NICE reveals plans for dementia QOF expansion

NICE launched a consultation on 14 proposed new indicators for the QOF 2014/15 on Monday, including four in the dementia clinical domain.

Targets for hypertension, CHD, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease and stroke are also being considered. If approved following the consultation and piloting, these indicators will form the proposed 'menu' of QOF targets for 2014/15 and will be passed to GP negotiators in the autumn.

The new dementia targets would see GPs paid to hold contact details for a carer on the records of people with dementia, keep a register of dementia carers who are patients of the practice, and assess their health annually.

Full Article on GP Online

Courses help families cope with dementia

PEOPLE caring for a relative with dementia at home can find out more about coping with the illness at a free training course in Trowbridge.

Six weekly sessions will include a look at the different types of dementia, how they can affect people and how to deal with everyday situations that might arise.

There will also be information on the legal and financial aspects of caring and an overview of the services available to people at different stages of their ‘dementia journey’.

The course is run by independent Wiltshire charity Alzheimer’s Support and funded by Wiltshire Council and NHS Wiltshire. All the speakers are experts in their fields.

Anna Littlechild, chief executive of Alzheimers’ Support, said: “Our courses are very popular with carers and often people come on them as a first step to getting the support they need.

“A diagnosis of dementia is difficult thing to come to terms with for both the person affected and their families. Our course aims to help family carers understand more about the illness and to feel better equipped to deal with its effects.”

The course will be held at Dorothy House at the Bryer Ash business park on Friday mornings from February 8.  If you would like to come along or to find out please contact Stephany Bardzil on 01225 776481.

These opportunities are included in our training opportunities for Carers. To download the full list of training, please visit our website.

EVENT: Health & Social Care is changing from April 2013 - come and find out more

The Wiltshire Involvement Network (WIN) will cease to exist at the end of March 2013 and will be replaced by Healthwatch Wiltshire.  They are holding their final Event on 

Saturday 2^nd February 2013 at the 

Corn Exchange Devizes 

from 10.30am through to 2.30pm

The focus will be on Health and Social Care in Wiltshire and the changes emerging from April 2013.  

·         NHS reforms nationally

·         Healthwatch Wiltshire

·         The role of the Clinical Commissioning Group

·         Health and Wellbeing Boards

·         Public Health in Wiltshire

·         Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 

Please book a place and if you need any specific support to attend, please contact Tracie Clark, WIN Administrator on 01380 871800 or email winadmin.wsun@btconnect.com or write to us at The Wiltshire Involvement Network, Independent Living Centre, St Georges Road, Semington BA14 6JQ by 25^th January.

'Friends and family' test to expose poor care in NHS

Patient and staff satisfaction tests should be used across all NHS services to expose unacceptable standards of care, Prime Minister David Cameron urged today.

A new ‘friends and family’ test – where patients and staff are asked whether they would recommend the service to a loved one – will be introduced into every hospital in England from April 2013 and the Prime Minister wants that to go further, with GP surgeries, district nursing and community hospitals all adopting the measure.

The Prime Minister said that compassionate care must be everyone’s business and announced a new package of support for nurses, health care assistants and wider NHS staff.

Full Article on Number 10

British Red Cross offers healthy homes checks to older and vulnerable people in Wiltshire

Older and vulnerable people in the Wiltshire area are being encouraged to get in touch with the British Red Cross for practical help and information on staying warm and healthy this winter.

The Red Cross has set up a dedicated telephone hotline so people can arrange a free Healthy Homes Assessment as part of a project funded by the Health Protection Agency’s Warm Homes Healthy People Fund taking place from now until the end of March. The friendly one-hour visit by a trained staff member or volunteer is aimed at improving the safety and well-being of people this winter by giving information on staying warm, falls and fire prevention and tackling social isolation.

Each person visited will also receive a free Healthy Homes pack containing essentials for coping with the winter weather, power cuts and other home issues and an information pack with details of other agencies, advice services and grants people may be eligible for.

Anyone living in Wiltshire who thinks they might benefit can get in touch, regardless of age. People can contact the Red Cross directly but relatives, friends or neighbours can also get in touch on someone’s behalf.

Heather Lowe, Red Cross development manager for health and social care in Avon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, says: “Winter is a tough time for many older and vulnerable people, particularly those living alone or struggling to get by on a pension or low income.

“The Healthy Homes project aims to address some of the common issues people face, such as how to stay warm during the winter months, avoiding accidents such as falls and fires and reducing social isolation.

“If you think we could help you, please get in touch. We’d also encourage people to think about relatives, friends and neighbours who might benefit and ask them if it’s ok to call on their behalf. Our staff and volunteers will deal sensitively with everyone who makes contact.”

For more information or to arrange a visit call 0117 3012611 or email H&SCWAG@redcross.org.uk, putting ‘Healthy Homes’ in the subject line.

For more information about the Red Cross please visit redcross.org.uk

Dementia patients putting strain on nurses, Cameron says

David Cameron said there needs to be a greater emphasis on compassion in the health service, as ministers announce plans to ban untrained health "assistants" from working in hospitals under plans to raise standards.

More than 50,000 low-paid and unregulated assistants will have to receive formal care training.

Mr Cameron said: "We shouldn't underestimate the pressures nurses are under. One in four beds are taken up with people with dementia. I never underestimated for a second the pressures they are under but we do need a greater emphasis on compassion and standards of care in our hospitals."

Full Article on Telegraph

Talks set on Wiltshire Council Tax base

Wiltshire Councillor Jon Hubbard will be meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister in the new year to discuss the effect the Government’s reduction to Wiltshire’s Council Tax base will have on town and parish councils.

Cllr Hubbard announced during Tuesday’s Wiltshire Council Cabinet meeting in Monkton Park, Chippenham, that he would be seeing Nick Clegg in London on January 10 to discuss Wiltshire Council’s concerns.

The Council Tax Base is the taxable capacity for an area and Wiltshire, like other councils in the country, has seen theirs reduce for 2013/14 as those who get full Council Tax support will not be included in precept figures.

Full Article on Wiltshire Times