Many health and wellbeing boards giving ‘little priority’ to mental health

Mental health is a standalone priority for care in less than half of the strategies drawn up by health and wellbeing boards to meet local health needs, a report has found.

While 91% of the strategies made some mention of mental health, only 46% identified it as a dedicated priority, an analysis by the Centre for Mental Health found. Almost one in ten (9%) strategies did not include mental health at all.

Health and wellbeing boards bring together local authorities, NHS commissioners and other groups to set local health priorities through joint health and wellbeing strategies.

Full article on Community Care

HAVE YOUR SAY: Health & Care services at Bath Royal United Hospital

Healthwatch Wiltshire has been working closely with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) about their previous and planned inspections and visits to the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath.  The CQC will be inspecting the Hospital again on the 4^th – 6^th December.

It is important that they hear from anyone who has recently used health and care services about their experiences to give a full picture of how care is being provided at the hospital.  You can share your views and comments in a number of ways.

An online survey by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HJXCW99

Via the CQC website on their ‘Tell us about your care’ page http://www.cqc.org.uk/public/sharing-your-experience

By email enquiries@cqc.org.uk by letter to CQC National Customer Service Centre, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4PA by telephone 03000 616161 or by fax 03000 616171

Or by attending a Listening event for members of the public on Thursday 5^th December between 18.30 and 20.00 at Bath Race Course.  At the event you will be able to talk to the CQC about your experience, share your feedback on how improvements need to be made, and find out how the new inspections will be carried out.

Dementia scheme encourages health professionals to listen to carers

When Kate Harwood went to visit her husband in hospital after he'd had a prostate operation she couldn't find him. Marco, who had dementia, had wandered off to the 16th floor and no-one on his ward had realised he'd gone. "That first time he was in for an operation was a disaster," Harwood says. "There was no awareness of dementia and of what it might do to him. I could never find anyone to talk to – I felt like banging my head against a brick wall."

Sadly, hers is not an isolated example among those caring for people with dementia. According to the Carers Trust, carers too often have to fight to get their voices heard and to be given the information and advice they need, particularly in medical settings. A recent report by the trust showed, for example, that more than half of those caring for someone with dementia had not been given advice on managing medication or incontinence and more than two-thirds had had no support in dealing with the agitated behaviour people with dementia can display, particularly as the condition worsens.

Full Article on Guardian Social Care Network

New website comparing adult social care services launched

Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) data is being presented in a website that allows people to find out more about care services.

On the website you can select your local authority from the map or drop-down menu, or type in your postcode to find out how carers and people receiving local authority funded care and support in your area rate factors such as:

• quality of their life
• satisfaction with care services
• feeling safe

Full news release on Gov.uk

Government plans for care bill cap 'misleading'

Elderly people will have to spend nearly twice as much on care bills as previously thought before qualifying for state help, a study suggests.

The Coalition’s pledge to overhaul care by introducing a £72,000 cap on care costs is misleading because it excludes tens of thousands of pounds in accommodation fees, it was claimed.

The research found that the cost of care itself amounted to only 49 per cent of an average overall annual bill of £28,367.

Full Article on Telegraph

EVENT: The Elderly Care system and funding options available seminar

Do you need to know more about this country's elderly care system and the funding options available?

Are you thinking of selling your house or other assets to pay for long term care?

abdcare (a specialist managed and branded division of Awdry Bailey and Douglas Solicitors with particular expertise in elderly care) invite you to attend a seminar which addresses the issues surrounding this country’s Care System and how you or your loved ones may be affected should long term care be needed.

           ~ Please arrive 20 minutes beforehand ~ light refreshments will be available ~

It is advisable to book early. Spaces may be limited!

Wednesday 27 November 2013   ~   10.00am - 12.30pm.

Burbage Village Hall, 60 Eastcourt Road, Burbage, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3AJ

Understanding the system and who should be paying for my long term care needs?

What strategies should be deployed to minimise the impact of care fees?

If I do have to pay the costs myself, what financial options are available to me?

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND AND RESERVE FREE SEATING YOU MUST GO ONLINE TO;  www.abdcare.co.uk (seminars) OR telephone 01380 722311.

Helping patients to stay at home

PATIENTS across Wiltshire will benefit from a new scheme to help them continue living healthily at home for longer, which will also help reduce unnecessary admissions to hospitals.

The new service, jointly run by Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, sees 23 new care co-ordinators based in GP surgeries across Wiltshire to help patients who have been identified as being at high risk of hospital admission.

Full Article on Wiltshire Times

EVENTS: The CQC want to hear the experiences of children and young people

The Care Quality Commission 'CQC' are hosting 4 focus groups around the country in the October half term, 11 am to 3 pm on the following dates:

Bristol                         Bristol Zoo Gardens                                    Saturday 26 October

Birmingham                 Cadbury World                                            Tuesday 29 October

York                            National Railway Museum                             Thursday 31 October

London                        British Library                                            Saturday 2 November

They are looking for family carers and young people aged 14-25 with physical disabilities who are going through, or had, transition arrangements, who:

• receive children’s continuing care package.
• receive a package of adult’s continuing care and had children’s continuing care package.
• receive care from three or more health professionals as a result of long-term or chronic conditions.

CQC will pay for travel expenses and support work and £20 high street vouchers to each delegate as a small token of ‘thank you’.

For further information, click here to go to the CQC webpage.