Care in the News
Alarming NHS failing in Basic Care for the Elderly
Last updated 13-Oct-2011 16:39
A report from the Care Quality Commission today showed that of 100 hospitals visited 55 raised concerns over care whilst 20 were failing to provide adequate nutrition and dignity for their elderly patients It described its findings as ’alarming’.
Where problems were found these were the issues raised:
- - Patients’ privacy not being respected – for example, curtains and screens not being closed properly.
- Call bells being put out of patients’ reach, or not answered soon enough.
- Staff speaking to patients in a dismissive or disrespectful way.
- Patients not being given the help they needed to eat.
- Patients being interrupted during meals and having to leave their food unfinished.
Download a copy of the report here
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Hold their feet in the fire!
Last updated 07-Oct-2011 16:01
Andrew Dilnot is applying further pressure on the Coalition Government to implement his funding recommendations. He is quoted today in today’s press warning David Cameron and Nick Clegg that he will “hold their feet to the fire” if the Governments White Paper on Social Care does not include the reforms set out in his Fairer Care Funding report.
The report suggests a range of reforms including a cap on lifetime care costs of £35,000 and an asset cap of £100,000. Many commentators feel that the reforms are overly complex and poorly targeted.
Dilnot claimed that the Government has a “huge moral obligation” to include the reforms whilst speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative party conference this week. He said: “The coalition agreement is very strong on this and if the Government does not do something about it, I intend to hold Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg’s feet to the fire and I shall enjoy that activity.”
For a summary of the recommendations of the Dilnot report please click here.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
The Dilnot Report
Last updated 05-Jul-2011 08:58
The report from the Commission for Funding of Care and Support was published today (4th July 2011). Here is the commission’s chairman, Andrew Dilnot, explaining it to BBC Breakfast.
The report has received a near universal welcome from politicians and the social care sector alike, with the opposition offering to help the government complete the legislation.
Having read the report, we fear that many of the solutions planned may be unworkable in practice. There will be a series of blogs on our site looking at the various provisions.
In the meantime, click here if you would like to read the report for yourself.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Andrew Dilnot to chair Commission
Last updated 04-Jul-2011 20:29
The report has now been published. Click here for details.
The Government has announced the appointment of economist and broadcaster Andrew Dilnot as the chair of its commission on long-term care.
Dilnot is principal of St Hugh’s College, Oxford and a pro vice chancellor of Oxford University. He is know to many as the presenter of the BBC Radio 4 series ’More or Less’.
He has also been a director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a board member of the National Consumer Council and of the Office of Science and Technology Review. He has served on the Social Security Advisory Committee, the Retirement Income Inquiry, the Balance of Central and Local Government Funding Inquiry, the Rowntree Committee on the future costs of long term care and the Ageing Population Foresight panel.
The Commission on the Funding of Care and Support will look at a range of funding ideas including both voluntary insurance and partnership schemes, reporting within a year.
Two further commissioners have also been appointed, Lord Norman Warner and Dame Jo Williams.
The commission will look at the best way to meet care and support costs as a partnership between individuals and the state, how an individual’s assets are protected against the cost of care, how public funding for the care and support system can be best used to meet needs and how to deliver the chosen option, including timescales and impact on local government.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley says: "By 2026, the number of 85 year olds is projected to double. In the next 20 years we estimate that 1.7 million more people will have a potential care need than today.
"We know that one in five 65 year olds today will need care costing more than £50,000, which could force many to sell family homes. The answer is clear - we must develop a funding system for adult care and support that offers choice, is fair, provides value for money and is sustainable for the public finances in the long term."
Andrew Dilnot adds: "There are not going to be any easy answers, and I know difficult decisions will have to be made. However, I am looking forward to examining all the issues, and listening to the ideas of those who have been working on care and support over the past few years. This has been a hotly debated topic over recent months. It is now my job to consider the best way forward and offer concrete recommendations to Government."
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
State Pension to Be Raised
Last updated 29-Jun-2010 09:58
The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith today (27/05/2010) announced that he is considering an arrangement whereby the state retirement age is linked to increases in longevity. A similar scheme currently operates in Denmark.
The state pension age is due to rise to 66 between 2024 and 2026 with two further increase scheduled at 10 year intervals to take it to 68 by 2046. The Government announced in the Queens speech that they intend to review this timetable as it may not be quick enough, especially in the current economic climate.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Labours Free Personal Care Plan Axed
Last updated 27-May-2010 13:23
The Government has axed Labour's plan to provide free personal care to about 110,000 more people in England, despite the measure already being on the statute books.
On Tuesday 25th May, Care services minister Paul Burstow announced that the government would not implement the Personal Care at Home Act 2010's central provision, to give people with high needs free personal care at home. Both the Liberal Democrats and the Tories voiced opposition to the Personal Care at Home Act 2010 when it was passing through parliament. Following an amendment forced by the House of Lords, the act cannot be brought into force without a further vote in both Houses of Parliament.
The plans, which the last government estimated would cost £540m a year, drew criticism for being under-costed after they were announced in late 2009. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services estimated that the total cost could be almost double the former government's estimates.
At carefeesadvice.com we had been critical of these plans. We were concerned that the underfunding of the scheme might mean that homeowners were encouraged to move into care homes when they could manage with care at home. Their properties would then be used to fund their care, rather than the local authority being required to pay.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Labours Free Personal Care Plan Axed
Last updated 27-May-2010 13:16
The Government has axed Labour's plan to provide free personal care to about 110,000 more people in England, despite the measure already being on the statute books.
On Tuesday 25th May, Care services minister Paul Burstow announced that the government would not implement the Personal Care at Home Act 2010's central provision, to give people with high needs free personal care at home. Both the Liberal Democrats and the Tories voiced opposition to the Personal Care at Home Act 2010 when it was passing through parliament. Following an amendment forced by the House of Lords, the act cannot be brought into force without a further vote in both Houses of Parliament.
The plans, which the last government estimated would cost £540m a year, drew criticism for being under-costed after they were announced in late 2009. The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services estimated that the total cost could be almost double the former government's estimates.
At carefeesadvice.com we had been critical of these plans. We were concerned that the underfunding of the scheme might mean that homeowners were encouraged to move into care homes when they could manage with care at home. Their properties would then be used to fund their care, rather than the local authority being required to pay.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Coalition document sets out positive direction for health and social care
Last updated 21-May-2010 19:41
This is a press release received from the Department of Health. Don't miss the important bit in the last paragraph!...
Today's coalition announcement sets out how the Government will push forward reform of social care. The Government will:
• establish an independent commission on the funding of long-term care, to report within a year;
• break down barriers between health and social care funding to incentivise preventative action;
• extend the greater roll-out of personal budgets to both older and disabled people and carers to give more control and purchasing power; and
• increase direct payments to carers and better community-based provision to improve access to respite care.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:
'Urgent reform of the social care system is at the top of our agenda. The current system is unsustainable - it cannot go on as it is. Our first step to reform is to establish an independent commission.
'The Commission on Long Term Care will be tasked with delivering a sustainable settlement, which is a fair partnership between the state and the individual. We'll set out further details and the terms of reference soon.'
The Government has also today announced that it will not be commencing the provisions in the Personal Care at Home Act, 2010 relating to free care at home. However, the Government will be considering what more can be done on re-ablement and carers' breaks in the light of available resources.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Death Tax for Care Funding Ruled Out
Last updated 30-Mar-2010 08:02
We have learned that the Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, will today rule out a 'death tax' to fund long term care.
It will be replaced with new laws to cap the cost of residential care after two years in a home, which will be funded by the freezing of inheritance tax for the lifetime of the next parliment, increasing the state retirement age to 65 for all and by efficiencies in the care system.
The legislation will not be proposed until the next parliment.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Underfunded Free Personal Care
Last updated 04-Feb-2010 16:01
The big surprise of Labour's September conference last year was the announcement that free personal care would be offered in England, similar to the service currently available in Scotland. A bill followed in the Queen's speech, and the measure is likely to come into force in the Autumn.
This service is currently provided on a means-tested basis with those who can afford to pay for help with eating, washing and dressing being asked to do so.
It is estimated that around 280,000 would benefit from the service from English councils and the Government estimates that people who fall into the critical bracket would need six and a half hours of care, whilst the survey indicated double that. Potentially councils could need to find around £500m a year in addition to the funding provided by the government.
The scheme is intended to reduce the number of people who are placed in residential care but there are fears that underfunding could result in local authorities encouraging people with assets to move into care homes where they will be self funded.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Dementia not Getting Priority
Last updated 14-Jan-2010 09:34
According to BBC News The National Audit Office has said that Dementia services are not getting the priority that they were promised by the government. Here is the full story from BBC News.
Posted in Care News | Add a comment
Liberal Democrats Shelve Care Pledge
Last updated 11-Jan-2010 21:26
Libereal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg today confirms that his partys commitment to providing free personal care for the elderly would have to be put on hold as a result of the recession. He said that the days of 'shopping lists' of spending pledges were now over and told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "A number of multi-billion pound policies that we have advocated in the past we can no longer afford."
In a speech setting out election priorities he said that policies such as "free personal care for all" would "no longer be firm commitments in our manifesto but would be put on hold until they become affordable again".
He said it showed his party were treating people "like grown ups" and were setting out their priorities "driven by clear sense of conviction".
Post a comment