 News

Wiltshire's Sir Terry Pratchett pens blog on Alzheimer's

Wiltshire's Sir Terry Pratchett is calling for more funding for dementia research in the UK.

The charity Altzheimers Research UK of which he's a patron, has launched a new blog today (Weds 18th Sept) to try and reduce some of the stigma surrounding the condition.

Sir Terry has written the first post, where he condemns what he calls people's 'pussy footing' around the issue and says no one type of dementia is the same.

The author who lives near Salisbury was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007.

Tim Parry from the charity says money for research is vital. He said:
"Sir Terry talks about there being hundreds of thousands of types of dementia and I think what he's saying there is that each person's experience of dementia is unique so all these stories are going out often behind closed doors because people don't really seem to want to hear much about dementia. So we're hoping that the blog will get things out in the open and break down some of the stigma and some of the misunderstanding of the condition."

He added that he supported the author's call for more funding.
"Unfortunately we're still a long, long way behind other serious disease areas such as cancer and heart disease so what Sir Terry does in such fantastic way in his opening post in the new blog is just challenge us once again to think seriously about dementia, think about the massive impact it's had on this country and for everyone to do their part in helping to fund more research."

You can find the new blog at www.dementiablog.org




Article from SpireFM

Carers for disabled passengers should fly for free, say MPs

Carers should not be charged to fly if airline rules mean disabled people have to be accompanied, MPs have said.

Some airlines require carers for people who cannot manage emergency procedures, so the Transport Select Committee wants an EU rule that carers should not pay.

In a wide-ranging report, the MPs said UK transport access for the disabled was "unacceptably poor" and momentum had been lost after the Paralympics.

Full Article on BBC News

New report: Carers of people with dementia not receiving support they need

A new report from Carers Trust has found that carers of people with dementia are not getting the support and advice they often desperately need.

‘A road less rocky – supporting people with dementia’ found that only 51% of carers questioned said that they were given an opportunity to talk separately about their needs and how much care they felt able to provide.

56% of carers questioned said that they had not received information about managing the medication of those they cared for. More than half (52%) of carers said that they had been given no information on how to cope with incontinence.

Full findings and report on Carers Trust

Andrew Marr: stroke has made me more aware of people with disabilities

Andrew Marr says he has become more aware of people suffering from disabilities – whom previously he "simply didn't see" – after the stroke that nearly killed him in January.

"You definitely see the world differently, actually. You move more slowly. You suck up experiences more intensely and you live the day more," the 53-year-old presenter said in an interview with Radio Times magazine. "And you're much more aware of all the people all around us who have got really, really difficult disabilities who are looking after their parents, perhaps, and who frankly most of the time, like most people, I simply didn't see them. I wasn't thinking about them. That has changed. I do see them now, I do think about it."

The presenter returned to his Sunday morning BBC1 current affairs show on 1 September after a nine-month absence.

Full Article on Guardian Media

Debate held about health in Devizes

DEVIZES MP Claire Perry is inviting residents to attend health care forums and raise any issues of concern they may have.

Mrs Perry held health forums last year and said the format would remain the same, with people able to question health professionals about local health care provision.

Panellists at the meetings will include representatives from Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS trusts, GPs and Wiltshire Council.

Mrs Perry said: “Health care matters are one of the most frequently raised topics with me by my constituents and, following the success of the 2012 health care forums, I am delighted that local health professionals have once again agreed to join me at open meetings to discuss health care issues.

“I hope as many constituents as possible will come along.”

The forums are at Wellington Academy, Tidworth, on Monday, September 23, from 6.30pm to 8pm; St John’s School, Marlborough, on Thursday, September 26, from 7.30pm to 9pm and Devizes School on Thursday, October 3, from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Article from Gazette & Herald

SURVEY: What matters to you in your area?

Wiltshire Council and its partners are committed to developing and delivering services that reflect the differing needs of local communities. In order to do this effectively, they need to understand what really matters to residents living in Wiltshire.

Your views about your area really do count, and Wiltshire Council would like to invite you to comment on a range of topics that affect life where you live, including:

• how and what they spend money on in your area
• what they can do to improve life where you live
• how they can improve safety in your area
• your views on other public services
• the natural environment where you live

It’s easy to take part. You can fill in the What matters to you survey 2013 online which saves you time, or complete a paper survey and return it using the prepaid envelope. Surveys are available in most Wiltshire libraries and leisure centres or from Area Board meetings.

Beach party in Westbury to raise money for Carers Trust

The Co-op store in Westbury turned tropical as members of staff dressed up for an in-store summer beach party to raise funds for Carers Trust, The Co-operative’s charity of the year for 2013.

An estmated 500,000 young adult carers in the UK care for a family member or friend.

Money raised by The Co-operative will assist the charity in its work to tackle feelings of isolation and to provide desperately needed breaks, information, advice and support for 14-25-year-olds facing the challenges of caring for a loved one.

Full Article on Wiltshire Times

Health minister praises RUH dementia care during a visit to Bath

A Government health minister has said the dementia care at the Royal United Hospital is “way ahead of the game” during a visit to Bath.

Norman Lamb, whose portfolio includes care and support, was given a tour of the facilities at the hospital, including the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME) centre, and was able to meet patients.

Full Article on Bath Chronicle

'Shocking' bedroom tax should be axed, says UN investigator

The United Nations' special investigator on housing has told the British government it should scrap the bedroom tax, after hearing "shocking" accounts of how the policy was affecting vulnerable citizens during a visit to the UK.

Britain's record on housing was also worsening from a human rights perspective, Raquel Rolnik, the UN special rapporteur on housing, said in a Guardian interview after presenting her preliminary findings to the government.

Rolnik, a former urban planning minister in Brazil, said Britain's previously good record on housing was being eroded by a failure to provide sufficient quantities of affordable social housing, and more recently by the impact of welfare reform.

Full Article on Guardian Society

BLOG: Why I'm Challenging MPs to Take a Fit-For-Work Test

Today MPs will be asked by the supporters of my charity, Rethink Mental Illness, to put themselves through an assessment to help them understand the experiences of people with mental health problems.

Over a thousand people have written to their MP, asking them to attend an 'MP Capability Assessment' based loosely on the controversial Work Capability Assessment, which is currently being used to decide whether tens of thousands of people with long-term illnesses and disabilities should receive benefits. Our supporters have asked MPs to attend a formal interview and provide supporting written evidence.

Full Article on Huffington Post

'Switched-on' generation switched off to life-changing care technology

Tech-savvy consumers, young and old, are missing out on the help technology can give when caring for older, ill or disabled loved ones - a new poll highlights.

While over 7 in 10 UK adults routinely turn to technology for banking, shopping and communications, today’s research shows only 3 in 10 are embracing health and care technology to help care for older or disabled relatives.

Full Article on Mature Times

We have produced a useful guide to lifeline/telecare technology systems which might help. You can download it on our website.

Blind people 'hit by social care crisis'

The number of blind people getting help from councils has dropped by over 40% in England in six years, data shows.

The analysis by the Royal National Institute of Blind People - based on official figures - found just under 32,000 got support last year - down from nearly 56,000 in 2005-6.

It warned that if current trends continued, no-one would be getting support from councils within a decade.

Full Article on BBC News

Hunt: A&E know some patients better than GPs

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has claimed that A&E staff know some patients ’ more than their own GPs’ in a letter submitted to a national newspaper ahead of a speech this week on his plans to improve elderly care.

Mr Hunt is due to make an announcement this week on his plans for a ‘named clinician’ to take charge of the vulnerable elderly, and he claims in the letter that many of this group of patients ‘feel there’s no reliable alternative to hospital’.

He blames this on ‘misguided’ changes to the GP contract in 2004 and he raises the prospect of GPs and district nurses working together to keep patients out of hospital.

Full Article on Pulse

Devizes MP to launch new series of health forums

Devizes MP Claire Perry is once again hosting local healthcare meetings in Tidworth, Marlborough and Devizes to enable people across the Devizes Constituency to question health professionals about local healthcare provision and issues.

Panellists at the open meetings will include senior representatives from the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group and local NHS Trusts and service providers, GPs and Wiltshire Council.

Mrs Perry said: "Healthcare matters are one of the most frequently raised topics with me by my constituents and following the success of the 2012 healthcare forums I am delighted that local health professionals have once again agreed to join me at open meetings to discuss healthcare issues.

"I hope as many constituents as possible will come along – everyone is welcome and entry is free of charge."

Article from Gazette & Herald