Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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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.

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  Councils key to making adult social care reform ‘stick’, says LGA

  There's to be a series of pop-up events in Fife to promote fostering. The events at Duloch and Cupar libraries show what being a foster carer is like, the process to becoming a carer, how much foster carers get paid and the support and training available. They also aim to debunk myths like whether you can foster if you're single, in a same-sex relationship, of any gender, if you own pets, or don't own your home. Sessions run throughout July and August and details are on the Fife Council website

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  Fostering pop-ups start this summer in Fife

  A new report that says that COUNCILS are key to reforms in social care. The Local Government Association says that local authorities “must remain central” to the future of adult social care. It adds that national and local government must work together - but need clear and distinct responsibilities to help speed up the system, and reduce inefficiency and inconsistency. The importance of locally-led and person-centred services are stressed in the report, which was published this week, during the LGA’s annual conference in Bournemouth.

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  Views sought to transform benefit paid to carers

  Unpaid carers and their organisations are being invited to share their views on how to improve Carer’s Allowance. It’s part of the first major review of the benefit since it was first introduced 50 years ago. The six-week survey will gather views on modernising the earnings limit to reduce the impact of the so-called “cliff edge”. It also aims to improve predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better support those with work and caring responsibilities. Anyone with views is urged to submit them before the 18th of August via the gov.uk website.