Editorial
Just when did a Government Minister, let alone a Health
Minister, find him or herself in and NHS hospital ward
following an emergency admission?
While I don’t wish ill-health on anyone, Ministers would
do well to attend such wards and ask patients about
their experiences.
This last week there was a judge publicly criticising the
fact that such wards are not infrequently mixed gender
wards. He made his comments when sentencing a
serial sex offended for assaulting an old lady who was
in a bed next to his.
I wrote recently of my arms length experience of an
NHS hospital when an elderly friend of mine was rushed
to hospital. When she had recovered her wits, she was
on a mixed ward. She found it unnerving and
embarrassing, the more so for the fact that there were
male patients around her—fortunately she was moved
to a single bed room where she felt safer. I was
surprised that I too felt uncomfortable in the mixed
gender ward in a way I do not where the patients are all
female or all male.
Lord Darzi’s announcement that Government’s previous
target of eliminating mixed gender wards is “unrealistic”
has come as a shock to my friend. I think many others
will share that view.
Of course, to have a mixed gender medical assessment
ward allows a high degree of latitude and flexibility in
terms of the gender of patient's received - but, at what
cost?
The public has a right to expect that they should be safe
and have their dignity protected when in hospital. That
means Lord Darzi’s defeatist view on this issue must be
resisted.
I hope that the Dignity Guardians appointed by
Government just a couple of years ago will raise their
voices in opposit ion to abandonment of a stated policy.
Parliament
04.02.08 – HoL - Disabled Persons (Independent
Living) Bill Committee
05.02.06 – HoC – Oral Questions, Health
07.02.08 – HoC - Suicide prevention strategies;
Adjournment Debate
Next
Abuse
1. Call to seize secret church abuse files
3 February 2008 - The Observer
Sex abuse files trigger Church rift
2 February 2008 - The Times
Cardinal Desmond Connell former Archbishop of
Dublin has begun legal action to prevent his successor,
Dr Diarmuid Martin from handing over child
abuse files to the Irish Commission of Investigation
into Child Sex Abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese established
in 2006. It is believed that there are more
than 5,000 documents.
2. Agencies 'fail to prevent child abuse
deaths'
1 February 2008 - Telegraph.co.uk
A report by East Anglia University, published by the
Department for Children, Schools and Families,
shows that 100 children die in England every year
from neglect and abuse and because social workers
and health professionals are too busy arguing over
who is responsible for them.
Ed. Shockingly, this is now eight years after the
case of Victoria Climbie and the subsequent report
into child protection.
Business News
3. New guidance on joint working between
the NHS and Pharmaceutical Industry
1 February 2008 - GNN
New guidance to encourage the NHS to work jointly
with the pharmaceutical industry was announced by
health minister Dawn Primarolo.
The Department of Health guidance will give advice
on how, for example, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs),
pharmaceutical companies and clinicians can work
together to identify particular medical needs in a community.
The guidance will:
* encourage NHS organisations and staff to work together
to deliver high-quality healthcare; and
* inform and advise NHS staff of their main responsibilities
when working together with the pharmaceutical
industry.
The Guidance on Joint Working between the NHS
and pharmaceutical industry can be found at:
h t t p : / / w w w . d h . g o v . u k / e n /
Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/
PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_082370
4. August Equity portfolio company Healthcare
Homes Group continues impressive
growth through buy-and-build strategy
31 January 2008
August Equity LLP (“August Equity”) announced its
portfolio company Healthcare Homes Group (“HHG”)
acquired Manorcourt Care Limited (“Manorcourt”), a
privately owned group based in Norfolk.
Manorcourt provides HHG with an additional 87 registered
care beds.
Manorcourt is a complete care service organisation
which offers both residential care and a full range of
care services for those in the community, including
domiciliary care and a day centre. It operates three
homes situated in rural locations in North West Norfolk.
HHG is run by three directors who have proven track
records in the health care industry, having been responsible
for building and running Care UK: Richard
Clough, CEO, Graham Lomer, finance, and David
Bates, operations. The non-executive chairman is
Charles Auld, an established name in the industry,
who was formerly CEO of General Healthcare Group.
Care Homes
5. 'Safety concerns' close care home
31 January 2008 – BBC News
CSCI has shut down a care home for elderly people
near Bristol after concerns were expressed about the
safety of its residents.
All 10 people living there were moved and owners,
Danny Purgaus and Patricia Purgaus, were unavailable
for comment. The home had been registered
since 1992 for 14 beds.
For full report click here
6. CAUTIOUS WELCOME FOR CSCI STATE
OF THE SECTOR REPORT
29 January 2008
National Care Association (NCA) cautiously welcomed
CSCI’s third annual report on the State of the
Social Care Sector in England. NCA is delighted to
note for the third successive year the steady improvement
in services.
Members of NCA will be heartened to note the recognition
of the flawed eligibility criteria used by some
Councils to assess the care needs of local people.
The independent sector has repeatedly raised
concerns about eligibility criteria since the early
1990s.
Nadra Ahmed OBE Chairman of NCA said: “I am
delighted to note the continued effort that is being
made to raise standards by care providers at a time
when they are facing continued change and uncertainty.
We believe that these reports are helpful when
the positive messages are highlighted as well as the
improvement agenda.”
7. ECCA Responds to the State of Social
Care Report
The English Community Care Association has responded
to the Commission for Social Care Inspection’s
report on the State of Social Care.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:
“This report clearly highlights there is a desperate
need to review the funding of social care. We welcome
the Minister’s announcement that eligibility criteria
is going to be reviewed and we hope that that
will include a review into the way in which both people
with learning disabilities and older people are
being denied the support that residential care can
provide.”
“ECCA will do all it can to support the Minister to ensure
the review is both comprehensive and delivers
fairness and equity for all”.
8. Care homes need MRSA strategy
25 January 2008 – Nursing times
Researches have said that MRSA-colonised nursing
home residents are up to six times more likely to develop
infection than non-colonised patients, yet very
few strategies currently exist to prevent the spread of
infection in this setting.
For full report go to http://www.nursingtimes.net/
clinicalnews/2008/01/care_homes_need_mrsa_strategy.html
Case Reports
Law Reports
9. A v Hoare
X and Another v Wandsworth London Borough
Council
C v Middlesbrough Council
H v Suffolk County Council
Young v Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds)
The House of Lords, departing from and earlier ruling
decided that courts can extend time for civil claims for
damages arising from deliberate sexual assaults. A
claimant will, however, need to persuade a court that
it was not appropriate or possible to commence the
claim sooner.
10. Coleman v Attridge Law
In 2006, this case was referred to the ECJ to answer
the question ‘whether the EC Equal Treatment
Framework Directive protects not only disabled employees
from direct discrimination and/or harassment,
but also those employees who are associated with
the disabled, such as carers’.
The Advocate General has delivered his opinion in
the affirmative. AG opinions are usually followed by
the full court.
11. R v Turner
T admitted that she had administered a drug to her
daughter, despite doctors terminating the prescription,
but had done so without an intention to cause
harm, nevertheless there still remained an issue to be
tried since the jury had to decide whether she knew
that there was a risk of injury to her daughter's health
and administered the drug in any event.
12. Welsh Ministers v (1) Care Standards Tribunal
and (2) H [2008] EWHC 49(admin)
January 2008 - Care Standards Tribunal
High Court
The Administrative court has decided, against the
Welsh Ministers, that H who is a nurse and a former
care home manager, is entitled to have her appeal
against a refusal by the Welsh Ministers (acting as
regulator, much as CSCI does in England) to register
her as a Registered Manager.
The background is that H, a nurse with a long unblemished
record, was one of a number of people
being investigated as a result of a sudden and unexpected
death in a care home she was managing.
Since the Welsh Minister’s decision H has been
charged in criminal proceedings.
For full report go to http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/
Admin/2008/49.html
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
13. Husband is spared jail for suffocating
sick wife who wanted to die
2 February 2008 - The Times
Robert Cook, 60, admitted manslaughter and aiding
and abetting the suicide of his wife whom he suffocated
after she had taken an overdose.
14. GP jailed for rape
2 February 2008 - The Times
Anil Tangotra, 53, was jailed for 11 yrs for raping one
and attempting to rape a second virgin having first
drugged them. He has been suspended for 18
months by the GMC and faces permanent removal
from the Register.
15. Child minder guilty of manslaughter
1 February 2008 - The Times
Agnes Wong, 28, an unregistered childminder has
been convicted of manslaughter of a 17 month-old in
her care. She admitted to biting the child as punishment
when he had been ‘naughty’.
16. Victory for sex abuse killer who exposed
Catholic school’s dark past
31 January 2008 - The Times
Paul Gordon, 44, who was jailed for the murder of his
father whom he believed had been ‘paid off’ for the
sex abuse Mr Gordon suffered as a child at St John’s
National School in Sligo has seen his abuser, Martin
Meaney known as Brother Gregory sentenced to 12
years imprisonment.
17. Churches, schools and charities braced
for flood of claims after ruling on Lotto rapist
31 January 2008 - The Times
An article looking at the potential knock-on impact of
the House of Lords decision in A v Hoare (see item 1
this issue, also see article in BHCR Vol 3, issue 4)
18. Win for disability rights woman
31 January 2008 – BBC News
A British legal secretary has won the initial stages of
a landmark legal case at the European Court of Justice
which could give new rights to carers all over the
country.
The Advocate-General agreed that Sharon Coleman
suffered "discrimination by association" after hearing
her claims that her former London employers Attridge
Law described her as "lazy" for wanting time off to
care for her disabled son.
A panel of European judges will make a final ruling
later this year.
For full report click here
See also this issue of BHCR Coleman v Attridge Law, item 10
19. Lotto rapist ruling implications
30 January 2008 – BBC News
Lords issue landmark abuse ruling
30 January 2008 – BBC News
Lords win for Lotto rapist victim
30 January 2008 – BBC News
Full in-depth stories about the case background and
eventual ruling of A v Hoare decision reached on 30
January 2008.
For full report click here
For 2nd report click here
For 3rd report click here
20. Legal victory for child abuse man
30 January 2008 – BBC News
Kevin Young has won the right to sue his tormentors
for inflicting sexual abuse when he was a child,
thanks to the landmark ruling by Law Lords.
Young, now 46, claims he was abused at a Catholic
boarding school and then by Neville Husband when
he was in a Medomsley detention unit in 1977.
For full report click here
Children
21. Baby taken from teenage mother for second
time
2 February 2008 - The Times
Snatch-drama baby taken back into care
2 February 2008 - Daily Mail
An interim care order was granted in relation to G
while further inquiries are made and assessments
carried out.
22. Short-lived joy for teenager whose baby
was taken away
1 February 2008 - The Times
G, the newborn baby boy of an 18 yr old mother, was
removed by Nottingham Social Services without a
court order was forced to court to resist an application
to take her baby into care.
The previous day Mr Justice Munby said social workers
had “on the face of it” broken the law by separating
mother and baby without a court order.
23. Forced adoption claims dismissed
2 January 2008 – BBC News
Kevin Brennan, Children’s Minister, is denying claims
that young children are being taken into care by local
authorities purely to meet adoption targets.
Mr Brennan wrote to two national newspapers to
make his statement.
For full report click here
24. Study calls for more practitioner support
1 February 2008 – Community Care
A report commissioned the Government is saying
that social services and health professionals are
struggling to prevent death and serious injury among
abused and neglected English children.
The research was carried out by the University of
East Anglia (UEA) and published by the Department
for Children, Schools and Families.
For full report click here
Cosmetic treatments
25. This is what they did to my face...
3 February 2008 - Mail on Sunday
Three page spread on the adverse effect of cosmetic
treatment carried out on the face of newsreader Kate
Silverton and her subsequent threat of legal action.
For previous item in BHCR about this story Vol 3, Issue 4—
item 45.
Conferences & Courses
26. National Children's Commissioning Conference:
"Accountability for Outcomes"
11 and 12 February 2008
Hilton Metropole, London"Effective joint planning and
commissioning is at the heart of improving outcomes
for children and young people." (DCSF, October
2007).
Following the success of our first national health and
social care commissioning conference in July, CareandHealth
has decided to hold the first National Children's
Commissioning Conference and Exhibition of
its kind. We intend to lead the way in defining and
developing the meaning of commissioning in children's
services from 2008.
Along with key messages from the government and
DCSF, we will also have the opportunity to hear from
commissioning experts in local authorities and beyond,
service providers and voluntary agencies.
The conference will explore the significance and application
of service commissioning, as a means to
deliver Every Child Matters outcomes in integrated
children's services, and to provide a learning and networking
environment that energises all service stakeholders
to develop a greater national consensus
about joint commissioning for results and all the accountabilities
of the local authority.
To be at the forefront of discovery - to find new ways
to improve outcomes for children and young people,
be inspired by sector experts, learn about best practice
and share your experiences - join us for this unmissable
two-day national conference and exhibition.
To find out more about this stimulating and informative
event, and to reserve your place, click here to
visit our website, which has details of our themes,
speakers, venue and exhibition space.
27. Mental Capacity Act Training
National Care Association is providing a number of
training courses around the country. Each course is
free of charge and open to all, including nonmembers
of NCA.
Speakers include, Nadra Ahmed, Keith Lewin, Sheila
Scott and others. The next three courses will take
place as follows:
Holiday Inn – Elstree, London on Wednesday 20th
February 2008 – 12.30pm – 5.00pm
Bath Racecourse, Bath on Tuesday 18th March 2008
– 12.30pm - 5.00pm
Leeds University, Leeds on Wednesday 26th March
2008 – 12.30pm - 5.00pm
28. Retirement Housing - One Day Conference,
27th February 2008
Thistle City Barbican, London, EC1
10.00 Surveying the market for retirement housing
including demographic trends across
the market
Barbara Laing, Managing Director - Housing Services,
Anchor Trust
10.30 Exploring opportunities in the growth of
Retirement Villages in the UK
Nick Sanderson, CEO, Raven Audley
11.30 Analysing the impact of retirement housing
on the wider residential market
Jim Ward, Head of Residential Research, Savills
12.00 Charting the growth of supply in luxury
retirement properties and challenges for
existing and new market entrants
Anthony Oldfield, Senior Associate, Healthcare, King
Sturge LLP
12.30 Exploring housing policy and partnerships
for retirement property development
Mark Wagstaff, Policy Advisor, Housing Corporation
14.00 Focusing on lending and finance for retirement
housing and the emergence of
specialist finance including mortgages,
tax, and equity
Paul Moran, Area Director - Head of Healthcare,
Bank of Ireland
14.30 Managing land acquisition and planning
strategies for retirement property
Neil Rowley MRTPI, Associate Director, Commercial
Planning, Savills
15.30 Evaluating marketing strategies to reach
retirement property customers
Martin James, Director, Retirement Homesearch
16.00 Case Study - St George’s Park Augustinian
Living – working with community
stakeholders to create added value in retirement
living
Philip Smith, Marketing Director, Augustinian Living
FAX the completed form to +44 (0) 20 7970 4799
Call +44 (0) 20 7970 4770
Book Online @ www.housing-strategy.com
Post a copy of this form together with your payment to
Centaur Conferences, 50 Poland Street, London, W1F
7AX
29. Voice08 - The UK conference for social
enterprise
Wednesday 27 February 2008
&
Young Voice08 -The UK conference for
young minds with social ambition
Tuesday 26 February 2008
Voice has changed.
We asked YOU what kind of conference you would
like and based on your responses we’ve designed
our most stimulating and interactive event yet.
We have exciting plenary and breakout sessions
scheduled (details below), including debates and unprecedented
levels of audience participation.
And unlike traditional conferences, delegates at
Voice08 also have the power to create their own sessions
by using our unique Make a Meeting service.
Just write your ideal discussion topic on a sign and as
soon as you have enough takers we’ll give you a
room. So go ahead and Pick Up A Placard!
Or you can wander into one of our many inspirational
igloos and speak to business experts, educators,
Social Enterprise Ambassadors and others.
If you think you have what it takes to set up your own
social enterprise then enter the replica elevator and
deliver a snappy elevator pitch to get expert feedback
and the chance to win a cash prize.
We will also be putting on a large exhibition and
trade fair which will run throughout the day, where
corporate exhibitors have offered to give delegates
one-on-one surgeries on key topics such as finance
and legal issues.
And to celebrate Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture
status there is going to be live music and cultural
performances, giant Beatles puppets and a fairtrade
fashion show.
So what are you waiting for? Register now
PROGRAMME
12.30 Welcome
13.15 Opening: YoungVoice
Jonathan Bland, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise
Coalition
Tim Campbell, Founder, Bright Ideas Trust
Phil Hope MP, Minister for Third Sector,
Cabinet Office
13.45 Interactive exhibition
Workshops (running simultaneously)
Sport & Social Enterprise
Mandy Young Adrenaline Alley
Media & Marketing for budding Social Entrepreneurs
Tokunbo Ajasa-Oluwa Catch 22
Sam Conniff Livity
Fashion, Music & Arts: The Social Enterprise
advance
Matt Kepple Wahblo
Trisha Lee Make Believe Arts
Social Enterprise Solutions for the Environment
Kresse Wessling EAKO
Amy Carter Bespoke Experience
Global Solutions: The Social Enterprise Approach
Gib Bulloch Accenture
Social Enterprise & Education
Young Co-operatives
ECO Schools initiative
16.00 Closing Address
Make your mark in 60 seconds – Tim Campbell
& Mark Bowness
16.30 – 17.00 Closing Concert
30. ICHA Annual Conference : Investing in
Children
The intelligent use of residential child care
Wednesday 27 February 2008, Regent’s College
Conference Centre, London
The ICHA Annual Conference, organised in partnership
with CareandHealth will provide a unique opportunity
to explore with providers and commissioners
why investment in high quality residential care for
children must be sustained and developed and to
consider the impact of the plans laid out in Care Matters:
Time for Change White Paper and the new legislation
in the Children in Care Bill.
The conference will also allow providers for residential
care to consider with Local Authority senior managers
and commissioners how to ensure they can
help meet the challenge of ensuring that every child
in care has the 'right placement' and is able to experience
both stability and also the continuity of relationships
which, together, can lead to succesful outcomes.
Speakers include:
Christine Gilbert - Chief Inspector of Ofsted, Kevin
Brennan, Minister at DCFS, Andrew Christie - Director
of Children's Services, London Borough of Hammersmith
and Fulham and ADCS lead on Care Matters,
Jonathan Stanley, Principal Officer at the National
Centre for Excellence in Residential Care,
Benni-Jo Tyler - A National Voice.
Chair for first session: David Kidney - Chair of All
Party Parliamentary Group on Children in Care.
For more details go to www.careandhealth.com
Email: conferences@careandhealth.com
Tel: 0845 055 9207
Fax: 0871 901 7774
31. Extracare Housing - One Day Conference
- 28th February 2008
Thistle City Barbican, London, EC1
10.00 Surveying the market for extracare provision
and niche opportunities for the independent
sector
David Driscoll, CEO, Signature Senior Lifestyle
10.30 Reviewing partnerships and funding in extracare
housing projects
David Weiss, Head of Partnerships and Property,
Kent Adult Social Services
11.30 Health and social care partnerships in extracare
provision
Trevor Edwards, Housing LIN, Department of Health
12.00 Choices in Long Term Care
Sue Collins, Principal Policy and Public Affairs Manager,
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Charting the trends and gaps in the development
of extracare housing supply
Tom Whittington, Head of Healthcare Research,
Savills
14.00 Designing sustainable extracare housing
Anne-Marie Nicholson, Director, PRP Architects
14.30 Developing medicare and extracare assistive
technology in housing
Denise Gillie, Associate, Care Services Improvement
Partnership, Department of Health
15.30 Promoting total care concepts including
self support, independent living and well
being in extracare services
Sarah Vallelly, Research Manager, Housing 21
16.00 Developing Sustainable Retirement Communities
Simon Evans, Senior Research Fellow, Health Training
& Research Centre, University of the West of
England
FAX the completed form to +44 (0) 20 7970 4799
Call +44 (0) 20 7970 4770
Book Online @ www.housing-strategy.com
Post a copy of this form together with your payment to
Centaur Conferences, 50 Poland Street, London, W1F
7AX
32. Skills for Care Annual Conference 2008
Wednesday 28 February
This year’s Skills for Care Annual Conference will be
held on Wednesday 28 February 2008 at the East
Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.
You can book online here or reserve your place by
phone on 0870 890 1080.
Given the title Turning Social Care on its Head – Developing
the workforce for personalised social care
services, it will look at the creation of a coherent approach
to the development of the social care workforce.
It will include keynote speakers and round table discussions
as well as an extensive exhibition including
leading training providers, staff agencies, publishers
and organisations offering qualifications.
33. RCN Independent Nurse Managers Forum
Conference: Improving practice...
improving care
The RCN will be holding a conference on Saturday 8
March 2008 at Cowdray Hall, RCN Headquarters,
London. The conference will examine the evolution
in the provision of health care and how independent
providers can look for ways to better assist the community
they serve. For further information please
contact the organiser: Guillia Ward; independent@
rcn.org.uk or visit www.rcn.org.uk/events
34. Capita’s 4th National
Data Sharing Across the Public Sector Conference
Practical Strategies for Success
Thursday 13th March 2008 – Central London
35. Plus A Half-Day Workshop
Data Sharing – Tackling the Challenges of
Consent and Confidentiality
Friday 14th March 2008 – Central London
Please note that we are now taking bookings on
these popular events, which are CPD Certified
and include contributions from the CESG and
the Information Commissioner’s Office. I would be
grateful if you could find the time to read this and
also forward it on to colleagues to whom it may be
relevant, especially those involved in Freedom of
Information, Data Protection and Information Management,
so that all stakeholders are given the opportunity
to attend this important event.
Receive a 20% Discount for attending both events.
Please click here for further details of these conferences.
If you have any problems with the hyperlink,
please e-mail me at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk
and I will send the brochure as an attachment.
Capita’s key gathering of policymakers and practitioners
will tackle all sides of the complex and, at times,
controversial data sharing policies and issues. Real
examples of how data sharing is evolving across all
areas of the public sector will inspire and provide you
with invaluable knowledge and guidance to take back
to your organisation.
Chaired by Penny Hill, Information Strategy Manager
of Social Care, Warwickshire County Council and
Board Member of National Information Governance
Board of Health and Social Care, our expert speakers
include:
· Stephen McCartney, Head of Data Protection
Promotion, ICO
· Rosemary Jay, Partner, Pinsent Masons,
· Craig Pollard, Head of Partner Development,
CESG
· Michael Eaton, Director of e-Wales & Head of
Public Sector Broadband Aggregation, Welsh Assembly
Government
· Helen Miriam, e-CAF Co-ordinator, Wandsworth
Council
Benefits of Attending include:
Learn how the ICO’s new framework Code of Practice
can benefit your organisation
Gain expert legal advice on privacy and confidentiality
issues and understand the use of privacy impact
assessments
Improve your understanding of information sharing
developments within Children’s Services
Explore network aggregation - linking local authorities
and the health sector
Places can be booked on these events either by filling
out and returning the booking form on the final page
of the conference brochure, or by e-mailing the delegate
details directly to dave.eastman@capita.co.uk.
Alternatively you can book online by clicking here and
using Booking Reference Code TSDE.
THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU
MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.
36. Action on Elder Abuse National Conference
‘Making Changes’ – 31st March & 1st April
University of Warwick
Action on Elder Abuse will be hosting its fifteenth 2
day National Conference in 2008, and it is set to be a
major event in the Health and Social Care calendar.
With a keynote speech by Ivan Lewis, Parliamentary
under-Secretary of State, and speakers to include:
• Dru Sharpling, Crown Prosecution Service
• Ronnie Monks, Department of Health
• Richard Brook, Office of the Public Guardian
• Representatives from the Association of Chief
Police Officers and the Healthcare Commission
Workshops will include subjects on:
• Hate crime
• Deprivation of liberty
• Financial abuse
• Review of ‘No Secrets’
• Domestic violence, elder and vulnerable adult
abuse
• Learning Disabilities and Safeguarding Adults
£220 + VAT for members
£255 + VAT for non-members
A full, detailed programme and booking form will be
available shortly, but to register your interest and
request a booking form, please contact Natalie Fernandez
on natalie@elderabuse.org.uk
Consultations
To follow next week
CSCI, CSSIW, Healthcare
Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
37. Hazard Warning / Safety Action Notice
1 February 2008 – SCRC
New Hazard Warning / Safety Action notices have
been highlighted for Scottish service provider awareness.
For full report click here
38. CAERRS Conference 2008
1 February 2008 – SCRC
The Care and Education in Residential Special
Schools and Secure Accommodation conference will
be taking place on 13-14 March 2008.
For full report click here
39. Update: Notifications regarding child protection
referrals
31 January 2008 – SCRC
A notice declaring that the telephone number for the
eforms helpdesk was misprinted in the letters issued
ref: notifications regarding child protection referrals.
For full report click here
40. Information for Care Service Providers
30 January 2008 – SCRC
Scottish Care Commission has recently issued letters
to care service providers regarding the annual returns
and self evaluation forms. You may receive one by
post or by email.
For full report click here
41. Driving Improvement in care services for
older people explored at national conference
29 January 2008 – SCRC
Article about Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public
Health, and her address to delegates at a national
conference in Edinburgh on 29 January 2008.
The conference was called ‘Improving care for older
people: messages from regulation and inspection’.
For full report click here
42. CSCI report reveals plight of those outside
care system
29 January 2008 – Community Care
Care services minister Ivan Lewis has ordered a review
of eligibility criteria for adult care after a CSCI
report exposed the poor plight of those denied council
support.
He ordered the review on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
For full report click here
43. Sharp divide between people who do and
do not qualify for social care
29 January 2008 – CSCI
CSCI’s report about those who are not receiving support
from councils and are struggling with a poor quality
of life. The claim was made in the third report on
the State of Social Care in England published by
CSCI.
For full report click here
44. CSCI report shows glaring inconsistencies
in care and support for vulnerable adults
that must be addressed, says King’s Fund
29 January 2008 – King’s Fund
The King’s Fund comments on CSCI’s third report on
the State of Social Care in England.
For full report click here
45. Cautious welcome for CSCI State of the
Sector Report
29 January 2008 – NCA
The National Care Association has commented on
CSCI’s third report on the State of Social Care in
England.
For full report click here
46. Sharp divide between people who do and
do not qualify for social care
29 Jan 2008
CSCI published its report ‘The State of Social Care in
England’ as a result of the criticism contained and,
doubtless coupled with the court decision in R (on the
application of (1) Priti Hansraj Chavda (2) Margaret
Fitzpatrick (By her daughter and Litigation Friend
Pamela Fitzpatrick) and Milton George Maos v Harrow
London Borough Council (reported BHCR Vol 3,
Issue 4, item 9) that the health minister Ivan Lewis
has announced a review into the criteria adopted by
counsel when assessing needs.
Dame Denise Platt, chair of CSCI said:
"Our report is in two parts. On the one hand we
show that those who qualify for council support are
having a better experience than before.
"On the other hand those people who fall outside the
system, including self funders, have a poor quality
experience that can leave them struggling to cope.
People who only five years ago qualified for councilarranged
help are today excluded by the system and
left to fend for themselves. The poor experiences of
people and their carers trying and failing to get sufficient
help contrast starkly with those people who do
qualify for council arranged care."
Education
Nothing to report
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
47. Headlines belie true state of health
28 January 2008 – BBC News
Article looking at the state of health in Ireland and the
difference between what is reported and what actually
is happening.
For full report click here
Scotland
48. Free personal and nursing care must be
better funded and planned
1 February 2008 – Community Care
Audit Scotland has published a report calling for a
national eligibility framework for free personal care to
be introduced.
A free review of free personal and nursing care
www.audit-scotland.gov.uk is suggesting that councils
are using different criteria, which means older
people may recieve different levels of care depending
on where they live.
For full report click here
49. Virtual health care gets UK trial
31 January 2008 – BBC News
Aberdeen Royal Infirmity is currently trialling cutting
edge telemedicine technology which allows medical
staff to offer “virtual” health care.
HealthPresence was developed by Cisco and links up
doctors with patients through a video conferencing
booth.
Blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, weight and
lung function can be assessed at a distance in the
booth if patients can not make appointments. If the
trial is successful, booths may be set up in locations
across the UK.
For full report click here
50. Row Over Claims Patients Being Removed
From Waiting Lists
31 January 2008 – The Herald
Patients are being removed from waiting lists so the
Scottish Government can meet its targets, it was
claimed today.
Liberal Democrat leader, Nicol Stephen, has claimed
that patients are being removed from waiting lists to
enable the Scottish Government to meet its targets.
He said a woman had been told she was being taken
off a consultant's waiting list so the target 18-week
waiting time for treatment could be met and branded
it a "shocking and scandalous situation".
51. Monklands A&E saved from closure
30 January 2008 – BBC News
NHS Lanarkshire has drawn up proposals which will
now safeguard all three of its A&E departments, including
the threatened unit at Monklands Hospital.
Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, overturned plans
to close Monklands A&E, in Airdrie, shortly after the
SNP came to power in May 2007.
For full report click here
52. Scots looking after dental health
29 January 2008 – BBC News
Official statistics are showing that the number of dentists
in Scotland has increased and accordingly the
number of people now registered with one, has also
gone up. This is an increase of 2.1% compared to
the previous year.
The figures also show that the number of children
under the age of 18 registered had also risen from
67.5% to 69.9%.
For full report click here
53. Charge prompts 400 to cancel care
28 January 2008 – BBC News
Fife Council has announced changes to home care
pricing, which in turn has prompted 400 people to
request their community alarms be removed. The
alarms are currently fitted into the homes of elderly
people so they can receive assistance if they have
an accident.
The new charge of £1 per week has been introduced
because of funding shortages in social services
budgets.
For full report click here
Wales
54. Wii boost for care home residents
30 January 2008 – BBC News
Neath Port Talbot Council is giving Nintendo Wiis to
elderly residents in a care home to help keep them
physically and mentally active. The Council is hoping
the games will benefit pensioners at the Dan Y
Bryn home in Pontardawe.
For full report click here
Learning Disabilities
Nothing to report
Legislation Update
Nothing to report
Mental Health
55. Disturbed patients refused help in squabble
over cash
31 January 2008 - The Times
High bed occupancy is said to be the reason mental
health practitioners are being told to delay sectioning
people with urgent mental health needs according to
a report Risks, Rights, Recovery published by the
Mental Health Act Commissioners.
56. Mixed-sex mental health warning
30 January 2008 – BBC News
Women and young people at particular risk
in mixed sex wards
30 January 2008 – Community Care
A key report by the Mental Health Act Commission
has found that patients detained under the mental
health act are often on mixed-sex wards which could
jeopardise their safety.
Ministers have already vowed to end the practice of
young people being kept on adult wards.
For full report click here
For CC report click here
Miscellaneous
57. Cancer woman in drugs fight win
2 January 2008 – BBC News
Debbie Hirst is celebrating after she won the right to
get the drugs she needed on the NHS.
Mrs Hirst suffers from breast cancer and a special
review panel of the Cornwall and Isle of Scilly Primary
Care Trust ruled her case as sufficiently urgent, and
she would not need to raise £60,000 to pay for
Avastin, the drug to prolong her life.
For full report click here
58. Emergency Care bulletin, Issue 55, January
2008
31 January 2008 – DoH
A monthly bulletin for people who work in emergency
care.
For full report click here
59. ‘Terrible shock’ for blind man
30 January 2008 – The Times
A 47 yr old blind man, Nick Whyley, from Southsea
had been supported with 14 hrs a week to help him
cope at home. Without seeing him his needs were
reassessed and the support provided was reduced to
two hrs a week. While challenging the proposed cut
Mr Whyley suffered a stroke. He was told the cuts
would not be implemented until he had completed
rehabilitation.
The support was stopped, without notice and without
explanation.
Ed. This looks like the dramatic uncaring effects
of a cash-strapped local authority with decisions
being taken by junior people lacking in experience
and, some may think, common humanity.
60. Flexible budget thanks to enlightened social
worker
30 Jan 2008 The Times
Item about Julia Winter who has myopathy and brittle
asthma and how direct payments, which see has
been getting since 1997, have helped her take control
over her life and care.
61. Homoeopathy crisis
30 January 2008 – The Times
NHS Trusts increasingly do not offer homoeopathy
treatments. This is claimed to be due to a lack of evidence
that they work.
62. Bureaucracy ‘hinders drive for volunteers’
28 January 2008 - The Times
A study by Commission On The Future Of Volunteering
has said that the need for Criminal Record Bureau
checks and other references may be disproportionate
to the risk and is acting as a break on volunteering.
NHS
63. Online survey for trust patients
3 January 2008 – BBC News
The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has
asked people in the area to use their online survey to
improve services. Issues such as hand washing and
cleanliness will be amongst the questions.
It is open to all patients past and present to give
feedback on experiences and no personal information
will be collected during the survey.
For full report click here
64. Fighting cancer and the unjust ‘health’
service
3 February 2008 - The Sunday Times
Collette Mills says in a half page article why she is
challenging the NHS rules banning patients from
paying for ‘top up’ treatment that the NHS will not
itself pay for.
For previous items about this, see BHCR Vol 2, Issue
46—item 111, BHCR Vol 3, Issue 1—item 65
and BHCR Vol 3, Issue 4—item 54.
65. £150,000 spent on cardboard nurses
3 February 2008 - The Mail on Sunday
Health chiefs are criticised for sending 6ft high cardboard
cut-outs of nurses to GP surgeries at a cost of
£150,000 – it is part of the campaign to reduce superbug
infections.
66. NHS chief in C.diff scandal wants payoff
doubled
2 February 2008 - Daily Mail
Rose Gibb, former CEO of Maidstone and Tunbridge
Wells NHS Trust, who presided over a hospitals
where 90 people died from C. Difficile and 1,176
made ill, is demanding an increase in her severance
pay – it was originally blocked by Health Secretary
Alan Johnson.
For previous linked stories see BHCR Vol 2, issue
37—item 52 issue 39—item 69, issue 40—item 66,
issue 41—item 38 and Vol 3, Issue 4—item 55.
67. Woman aged 82 on mixed sex ward
abused by serial sex offender
2 February 2008 - Daily Mail
Judge Timothy Clayson criticised mixed gender
wards after trying a case in which a serial sex offender
was put in a bed next to her.
68. New Foundation Trusts launched
1 February 2008 - Monitor
Five new NHS Foundation Trusts have been given
the green light by the regulator.
69. Best practice guidance for joint working
between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry
1 February 2008 – DoH
In February 2007, the Ministerial Industry Strategy
Group published its Long-Term Leadership Strategy
for medicines and the Department has published
guidance to support joint working between the NHS
and pharmaceutical industry.
For full report click here
70. NHS reference costs 2006-07
1 February 2008 – DoH
The documents give details on how and on what over
£41 billion of NHS expenditure was used in the
2006/07 financial year.
For full report click here
71. GPs too busy to advise on exercise and
diet – so hand out £47m in drugs
1 February 2008 - The Times
More than a million prescriptions are handed out each
year in response to obesity.
72. Statistical press notice NHS Inpatient and
Outpatient waiting times figures
1 February 2008 - GNN
Inpatient Waiting times
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 26 weeks at the
end of December 2007 was 106. Of these 106, 1 was
an English resident waiting in a Welsh hospital.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 20 weeks at the
end of December 2007 was 5,400, an increase of 100
(1.1%) from November 2007, but a fall of 40,500
(88.2%) from December 2006.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks at the
end of December 2007 was 51,300, an increase of
3,900 (8.3%) from November 2007, but a fall of
130,200 (71.7%) from December 2006.
* The percentage of patients waiting under 13 weeks
was 91.3%, compared to 92.0% in November 2007
and 76.2% in December 2006. The median waiting
time of those still waiting at the end of December
2007 was 5.2 weeks.
Outpatient Waiting times
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks for a
first outpatient appointment at the end of December
2007 was 82. Of these 82, 31 were English residents
waiting in Welsh hospitals.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 11 weeks at the
end of December 2007 was 1,700, a decrease of 200
(8.2%) from November 2007, and a fall of 23,000
(93.2%) from December 2006.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 8 weeks at the
end of December 2007 was 32,300, an increase of
1,900 (6.3%) from November 2007, but a fall of
121,000 (78.9%) from December 2006.
* The percentage of patients waiting under 8 weeks
was 95.6%, compared to 96.2% in November 2007
and 84.7% in December 2006. The median waiting
time of those still waiting at the end of December
2007 was 3.1 weeks.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/
Statistics/CodeOfPractice/DH_4016423
73. Hospitals celebrating new status
31 January 2008 – BBC News
Two Staffordshire hospitals are celebrating after
achieving NHS foundation trust status.
Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust,
which runs Staffordshire and Cannock Chase hospitals,
are celebrating after achieving NHS foundation
trust status.
The status gives the trust greater independence and
freedom in managing its affairs and budget, although
it is still part of the NHS.
For full report click here
74. New arrangements for clinical audit
31 January 2008 - GNN
The DoH announced details of the new consortium
that will run the National Clinical Audit and Patient's
Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP).
Following a comprehensive procurement process, the
management of the programme has been awarded to
a consortium comprised of the Academy of Medical
Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Nursing and the
Long Term Conditions Alliance which will be known
as the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.
The programme was previously managed by the
Healthcare Commission (HCC).
The Chief Medical Officer's report 'Good doctor, safer
patients', was published in 2006 and is available on
the Department of Health website at http://
www.dh.gov.uk
75. NHS trusts 'reject homoeopathy'
30 January 2008 – BBC News
A study by GP magazine Pulse has found that NHS
primary care trusts are slashing funding for homoeopathic
treatment amid debate about its efficacy and
the drive to cuts costs.
The Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, the country's
largest, confirms it has lost eight contracts in a
year and referrals are down by 20%.
For full report click here
76. MRSA row as NHS closes on target
30 January 2008 – BBC News
Opposition parties are accusing Government ministers
of manipulating data and moving the target back
as it announced it is within touching distance of hitting
its target.
Latest figures show there were 1,072 cases of the
superbug in England from July to September last
year, which approaches the target of half the 1,925
average quarterly 2003-4 figure.
For full report click here
77. Goal of single-sex wards ‘not feasible’
29 January 2008 - The Times
Single-sex wards 'not possible'
28 January 2008 – BBC News
Lord Darzi has stated that the provision of single-sex
hospital wards throughout the NHS is not feasible or
realistic. The Government is committed to providing
single-sex accommodation but with wards being divided
into male and female bays by fixed partitions.
For BBC report click here
Ed. This looks remarkably like a ‘U-Turn’.
78. Hope over jab for lethal NHS bug
28 January 2008 – BBC News
Cambridge-based biotech firm Acambis is currently
developing a bug to combat the life-threatening Clostridium
difficile hospital bug.
The firm have already carried out initial trials and
hope to test it in NHS hospitals later this year and is
thought to be the only vaccine in production.
For full report click here
Nursing
79. The year when 10,000 nurses gave up on
Britain
28 January 2008 - The Times
It is said that more than 10,000 nurses left the UK in
2006/7 for better work overseas.
Older People
80. My darling granddad Sid – and the ‘care’
lottery that wouldn’t allow him to die in his
own home
3 February 2008 - The Mail on Sunday
Article by Lauren Booth about the difficulties her family
faced in trying to meet her grandfather’s wish to
die at home. They failed.
81. Fees for Older People’s Services 2008-
09: Success For Lancashire Care Association
and the Social Care Partnership
1 February 2008 - LCA
‘Fair Price’ work and the new Dignity in Care Charter
bring a substantial increase in fees in the Lancashire
County Council area for older people’s services. This
substantially improved package results from the work
of LCA and the Social Care Partnership.
Back in November ‘07, Lancashire County Council
was proposing £1.2m cuts for the older people’s sector
and uplifts of 3.5% and 3.25%, respectively, for
domiciliary care and care homes. LCA made strong
representations through December including a presentation
to the Leader of the Council, Hazel Harding,
and colleagues to try to ensure that social care was
given its due weight in the various pressures on
council spending and due recognition was given to
the Fair Price model we were using within Lancashire
to track cost pressures on providers. This work
was done with and through the Social Care Partnership.
Last week it was announced that the £1.2 million
cuts (announced back in November) will now not
take place and the £1.2 million will be reinstituted in
full, that the average uplift figures for older people’s
care were to be 6% (domiciliary) and 5.55% (care
homes) and that the threshold for access to domiciliary
care was not to be raised, after much lobbying on
the issue of eligibility criteria and a better than expected
settlement. A new Dignity in Care Charter has
helped to pull in funds that otherwise would not have
been available and LCA are working with the council
on the exact detail of that charter which homes will be
asked to support.
There are other details which will become available
this week so please watch out for the Lancashire
C o u n t y C o u n c i l w e b s i t e ( h t t p : / /
www.lancashire.gov.uk/social-services/contracts/)
a n d t o L C A ’ s o w n w e b s i t e
(www.lancashirecare.org.uk).
While the government settlement for LCC was higher
than expected this is, nonetheless, a success story
for the way LCA is working with the Lancashire Council
- still the main purchaser of care from the independent
sector across Lancashire – and the work
programme for the next period (including work on
‘top-ups’ and the implementation of payment of gross
fees) will again show effective and influential partnership
working from LCA.
82. OFT LAUNCHES SCAMS AWARENESS
MONTH 2008 CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS THE
PLIGHT OF ELDERLY VICTIMS WHO SUFFER
IN SILENCE
1 February 2008 - UKPolicing.info
The OFT today launched its 2008 ‘Scams Awareness
Month’ to raise awareness of mass marketed scams
which cost the UK public £3.5billion a year.
83. No kidding, it’s a playground to keep
those over sixty swinging
31 January 2008 - The Times
Dam Head Park, Manchester is the scene of a new
playground of see-saw, ski walker and other equipment
costing £15,000 aimed at the older generation
was opened.
84. How the elderly and disabled are being
left to fend for themselves
30 January 2008 – The Times
Item about the report from Commission for Social
Care Inspection (CSCI) ‘The State of Social Care in
England’, highlighting the fact that older people who
were receiving social support just a few years ago
now, no longer get that help – despite an increase in
the population of older people.
As a result of the report Ivan Lewis, health minister,
has announced a review into eligibility criteria used by
local authorities.
85. Government orders review of Social Care
eligibility rules
29 January 2008 - GNN
The eligibility criteria, which governs all older and disabled
people's right to receive care services, is to be
fundamentally reviewed.
Care Services Minister, Ivan Lewis, has asked the
Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to undertake
the review and report back to him with recommendations
in Autumn 2007.
The review will focus on national definitions of need
and their application at a local level by councils.
Ivan Lewis said:
"This year the Government will consult extensively
on a new long term funding system for social care,
begin a radical programme of change through personal
care budgets and announce a new deal for
carers.
"However, today's state of social care report highlights
major inconsistencies in the way that eligibility
criteria is being applied within and between local authorities;
as well as a growing failure to support selffunders
to make difficult choices about care for themselves
or a family member.
"I want to see an end to the 'no help here' culture,
which is now creeping into parts of the care system.
"There will always be a need for a national social
care framework, but the existing system is leaving
too many families on their own and runs the risk of
damaging our commitment to support older and disabled
people to live independently."
86. Elderly care shake-up announced
28 January 2008 – BBC News
North Tyneside Council bosses have announced a
major shake-up of elderly care. They say the move
will see £32.5m invested in the borough over a fiveyear
period, with some existing care facilities closing
but the closures would be offset by new services focusing
on home care.
For full report click here
Social Care
87. GSCC says new checks will drive up
standards
31 January 2008 – NCF
GSCC said CSCI’s report recommending new checks
on social care will help improve current standards.
For full report click here
88. Is technology the answer to social care?
30 January 2008 – BBC News
An article looking at whether technology can help with
the predicted crisis for social care as the number of
people over 65 looks set to rise from just under 10m
to almost 17m in the next 50 years.
For full report click here
89. Success of policy rests on better staff
development, parliament told
30 January 2008 – Community Care
MPs and peers were told that PAs, carers and staff at
small providers should no longer be marginalised in
policy on the social care workforce if the Government
is to succeed its vision of individualised care.
The Parliamentary group on social care heard that
regulations and training policies often excluded these
groups.
For full report click here
90. Needy 'face social care struggle'
29 January 2008 – BBC News
Social care rules 'inconsistent'
29 January 2008 – BBC News
Social care thresholds - council breakdown
29 January 2008 – BBC News
A report by CSCI says that elderly and disabled people
are increasingly being denied social services.
The watchdog said it was due to councils tightening
the eligibility criteria for care, but that it meant there
were 281,000 in need of help but receiving none,
whilst another 460,000 were suffering shortfalls in
care.
For full report click here
For 2nd report click here
For 3