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