Editorial
Have we moved from the sublime to the ridiculous in
the NHS?
There are managers measuring the length of waiting
lists, if too embarrassing a length, some people are
taken off the list and moved onto another waiting list
called a queue, but, because its not a waiting list its
not part of the Government’s performance targets.
Now we have the ‘chocolate audit’ (item 62)
whereby, to check how satisfied patients are with
treatment nurses are to complete a
report stating how many boxes of chocolates and
thank you cards they receive. It does sound a bit
subjective and batty – it has drawn much criticism for
the hospital concerned, The Royal Cornwall NHS
Trust.
***STOP PRESS***STOP PRESS***
We have learned that the new Care Services
Minister, Ivan Lewis, today (17 May 2006) launched
the long awaited and much overdue guide ‘Making
referrals to the Protection of Vulnerable Adults
(POVA) list’. We have our copy which will be
digested and summarised next week.
Parliament
15 May 2006—House of Lords—Health Bill—question
Next
Abuse
1. Our son broke his leg, so social workers
took our three children away…...then had
them adopted
14 May 2006—Mail on Sunday
A three page article about the husband and wife,
Mark and Nicky Hardingham, who were apparently
overwhelmed by officialdom and social workers how
misrepresented the rights which they had and whose
children were apparently taken into care in 2003 on
the basis of very uncertain evidence. Subsequently
the children were adopted. The case was the subject
of a TV broadcast, Real Story—Broken Bones,
Broken Families, BBC1, 19:30 hours.
2. Comedy actor facing 15 charges over
child porn
12 May 2006 - The Times
The police inquiry known as Operation Ore, initiated
several years ago by the release by USA authorities
of the credit card details of many thousands of UK
citizens who had accessed USA based porn sites
(which lead to the high profile arrest of Pete Townsend,
the guitarist with ‘60’s legendary rockers ‘The
Who’) continues to identify individuals against whom
criminal charges are being laid, the latest person is
Chris Langham, TV star of ‘The Thick of It’.
3. Care home boss loses abuse appeal
9 May 2006 – BBC News
James Carragher, a former principal of a care home
jailed for 14 years for abusing boys has lost his appeal
against his sentence. The Court of Appeal ruled
that his conviction should stand.
For full report click here
4. World Elder Abuse Day - 15 June 2006
15 June 2006 has been designated by the International
Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
(INPEA) as ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’
backed by organisations such as the United Nations
and the World Health Organisation. The day’s objective
is to help people understand what elder abuse is,
and what steps can be taken to prevent it.
Please can you cascade this down in your organisation.
AEA are trying to reach as many people
as possible.
On the website is an Information Pack for organizations.
They also have one for the General Public.
AEA is organising a series of events to commemorate
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Thursday
June 15 2006, such as a skydive, a team of runners
in the British 10k, information stalls and collections
at Croydon and Sutton town centres and a lecture
in partnership with the Institute of Gerontology at
King's College London.
A host of individuals and organisations are also getting
involved with the day. AEA have had a great response
from care homes, sheltered housing
schemes, adult protection co-coordinators, local
councils and PCTs who are all getting involved, be it
through a coffee morning or holding an open day.
They are also asking the general public to help with
the campaign.
AEA is also launching a campaign for the day,
and they would like you to write to:
• your GP, to enlist their help in raising awareness;
• your local MP, requesting that direct funding be
provided for adult protection services; and
• your local regulator, asking for more regular inspections
of all homes rather than less and for an
improvement in the distribution of medicine to residents.
For more details click here
Business News
5. Penny’s angels from Africa
14 May 2006—Financial Mail
Report on Penny Streeter, who founded an agency
providing nurses, carers and other agency staff, cutting
the overheads of her business by relocating its
head office to South Africa where labour costs were
cheaper. Turnover remained static at £60m but profit
increased as she shaved £5m off admin costs prior to
the transfer of back office support to South Africa.
6. Civilians to fly military helicopters for rescues
10 May 2006 - The Times
This is further information about the Private Finance
Initiative plan for the UK search and rescue service
‘S&R’ (see Vol 1, Issue 5—item 41 for previous
report); MOD has indicated that the RAF and Royal
Navy will continue to be heavily involved in S&R.
7. ADL plc
New Bank Facility and Portfolio Valuation
ADL plc ("ADL"), the AIM listed long term healthcare
provider, which currently owns and operates nine
care homes, with 311 operational beds, and manages
a further two care homes, with 63 operational
beds, on a partnership or joint venture basis is
pleased to announce that today it signed a new £25
million Facility Agreement with IXIS Corporate & Investment
Bank S.A. ("the Facility").
The Facility will be initially used, up to a maximum
aggregate amount of £11 million:
• To refinance ADL's existing borrowings with Fortis
Bank S.A./N.V.;
• To finance the acquisitions of two 40 bed homes,
for which conditional contracts are expected to be
signed shortly; and
• To pay the costs and fees relating to the Facility
and the proposed acquisitions.
The balance of the Facility is available to ADL for
further acquisitions, as they are identified, subject in
each case to the prior approval of IXIS Corporate &
Investment Bank.
A key feature of the Facility is a reduction in the interest
rate margin from the current 1.5% over LIBOR to
1.00% over LIBOR subject to cash flow cover.
The Facility required ADL to have its portfolio of care
homes re-valued by Christie & Co at 31 March 2006.
The 9 freehold care homes, the South Garth Residential
Care Partnership and the joint venture with
Newford Limited, were valued on a portfolio basis, at
£14.377 million (31 March 2005: £13 million) resulting
in a valuation surplus of £1.377 million which has
been credited to revaluation reserve. On this basis,
the Directors of ADL estimate that the net assets per
share at 31 March 2006 were approximately 82p (31
March 2005: 68.7p per share).
Care Homes
8. Care homes earmarked for closure
12 May 2006 – BBC News
Eight care homes, four day centres for older people
and three care homes for people with learning problems
are earmarked for possible closure in a reorganisation
taking place within a programme called
Changing Lives, to comply with government policy to
deliver care to more people in their own homes. This
move will address the social services department’s
£6m overspend, however, the county council have
denied that the closures are about saving money.
For full report click here
9. Care home boss took clothing cash
12 May 2006 – BBC News
A care home manager of Broomfield Nursery Home
in Glasgow has admitted embezzling more than
£1,000 by taking advantage of a store return policy.
Anne Arundel purchased clothes at Marks and
Spencer’s for residents, returned them to the store
and kept the money for herself. She was caught
when accountants launched an investigation.
For full report click here
10. An endless stream of paperwork is creating
a crisis situation for many care homes
8 May 2006 - Evening News Norwich
Care home managers trying to keep up with the Government’s
constant changes to care legislation are
finding that they are drowning in paperwork and formfilling
rather than being able to care for their residents.
11. Social mealtimes boost wellbeing of care
home residents
8 May 2006 - BMJ online
The BMJ have published a study that mealtimes in a
sociable environment improve the quality of life for
nursing home residents. The six month study was
undertaken by researchers in the Netherlands on a
total of 282 residents in five Dutch care homes. The
results support the theory that family style mealtimes
improved the mood of care home residents with and
without dementia.
12. Care Home Thrives
8 May 2006 - Witehaven News
Kirksanton Care Centre near Millom previously rescued
from the threat of closure about two years ago,
is now enjoying a new lease of life after being given a
£600,000 makeover by Guardian Care Homes UK.
Guardian Care Homes UK are currently consulting
local health and social care agencies to assess the
most needed type of care accommodation in the area
before deciding what kind of residents to take on.
Case Reports
13. Killer nurse gets 17 life terms
12 May 2006 - The Times
Benjamin Green, the nurse who appeared to revel in
the drama of reviving patients in whom he had
caused respiratory failure by the improper administration
of anaesthetics and muscle relaxants convicted
of murder (BHCR Vol 1, Issue 6, item 51) was sentenced
by Oxford Crown Court to 17 life sentences
and was told that he will serve a minimum of 30 years
behind bars.
14. Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Trust
v Abbott & Ors
10 May 2006 - Times Law Reports
The Court of Appeal held; when choosing a comparator
group for discrimination proceedings the
whole of the advantaged group should be selected
as this is likely to be statistically more reliable.
Children
15. Revealed: the serious flaws in childcare
14 May 2006 – Scotsman
The childcare industry has had serious problems with
key sectors uncovered by an investigation as enquiries
continue into an E coli outbreak linked to a nursery.
An official report into Scots childminders has
concluded that one in five of them are failing legal
requirements for areas including safety and hygiene.
It also revealed serious problems with the same
amount of childcare agencies that provide nannies
and babysitters. Compulsory annual checks on nurseries
are also to be scrapped and replaced with 3-
year checks so that inspectors can concentrate on
the worst offenders. Politicians have called for an
investigation into childcare standards and warned
that a move to 3-year visits will amplify the existing
problem.
16. ISPs must say if they are blocking child
abuse images
11 May 2006 – NSPCC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may have to declare
what steps, if any, they are taking to prevent
the spread of child abuse images in a 10 Minute Rule
Bill proposed to Parliament on 11 May 2006.
For full report click here
17. Young Carers: report
10 May 2006 - NCVCCO
Childline has published a report : Old Heads on
Young Shoulders how young carers are affected and
what can be done to help them. Being a young carer
can have serious consequences for children, with
their social and academic lives, as well as their physical
and mental well-being.
For full report click here
18. Childcare Implementation Project
10 May 2006 – NCVCCO
The DfES, the Local Government Association and the
Improvement and Development Agency has launched
a new project on delivery of the new duties in the
Childcare Bill. Two consultants will be working
closely with 12 local authorities to test different approaches
to implementing the childcare agenda, identify
and spread good practice and use practice on the
ground to inform DfES guidance and codes of practice.
For full report click here
19. Childrens Fund Evaluation: report
10 May 2006 – NCVCCO
The DfES has published a new report, which lays out
recommendations to promote good outcomes for children
and young people, and support their pathways
to inclusion. It states the need for front-line practitioners
to have adequate support to talk across professional
boundaries and to development effective practice
around the needs of children and young people.
For full report click here
20. NHS Childrens Workforce: briefing paper
10 May 2006 – NCVCCO
Children's Workforce: rising to the challenge, is the
name of a briefing paper from National Workforce
Projects and the Care Services Improvement Partner
ship (CSIP) Childrens and Familes Programme. It is
aimed at workforce and service planners and modernisation
and service improvement leads and will
also provide useful information to anyone working in
senior levels in NHS and other health and social care
organisations.
For full report click here
21. E coli found at nursery school
11 May 2006 – Care Commission
10 May 2006 – The Times
10 May 2006 – The Independent
Three toddlers were hospitalised in Dunfermline suffering
kidney failure caused by a suspected outbreak
of E. coli 0157. The nursery has been inspected and
reports suggest the infection may have come from
‘outside’.
For full report click here
For Care Commission statement click here
22. West Midlands Every Child Matters Appeal
Kicks off in Birmingham
8 May 2006 – NCH
The NCH kicked off its appeal in Birmingham on 8
May – the appeal aims to highlight issues such as
poverty, disability and abuse faced by children and
teenagers. The NCH hope to raise £300,000 to help
fund their network of 46 local centres. The Radisson
SAS Hotel has chosen NCH Birmingham Young Carers
as its charity for the year and will be giving respite
to children and young people currently caring for sick
or disabled family members.
For full report click here
Conferences & Courses
23. Abuse
Conferences 17 May 2006—Leeds/24 May 2006—
London
A one day conference to address the implications of
elder abuse from several perspectives: the individual,
other residents/tenants, the scheme manager the
provider and the organisations who relate to them. It
will enable those who work within sheltered housing
and related care sectors to recognise and understand
what is happening and what action needs to be
taken. Click here to download a booking form.
24. Community Care Live
17-18 May 2006
Business Design Centre (BDC), London
The GSCC will be presenting two sessions at Community
Care Live 2006.
17 May - 2.45-3.34pm
'Where next for the social care workforce? Promoting
high standards in the social care workforce through
registration of next groups and conduct'
18 May - 2-2.50pm
'Training and learning requirement for the renewal of
registration
For further details click here
The Future of Childcare Provision: Inspection and
Regulation Under the Childcare Bill
Thursday 25th May, 2006, Central London
25. Active Third Age – Enabling Access to
Work Opportunities, Guidance and Employment
for Older Workers
25 May 2006 - Central London
Key Speakers include:
Professor Stephen McNair, Director, Centre for Research
into the Older Workforce
Elizabeth Farmer, Director, Positive Experience
Andrew Harrop, Policy Manager, Age Concern
Chaired by: Baroness Greengross, Chief Executive,
International Longevity Centre UK
Mervyn Eastman, Chief Executive, Better Government
for Older People
To see a full conference brochure for this event, including
a full list of speakers and a booking form,
please click here. If you have problems with this link
or need any further information, please call Dave
Eastman direct on 0207 808 5309.
26. Commissioning Getting it Right for Everyone
1 June 2006—ECCA
Venue : Manchester Conference Centre, University
of Manchester
Audience : Directors of Social Services, Finance
Directors, Planning & Commissioning Managers in
Social Services, SHAs & PCTs, Independent Care
Home Providers, Independent Home Care Providers,
Patient & User Groups, Lawyers, Banks & other Finance
Institutions and Care Contracting Officers.
Speakers : David Behan (CSCI), Penny Banks
(Kings Fund), John Dixon (ADSS), Martin Green
(ECCA)
For further details click here
27. OLDER PEOPLE’S ADVOCACY ALLIANCE
(OPAAL) UK
Wed 19th July 2006
Venue: Paragon Hotel, Birmingham
A national conference to present the findings of the
OPAAL national development project, with an opportunity
to contribute to the final report.
B o o k i n g f o r m a n d a g e n d a
Workshop descriptions
28. The Care Show
Birmingham NEC—25 & 26 October 2006
Bournemouth BIC—20 & 21 March 2007
Details : 01425 470666
www.careshow.co.uk
Consultations
29. Consultation on amendments to the Care
Standards Tribunal Regulations
Closing Date: 2 June 2006
This consultation seeks views on a new set of Care
Standards Tribunal regulations, including reviewing
disqualification orders and appeal periods for childcare
providers and social workers.
For consultation click here
30. Code of Practice for the Mental Capacity
Act 2005: A consultation
Closing date: 2 June 2006
A consultation inviting comments on content and style
from all interested parties on the draft Code of Practice,
which is to provide guidance and information for
those working with or caring for those who cannot
make decisions for themselves, or those who have a
limited capacity to do so without assistance.
Press release:
For press release click here
For consultation click here
31. Have your say on assessing healthcare
services
Closing date: 5 June 2006
A consultation on plans for developing the annual
health check and proposed approach to assessing
the performance of NHS trusts in 2006/2007. Feedback
is also welcome on proposals for measuring
improvement in NHS organisations relating to the
Government’s developmental standards, designed to
drive up the quality of care for patients.
For consultation click here
32. Consultation on the Strategy for a Scotland
with an Ageing Population
Closing date: 5 June 2006
Scottish Executive consultation on Scotland's ageing
population. The Executive plan to develop a strategy
for Scotland's ageing population and are asking for
views on how older people's contribute to society,
older people and work, services for older people,
health and well-being, and housing, transport and
surroundings. Responses should be submitted to:
Nicole.ronald@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Or: Nicole Ronald, Scottish Executive, Area 2G(S),
Victoria Quay, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ
For consultation click here
33. Plans to amend the Mental Health Act
1983 - Race Equality Impact Assessment
Closing date: 6 June 2006
Under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000,
public authorities (in this case the Department of
Health) are required to undertake a race equality impact
assessment of new policies and functions. The
consultation is for people or organisations who wish
to take part in the impact assessment of the Department's
proposals to amend the Mental Health Act
1983.
For consultation click here
34. Department of Health draft simplication
plan
Closing date: 20 June 2006
A draft plan setting out how to streamline data gathering,
reconfiguration of DoH’s arms length bodies and
a wider review of health and social care regulations
aiming to balance patient safety with reducing administrative
burdens amongst other points.
For consultation click here
35. Health services for young people
Closing date: 10 July 2006
A consultation inviting comments and proposals on
how best to deliver children and young people’s
health services. The Action Framework for Children
and Young People’s Health in Scotland is aiming to
be a one-stop shop for everyone involved in caring
for Scotland’s children.
For press release click here
For consultation click here
36. Consultation launched on Early Years
Foundation Stage
Closing Date : 28 July 2006
The Ten Year Strategy for Childcare, published in
December 2004, set out a future to enable every child
to have the best start in life and to give parents more
choice about how to balance family and working life.
They are now consulting on the draft Early Years
Foundation Stage, and this covers care, learning and
development for children in all early years settings
from birth to the August after their fifth birthday.
For press release click here
For consultation click here
37. Consultation on the arrangements for the
provision of dressings, incontinence appliances,
stoma appliances, chemical reagents
and other appliances to primary and secondary
care - Summary of responses
Launch date: 24 October 2004
Closing date: 23 January 2006
Outcome published: 8 May 2006
This document provides a summary of the responses
that the Department received in relation to the consultation.
It also sets out the Department's intended next
steps. A further consultation on proposed changes to
drug tariff reimbursement prices for some dressings
and reagents is also accessible from this webpage.
For consultation outcome click here
CSCI, CSIW, Healthcare
Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
38. The impact of regulation and future plans
for inspection
11 May 2006 - CSCI
A transcript of the speech made by Chief Inspector of
the Commission for Social Care Inspection David Behan
to Ceretas Annual Home Care Conference on 10
May 2006, he spoke about the Commission's plans to
modernise the way it regulates social care services.
For full report click here
39. E coli found at nursery school
11 May 2006 – Care Commission
10 May 2006 – The Times
10 May 2006 – The Independent
For full report see Children – item 21
40. NHS trusts to make first ever public declarations
on basic standards of safety and
quality
10 May 2006 – Healthcare Commission
Every NHS trust in England must issue a public declaration
to show their performance against the government’s
core standards for healthcare. The information
must be available to the public by midnight on
Friday 12 May as part of the Healthcare Commission’s
annual health check. For the first time ever,
patients and the public will see how local trusts
measure up against 24 standards in areas such as
safety and patient focus amongst other things.
For full report click here
41. Give us your views on equality and diversity
9 May 2006 – CSCI
The CSCI is developing an equalities and diversity
strategy, and would like the views of the public for
people who use the care services and CSCI staff.
Comments must be submitted by 16 June 2006.
For full report click here
42. Watchdog’s first nurse consultant for
older people
9 May 2006 – Care Commission
Scotland’s Care Commission has appointed a nursing
expert with the sole brief of improving standards
in care homes for older people. Belinda Dewar has
been appointed to the newly and specially-created
post of Nurse Consultant for Older People – to oversee
a sector that includes an estimated 40,000 care
home places and 4085 nursing staff.
For Care Commission report click here
For BBC report click here
42. Mixed success for independence scheme
9 May 2006 – CSCI
The CSCI has published a report called Supporting
People, to promote independence and social care
aspects of the government programme by the same
name. It has had mixed success so far, with inconsistencies
across different groups of people and different
parts of England.
For CSCI press report click here
For earlier CSCI press report click here
Education
Nothing to report
Learning Disabilities
43. Disability guru
12 May 2006 - The Times
Nicola Smith, 43, with learning difficulties has been
appointed to help guide government policies for the
1.5 million learning disabled population. Ms Smith
who has lived in a long-stay hospital, hostel and her
own home believes those experiences will help teach
ministers what it is like for someone with learning disabilities.
44. Government announces appointment of
new learning disabilities tsar
11 May 2006—DoH
11 May 2006—Community Care
Nicola Smith from West Sussex has been appointed
as the new learning disabilities tsar to help lead government
policy on the lives of people with learning
disabilities. She will work alongside the current National
Director for Learning Disabilities, Rob Greig
and took up her post with immediate effect. Nicola
herself has a learning disability and brings experience
from her roles as a National Assembly Member of
Mencap, Co-Chair of her local Learning Disabilities
Partnership Board amongst other things.
For DoH report click here
For Community Care report click here
45. Radical review of supported housing is
needed
9 May 2006 – Community Care
CSCI inspectors have called for a ‘radical review’ of
supported housing for people with learning disabilities
due to growing concerns whether current models of
support, especially single person tenancies with oneto-
one support are sustainable in a report. The report
also reveals that some people with mental health
problems have been placed in accommodation for
homeless people which presents a risk ‘that the specific
mental health needs of service users can get
lost’.
For full report click here
46. New care services minister to address
Community Care Live
8 May 2006 – Community Care
Following a parliamentary re-shuffle prompted by
Home Secretary Charles Clarke’s sacking, new Care
Minister Ivan Lewis will now address the two-day annual
event Community Care Live 2006, instead of
Liam Byrne.
For full report click here
Legislation Update
None to report
Mental Health
47. Plans to amend the Mental Health Act
1983 - Race Equality Impact Assessment
For full report – see Consultations – item 33
Miscellaneous
48. It’s your right to die if you want to
14 May 2006 - The Sunday Times
Extensive interview by Jasper Gerard of Lord Joffe
who introduced the Assisted Dying for the Terminally
Ill Bill which with the support of the Bishops was defeated.
49. Religious leaders fear right to die law
would turn into a duty to die
12 May 2006 - The Times
Article about the united approach of three major religious
leaders of the Church of England, Roman
Catholics and Jews in their opposition to the Assisted
Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill which they had written
to the Editor of The Times they feared might become
a ‘duty to die’.
50. Letters to the Editor
12 May 2006 - The Times
Referred to above; additionally further and different
view-points advanced by five other correspondents.
51. NEWS – 12 May 2006
The House of Lords voted against the Assisted Dying
Bill.
52. Lords block assisted dying bill
12 May 2006 – BBC News
The House of Lords has blocked a controversial bill
which would allow terminally ill people to be helped
to die has been blocked by the House of Lords.
Peers backed an amendment to delay the bill by six
months by 48 votes, however, the government has
said it will not block a further hearing of the bill.
For full report click here
53. ‘Peers broke word’ – article subsequently
qualified
11 May 2006—The Times
Three opponents of move to legalise ‘mercy killings’
accused by Lord Joffe of breaking their word as they
were now to seek a vote on the Bill, rather than allow
further scrutiny as agreed last year. The content of
the article was partly retracted in The Times the following
day – Lord Joffe had not accused ‘three peers’
of ‘breaking their word’ - with apologies to those
thought to have been impugned.
54. Letters to the Editor
11 May 2006 - The Times
A matter of life and death: who gets to choose?
A selection of six letters representing different viewpoints
on the Assisted Dying of the Terminally Ill Bill
due for its second reading in the House of Lords the
following day.
55. Doctors in revolt over legalising euthanasia
10 May 2006 – The Times
The Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College
of General Practitioners have abandoned their
previous neutral stance on euthanasia after a survey
showed 75% of the profession opposed it. The opposition
increased to 95% when surveying palliative
care doctors. The survey has been attacked as
members had just 48 hrs to respond to the questionnaire.
56. New line up in Department of Health
Following the Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister
Tony Blair the new team of ministers in the Department
of Health is:
Rt Hon. Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for
Health. She has overall responsibility for NHS, social
care delivery, finance and resources.
Lord Warner of Brockley, Minister of State for Reform;
having responsibilities for NHS budget setting, commissioning
choice, payment by results, ‘Our health,
Our care, Our say’ NHS workforce issues, NHS LIFT.
Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Health Services.
She has responsibilities for, including others,
overseas & EU business, ID cards, emergency preparedness
(incl. pandemic flu), counter-fraud, patient
& public involvement & diversity.
Caroline Flint MP, Minister of State for Public Health;
responsibilities include health inequalities, substance
abuse issues, sexual health & Food Standards
Agency.
Andy Burnham MP, Minister of State for Delivery &
Quality. He has responsibilities including standards,
inspection & performance, patient safety, NICE, reducing
bureaucracy and counter-fraud.
Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of
State for Care Services. His responsibilities include:
social care finance, CSCI inspection, Social Care Institute
for Excellence, older people’s services, physical
& learning disabilities and National Service
Framework.
For more information about the Ministerial team,
click here.
57. Government blocks measures to vet
those employed by direct payments
11 May 2006 – Community Care
The government has decided against attempts to
provide more protection for direct payment users under
the proposed vetting and barring scheme for
people working with vulnerable adults. The amendment
was blocked by government spokesperson Baroness
Royall, stating that the purpose of direct payments
was to put people in control of the care they
received, so they had a responsibility themselves
whether they wanted to check the list or not. Another
amendment tabled during the House of Lords scrutiny
of the bill would have forced people commissioning
regulated activities for the benefit of vulnerable
adults to check the barred list.
But Royall said the checks would be "intrusive".
Charities have expressed their concern about unsuitable
people gravitating towards direct payments if
they knew they were unlikely to be checked. The
government will, however, be addressing concerns
about the inclusion of children on the barred lists.
For full report click here
58. Department of Health: Departmental Report
2006
The Health and Personal Social Services
Programmes
11 May 2006 – DoH
This report provides Parliament and the public with
an account of how the Department has spent the
resources allocated to it, as well as its future spending
plans. It also describes its policies and programmes
and gives a breakdown of spending within
these programmes.
For full report click here
59. The National Audit Office report on the
Provision of Out-of-hours care in England
10 May 2006 – DoH
The National Audit Office report on the provision of
out-of-hours care in England was published on 5 May
2006. This letter from Head of Primary Care Gary
Belfield asks for information on signed contracts in
place with providers of out-of-hours services. He asks
for responses by 17 May 2006.
For full report click here
60. CSCI is advertising for a Principal Legal Advisor
for three CSCI Regions. The applicant must
be a lawyer of three years qualification and some
knowledge of the Care Standards Act - Salary
£39,867 or £45,028 if based in London.
61. Doctors’ cure for online hysteria
10 May 2006 – The Times
9 May 2006 – British Medical Journal
In an attempt to provide jargon-free health advice
doctors have set up the website
www.BestTreatments.co.uk it is hoped that this new
service will help patients currently struggling with a
myriad sources of information on symptoms and
therapies on the internet.
Other websites which might be considered include:
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
www.netdoctor.co.uk
www.quackwatch.org
www.medlineplus.gov
www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
www.allergyuk.org
NHS
62. Sweet count NHS trust criticised
15 May 2006 – BBC News
Managers at the Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust
have been criticised for telling nurses to record the
number of boxes of chocolates left for staff by grateful
patients. Staff dubbed it as a “chocolate audit” to assess
patient satisfaction and the exercise was
branded as ‘management madness’ by health watchdogs.
For full report click here
63. Jnr’s bid to profit from the NHS
14 May 2006—Mail on Sunday
Short item about the son of Deputy Prime Minister,
John Prescott, and his links with Richard Carlowe
who previously played a key role in deals to build
‘super-surgeries’.
64. NHS chief 'blasè about job cuts'
11 May 2006 – BBC News
Andrew Foster, head of personnel at the NHS gave
evidence to the health select committee stating that
the number of hospital staff facing the sack had been
exaggerated. He also said that there would only be
major compulsory redundancies at ‘two or three’ hospitals
and denied claims that he was ‘taking a somewhat
blasé view’ about the cuts.
For full report click here
65. NHS staff sign up for last-minute places
11 May 2006 – Nursery World
One-third of NHS Trusts in London have signed up to
an online emergency childcare service which gives
doctors, nurses and other hospital staff access to
last-minute nursery places and nannies when their
usual childcare arrangements fall through.
For full report click here
66. GPs 'paid for surgery referrals'
11 May 2006 – BBC News
The British Medical Association are concerned about
a scheme where GPs are paid £30 when patients
choose to have surgery at Greater Manchester Surgical
Centre. The scheme has been running since
January. The BMA have warned that the payments
could be seen as financial inducements, which is
something denied by the PCT.
For full report click here
67. Dying woman treated as 'nuisance'
11 May 2006 – BBC News
An inquest has revealed that an elderly heart patient
who died at a Leicester hospital was treated as a
‘grumbling nuisance’ in her final hours. Her family
said that nurses did not notice that she was swelling
up day by day but the hospital has defended the
quality of care provided. Cecilia Welch, 76, was
originally admitted to hospital suffering from swelling
linked to her heart condition.
For full report click here
68. Trust pays £700,000 to ease debt
11 May 2006 – BBC News
A hospital trust currently axing 400 jobs through a
debt of £40.9m has paid financial consultants
£700,000 to help reduce costs and waiting times.
The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust is still
losing £2m a month and was one of 18 debt-ridden
NHS trusts to be singled out by the Government in
January for financial support.
For full report click here
69. New dental surgeries in business
11 May 2006 – BBC News
Four out of five new dental surgeries in mid and
south west Wales have finally opened and are treating
patients. Most of the places at the new surgeries
have been taken up, but people who don’t have a
dentist are still being urged to check. A fifth new surgery
in Brecon is due to open soon.
For full report click here
70. Treatment pledge
11 May 2006—The Times
The Government said that by end of 2008 the NHS
would meet Govt. target to treat every patient within
18 weeks of a GP referral.
71. Letters to the Editor
NHS no shows
10 May 2006 – The Times
A thoughtful reflection by Peter Baranyovits on the
fact that his busy NHS clinics, rather like airlines,
‘overbook’ patient appointments in the knowledge
that there is a consistent percentage of patients who
do not keep appointments.
72. Consultants new £340m deal no help for
patients
10 May 2006 – The Times
The new contract for hospital consultants cost £340m
in the first two years. The King’s Fund says that
rushed implementation, other problems in the NHS
and a failure to cost the contract properly means that
neither the NHS nor patients benefited.
73. The NHS will deliver the fastest access to
treatment says Burnham
10 May 2006 – DoH
Newly-appointed health minister Andy Burnham has
declared that tackling hidden waiting lists and ensuring
the NHS delivers a maximum wait for patients of
18 weeks, from GP referral to treatment, will be his
key priority in his new role. His statement came as
the DoH published further plans of how the NHS will
bring an end to the age-old problem of waiting lists.
For full report click here
74. Outrage at NHS waiting list party
10 May 2006 – BBC News
Opposition parties have slammed a party organised
by the Welsh Assembly Government to celebrate a
fall in NHS waiting times. The reception for 70 NHS
professionals was held at the Senedd in Cardiff. The
most recent waiting list figures, released on 26 April,
showed that at the end of March there were no patients
waiting more than 12 months for inpatient treatment
or day case surgery, as well as a major reduction
in the number of patients waiting 12 months for a
first outpatient appointment.
For full report click here
75. Big cuts to county's NHS services
10 May 2006 – BBC News
Gloucestershire health services will be cut resulting in
the loss of 500 jobs, community hospital closures and
maternity services being moved to Gloucester. The
county's three Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and its
NHS provider trusts are facing a deficit of £38m.
Across the county, 240 hospital beds will be lost.
For BBC report click here
For another BBC report click here
76. Over-budget consultant contract has so
far failed to benefit patients, says King's
Fund
10 May 2006 – King’s Fund
A new report from the King’s Fund has found that the
new contract for senior hospital doctors in England
has cost a lot more than originally anticipated and so
far shows little evidence in providing benefits to patients.
The independent report is called Assessing
the New NHS Consultant Contract – A something for
something deal?
For King’s Fund report click here
For BBC report click here
77. Archbishop fears for patient care
10 May 2006 – BBC News
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury
has warned that the quality of patient care could be
compromised by the NHS cuts, particularly care for
vulnerable patients. He made his comments in a
sermon at Westminster Abbey for the Florence
Nightingale Commemoration.
For full report click here
78. Strategic Health Authorities: new structure
10 May 2006 – NCVCCO
Following the Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS
consultation, which ended on 22nd March the Department
of Health has announced the new structure
of Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) in England.
The changes will strengthen the architecture of the
local NHS, save money in streamlining management
and administration and cut out unnecessary bureaucracy
by bringing together administration, HR, accounts
and hospital contract negotiation teams.
For full report click here
79. Treatment limits to cut NHS costs
10 May 2006 – BBC News
In Lincolnshire, smokers and overweight people will
be given lower priority for some treatments as part of
a cost-cutting measure. Officials have said many
treatments for non-life threatening conditions are not
as effective on the obese or smokers. Other plans
put forward by the county’s NHS include losing sexual
health clinics for a year and making changes to
the provision of IVF. A 12-week consultation period
on the plans has begun and feedback will be published
by the end of the year.
For full report click here
80. No shows cost NHS £614m
9 May 2006 – The Times
Missed hospital appointments are rising despite government
promises to save time and money; data suggests
that for 2005/6 missed appointments totalled
6.8 million, up from 5.7 million the previous year.
81. Missed hospital appointments 'up'
8 May 2006 – BBC News
6.8 million hospital appointments were missed during
the years 2005-2006 throughout the NHS costing the
NHS a potential £614m. 141 hospital trusts took part
in the survey and it is thought that patients fail to turn
up for around one in 10 hospital appointments.
For full report click here
82. Health summit outlines four key challenges
for NHS ahead of lower growth in
funding
8 May 2006 – Kings Fund
A high-level summit organised by the King’s Fund
found that the NHS face four large challenges, to improve
productivity, reduce variations in performance,
routinely measure health outcomes and introduce
more sophisticated incentive systems if it is cope with
lower growth in funding over the next five years.
For full report click here
Nursing
83. Nursing Standard
3 May 2006
Research suggests that nurses from black and minority
ethnic groups who apply for nursing courses are
more likely to be rejected than their white counterparts.
84. 40% fewer nurses as hospitals cut costs
10 May 2006 – The Times
While the number of nurses being trained are being
cut by up to 40% on some courses the average cut is
10%.
Older People
85. New study reveals older people's view on
paying for care
8 May 2006 – Age Concern
Older people see the system of paying for care as
deeply unfair and confusing accordingly to a study by
Age Concern. The sample groups were particularly
concerned that over a rather low limit threshold, they
have to pay for all care costs with no help from the
state, and that they thought that the state should provide
a core level of free care for older people who
need it, such as washing, dressing and food preparation.
Scotland
86. Revealed: the serious flaws in childcare
14 May 2006 – Scotsman
For full report see Children—item 15
87. Health cuts loom as board fights to curb
£30m deficit
12 May 2006 – The Herald
Scotland’s largest health board has a new deficit of
nearly £30m after debt-ridden health authority Argyll
and Clyde were scrapped. NHS Greater Glasgow
and Clyde is having to re-consider the future of frontline
care and plans to downgrade emergency medicine
at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock are
being suspended.
Volume 1 Issue 9
88. Care home boss took clothing cash
12 May 2006 – BBC News
For full report see Care Homes – item 9
89. E coli found at nursery school
11 May 2006 – Care Commission
10 May 2006 – The Times
10 May 2006 – The Independent
For full report – see Children – item 21
90. Scottish leaders put children to the fore
11 May 2006 - CareandHealth
At the annual conference of the Association Directors
of Social Work, Scottish social work leaders are planning
to prioritise child protection and poverty.
91. Watchdog’s first nurse consultant for
older people
9 May 2006 – Care Commission
For full report see CSCI, CSIW, Healthcare Commission &
Scottish Care Commission—item 42
Social Care
92. Promoting person-centred care at the
front line
12 May 2006 – NCF
Research has been done by the University of Stirling
to look at barriers to and opportunities for promoting
person-centred care for older people, disabled people
and people from minority ethnic groups. The
study found that the roles and experiences of frontline
workers had to be understood to enable the care
to be more effective within community care services.
93. Young Carers: report
10 May 2006 - NCVCCO
For full report see Children—item 17
94. How the government reshuffle affects social
care
9 May 2006 – Community Care
The Association of Directors of Social Services has
stated that it is crucial that the government reshuffle
does not disrupt the progress of policies for the health
sector. Ivan Lewis comes into the role with a ‘strong
working knowledge of social care’ having been chief
executive of social care charity the Manchester Jewish
Federation and chair of Bury Council's then social
services committee. Ivan Lewis has already contacted
the ADSS to arrange a meeting this week.
For full report click here
Staff, employment and
disciplinary
95. Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Trust
v Abbott & Ors
10 May 2006 - Times Law Reports
For full report – see Case Reports – item 14
Wales
96. New dental surgeries in business
11 May 2006 – BBC News
For full report see NHS—item 70
97. Outrage at NHS waiting list party
10 May 2006 – BBC News
For full report see NHS—item 75
A Levelling of the Playing
Field
The Amsterdam Treaty was agreed by the European
Union's political leaders on 17 June and signed on 2
October 1997, the culmination of two years of discussion
and negotiation in a conference of member state
government representatives. The aim of the negotiation
was to create the political and institutional climate
to enable the member states of the European
Union to meet the challenges of the future such as
the rapid globalisation of the economy and its impact
on jobs, the fight against international crime and drug
trafficking, ecological problems and threats to public
health.
Legislation has been in place for 30 years to protect
people from discrimination on grounds of race: the
Race Relations Act 1976 (“RRA”).
Article 13 extended the European Union's ability to
legislate in the area of discrimination by the issuing
of Directives. The general principles of Article 13 are
not by themselves legally binding, so to effect this,
the Council of Ministers approved two directives proposing
minimum standards of legal protection
against discrimination throughout the European Union,
and an Action Programme that effectively supports
practical efforts by member states to combat
discrimination.
Member states are now required to make discrimination
unlawful by way of an Employment Directive on
grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual
orientation in the areas of employment and training.
The UK has taken steps to comply with this directive
through UK law by prohibiting all aspects of discrimination
except age, however the deadline to introduce
legislation to tackle age discrimination is almost upon
us, October 2006.
Anyone working or just travelling within the European
Union is entitled to the same minimum level of protection
from discrimination in all member states.
The RRA makes it unlawful to discriminate on racial
grounds in relation to employment, training and education,
the provision of goods, facilities and services
(including care), and certain other specified activities
only. The RRA makes employers liable for:-
• acts of racial discrimination by public authorities
(but not all functions of public authorities
are covered), and
• acts of racial discrimination committed by employees
in the course of their employment,
subject to a defence that the employer took
such steps as were reasonably practicable to
prevent the employee discriminating.
However, police officers are office-holders are not
employees - they were therefore not liable under this
Act for acts of race discrimination. In addition, companies
who employed less than 50 people did not fall
under the Act either.
There have since been significant changes by
amendments to the legislation including major
changes introduced by the Race Relations
(Amendment) Act 2000 and the Race Relations Act
1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 which strengthened
and extended the scope of the RRA; but did not
replace it. More specifically, it extended the scope of
the 1976 Act in relation to the following:-
• outlaws race discrimination in public authorities'
functions not previously covered;
• places a duty on specified public authorities to
work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination
and promote equality of opportunity
and good relations between persons of different
racial groups;
• ensures police officers are liable for acts of
race discrimination;
• covers ALL employers, no matter how large or
small; and
• amends the exemption under the 1976 Act for
acts done for the purposes of safeguarding
national security.
How might these Acts apply to care homes and to
carers?
One example is the Rose Addis case. There were
allegations of racism surrounding the hospital care of
Rose Addis, a 94 year old woman, because she refused
to accept care delivered by black nursing staff.
This raised employment and political issues. What
do you do when a client refuses care from someone
because of the other person’s race, sexuality or for
some other discriminatory reason?
If a non-English speaking Pakistani woman requested
care from a Pakistani carer, it would, doubtless,
be arranged on the basis of ease of communication
and/or cultural understanding. However, if a
Caucasian
woman refuses care from a Pakistani carer it could
be argued that this would not be because of communication
or cultural issues, but as a result of racism.
Is it appropriate to impose modern-day tolerance to a
generation who grew up in ignorance of these issues?
Would it be right to expose care workers to
possible abuse and/or complaints? The service provider
would have to weigh up the impact of sending
back a care worker to someone who has already refused
help and assistance from them.
This is something that needs to be tackled by individual
care providers, some may prefer to tackle issues
head on and others will prefer to provide a Caucasian
worker on request. The problem is that carers
may themselves have a ‘vulnerability’ and the balance
between vulnerability and prejudice is a fine
line. However, care providers will not want to be
seen as condoning racism nor to start a policy where
it may be perceived as acceptable for service users
to discriminate.
In another example, a London council failed to comprehend
or understand the seriousness of the racist
abuse experienced by social worker, Sandra Simpson.
She brought her case to Croydon Employment
Tribunal and her complaint was upheld - the conclusion
being that racist abuse was not something that
social workers should be expected to endure as part
of their job.
Simpson was a senior social work practitioner concerned
with the Council's court application to remove
five children from a family. The family's father subjected
Simpson to a number of strongly worded racial
comments and insults. She informed her managers
of the abuse but was subsequently 'invited to contact
the council's solicitors and pursue some course of
action with them' and that it was for Simpson 'to make
suggestions as what ought to be done' about the
abuser. The tribunal found that there was a failure to
provide 'appropriate support' which was a 'race specific
failure' concluding that there were 'unconscious
attitudes of discrimination' by the council.
Government attempts to address institutional racism
in the public sector, including the Best Value Indicators
on racial equality for 2000/01 and the Commission
for Racial Equality’s ‘Standard for Local Government’,
the LGA survey revealed that only about half
of local authorities know how many black and ethnic
minority staff they currently employ and most have
failed to review their policies to examine levels of po
tential or actual racial discrimination and harassment,
(of local authority responses to the Stephen Lawrence
Inquiry).
Until the issue of discrimination at work has been
tackled seriously one cannot claim that racism is no
longer a problem in society.
The EU has recognised that discrimination must be
challenged wherever it occurs and any countries
wishing to join the EU will have to adopt anti discrimination
measures before they would be permitted to
join. A person visiting or working in a Member State
will be able to pursue legal redress in the event of
experiencing racial discrimination.
The Commission for Racial Equality was originally set
up under the Race Relations Act 1976 and so has
been running for 30 years. Its three main duties are:
• To use its existing legal powers to eliminate
racial discrimination and promote
equal opportunities
• To encourage good race relations between
all ethnicities
• To monitor the Race Relations Act to ensure
it is working and to recommend ways
it can be improved
The CRE can provide help, legal advice and support
to people who think they have been discriminated
against. The CRE can also investigate companies or
organisations suspected of racial discrimination, and
force them change any unsuitable policies and practices.
In this day and age it is more important than ever
that we all are aware of the multi-cultural society we
live in and to be considerate of those we perceive as
‘different’ whether it be their religious beliefs, their
sexual preference or race. It is just as important,
however, that we do not take things to the extreme
as is sometimes see reported in newspapers, striking
an even balance can be difficult, particularly so in the
workplace. By consulting with the people involved
and keeping each party informed, hopefully a harmonious
outcome will be achieved.
Not only can the Commission for Racial Equality help
those who have been discriminated against, the
CRE is just as keen to advise employers on how they
can improve the workplace and its practices. The
CRE website contains lots of helpful information
should you ever need it.