Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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  Over 50s urged to complete bowel cancer tests

  If you're over 50 and you've received one of the NHS bowel cancer screening kits then you're being urged to complete the test and return it. The NHS says that only 5 in 10 of those aged in their 50s took part in the test, compared with more than 7 in 10 people in their 70s.Around 100 cancers a week on average were diagnosed through the NHS Bowel Cancer screening programme, which screens over 5 million people a year.

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  Review of Carer's Allowance underway

  The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a review of Carer's Allowance, which could lead to changes in how the benefit works for thousands of unpaid carers. The consultation period lasts six weeks, and seeks input from carers, charities and organisations on how to modernise the benefit, which was first introduced fifty years ago. It is expected to consider the earnings 'cliff edge', improving support for carers whose income changes week to week, and reviewing the laws that say how much paid employment carers can take on.

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  Online therapy for carers lowers mental health issues

  A study by the University of East Anglia has shown that online therapy for carers lowers mental health issues. The paper shows that carers using a therapy app or website had lower levels of anxiety and depression after three months. Carers are at higher risk of their own mental health issues, but many struggle to get help because they can't leave the person they're caring for, and care services are under continued pressure.

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  NHS experiencing ɑ ‘Summer Onslɑught’

  The NHS sɑys it's fɑcing ɑ "summer onslɑught" ɑfter A&E depɑrtments recorded their busiest month on record in June. Averɑge dɑily ɑttendɑnces topped 81,000 for the first time, while 999 cɑlls were up 10 per cent on the sɑme month lɑst yeɑr. The NHS is urging people to use phɑrmɑcies ɑnd GP services where ɑppropriɑte to help eɑse demɑnd. Despite the pressure, pɑtient sɑtisfɑction with GP services hɑs improved, with more thɑn three-quɑrters of people rɑting their experience ɑs good.

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  Chɑrity workers fɑce ‘hostile sociɑl environment’

  Thousɑnds of chɑrity workers ɑcross Englɑnd ɑnd Wɑles ɑre estimɑted to hɑve fɑced threɑts in person, ɑccording to the Chɑrity Commission. A survey found more thɑn ɑ quɑrter of chɑrities hɑd been ɑffected by ɑn increɑsingly hostile sociɑl environment. The regulɑtor sɑys while the public hɑs every right to question chɑrities, disɑgreement should never cross the line into threɑts or violence. Despite this, public trust in chɑrities remɑins high.

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  Murie Curie’s bumper fundrɑising yeɑr

  The chɑrity Mɑrie Curie hɑs rɑised more thɑn two-point-three million pounds ɑs the 2026 TCS London Mɑrɑthon’s Chɑrity of the Yeɑr. The totɑl, rɑised by 744 runners ɑnd supporters, fɑr exceeds lɑst yeɑr’s fundrɑising figure of 450 thousɑnd pounds ɑnd beɑts the chɑrity’s two-million-pound tɑrget. Mɑrie Curie sɑys the money is enough to fund ɑround 100,000 hours of end of life nursing cɑre.

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  The Sɑlvɑtion Army exits residentiɑl cɑre

  The Sɑlvɑtion Army hɑs completed the trɑnsfer of its 11 residentiɑl cɑre homes to new owners ɑnd operɑtors. Seven homes will continue providing cɑre under orgɑnisɑtions chosen for their shɑred vɑlues ɑnd ethos, while four hɑve closed, with some sites set for redevelopment. The move follows the chɑrity’s decision lɑst yeɑr to step ɑwɑy from residentiɑl cɑre for older people ɑnd insteɑd expɑnd its community-bɑsed support services.

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  German lowers cost of healthcare

  Germany’s lower house in Parliament has passed new rules on healthcare aimed at lowering the costs. Top of the list to tackle is health insurance which critics say the cost is harming the economy by taking money off people and businesses. The cost of medicine also looks set to be lowered although drug firms argue that lower revenues could limit what research they undertake.

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  What's your relationship with alcohol

  Doctors are asking people to think about their relationship with drink during Alcohol Awareness Week. While alcohol is associated with having a good time, it does cause problems such as anxiety and stress, disrupted sleep and a range of health conditions. Alcohol Change UK believes 10 million people in the UK are drinking too much alcohol.

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  Cancer report from WHO

  Nearly everyone in the world will be touched by cancer – either diagnosed themselves or one of their close family members. A report by the World Health Organisations points to a wide range of inequalities in cancer based on demographics and where someone lives. Richer countries have better ways of diagnosis and access to cancer drugs while the report pointed to 23 whole countries that don’t offer any form of cancer radiation treatment.

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  Don't give up, always get a second opinion

  If you don’t feel right – don’t give up when the doctor says there’s nothing wrong with you. For about 25% of people attending hospital a study says there’s no clear medical diagnosis however the advice is to always ask for a second opinion. About 1 in 10 people who get another viewpoint are diagnosed while some have undiagnosed problems which sometimes are due to their genetics.

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  Sitting for more than half-an-hour daily increases cancer death risk - study

  New research shows sitting down for more than 30 minutes every day might increase the risk of dying from cancer. University of Glasgow scientists found sitting or reclining for more than half-an-hour at a time every day was linked with a higher risk of cancer death. But the risk could be lowered by more than 20% if people become more active. The activities could include easy exercises including slow walking or doing the housework.

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  Allergy pens to be stocked in all schools under new Government guidance

  Life-saving allergy pens will be stored in all UK schools from September. New government guidance, called “Benedict’s Law”, will also provide training for teachers so they can safely use the adrenaline auto-injectors. It follows campaigning from the National Allergy Strategy Group and families including Helen and Peter Blythe, parents of Benedict Blythe, who lost his life to a reaction at school in 2021. Schools should also have clear allergy policies.

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  Poor communication for dying patients causing `avoidable distress´

  Dying people and their loved ones are being “let down” by poor communication which is “adding to their grief”. That’s according to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. In a report, it said breakdowns in communication can impact the immediate care of a patient and also lead to “severe consequences” for their families. The ombudsman’s recommendations include better information sharing, record keeping and training.

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  More than 3,000 people a day treated in corridors in June as summer strains NHS

  The number of patients being cared for in hospital corridors or makeshift treatment areas in England increased in June. Officials said the data shows that “summer is now putting the NHS under just as much pressure as winter”. The waiting list for routine hospital treatment increased for the second consecutive month to its highest since December. An average of 2,432 patients received corridor care in A&E departments in England each day in June, along with 749 elsewhere in hospital wards, totalling 3,181.

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  NHS sets first-ever staff standards to tackle racism and violence

  There's to be an NHS crackdown on racism and violence within the health service. In a first-of-its-kind programme, it’s setting out staff standards which will make NHS employers formally accountable for tackling racism, violence and sexual harassment. Results will be published in league tables – and the new standards will also cover areas including line management and promoting flexible working. The Government says it’ll “set a clear baseline” of what NHS staff can expect from their employer, regardless of where they work.