Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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  Ombudsman Calls on Councils and Care Homes to Improve End of Life Care

  An official watchdog wants councils and care providers to do more to ensure consistently high standards of end-of-life care. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman warns that failures during a person’s final days can have a lasting impact on bereaved families. Among other requirements, its new report states families have a right to be kept informed about a loved one’s condition, to be treated with warmth and honesty; and to have their own wishes and preferences respected.

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  11-year-old girl is first UK patient to have gene therapy to halt sight loss

  An 11-year-old girl has become the first patient in the UK to have innovative gene therapy for a rare condition that harms eyesight. The treatment, which had only been performed on one other person in the world, involves placing healthy copies of a gene into a patient’s retina. Catherine L’Estrange from London hopes the procedure will allow her to continue one of her favourite hobbies, which is reading books. She was diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl syndrome in her infancy.

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  Parents set to spend average 88 hours on unintended phone scrolling over summer

  Parents of under-18s look set to spend an average 88 hours on unintended phone scrolling over the summer holiday. A new survey of 16,000 people across 18 months suggests half of parents have little to no control over how they use their phone and the internet. And almost 48% of children say they have had to repeat themselves because a parent was using their phone.
  

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  Over 2 in 5 of Most Elderly Patients Wait Over 12 Hours in A&E

  New figures suggest elderly and frail patients aged 81 and over are worst affected by long waiting times in A&E. According to the Nuffield Trust, 43% of over-80s waited more than 12 hours between arrival in A&E and admission to a hospital ward last year. The figure for people aged 21-30 was just 19%. NHS England says its new policy of collecting figures for so-called corridor care will help it tackle the problem.

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  Encouragement from Somerset foster carers

  A couple from Somerset who have spent more than 25 years as foster carers are encouraging more people to consider opening their homes to children in need. Heather and Paul say fostering has been one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives, helping hundreds of children feel safe and supported. Somerset Council says more than 650 children currently need foster care, particularly teenagers, and is urging people to find out more through informal information sessions held across the county.

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  Major supermarket reports surprise spike in sales of winter comfort food amid heatwaves

  A top supermarket reports a surprise rise in sales of winter comfort foods, despite the successive heatwaves across the country. Waitrose says sales of items such as cottage pies and red wines are up: with the pies selling twice as quickly as expected. The supermarket suggests customers have “feta fatigue”, now avoiding traditional summer salads in favour of cold-weather treats, in what leaders called a “pivot towards comfort and familiarity.

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  `PM must legislate for national care service if he´s serious about social care´

  The King’s Fund health think-tank is warning the Prime Minister he must legislate for a national care service, to show he’s serious about reforming adult social care. The comments came after Andy Burnham’s first major interview since becoming PM, where he committed to making what he called a “major change” to the system. Another think-tank, the Health Foundation, estimates an NHS-style social care system for England would cost £18.5 billion extra a year by 2035. This is on top of current annual costs £28.7 billion

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  Two-thirds of adults `spend time worrying about money during a typical week´

  A new survey of more than 2,000 people suggests nearly two-thirds of adults spend time worrying about money during a typical week. Those affected spend an average of 22 hours per week thinking about these concerns. People in households earning less than £15,000 spend around 13 hours more a week with money worries compared to those earning more than £100,000. More than three in 10 say they’ve cut back on food, heating or other essentials because of financial concerns.

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  The `picky bits´ on a summer picnic that count towards your five-a-day

  Health experts say enjoying so-called “picky bits” on a picnic can count towards your five-a-day helpings of fruit and veg. According to the British Heart Foundation, houmous, falafel and similar treats containing chickpeas, beans and tomatoes help to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Around four sundried tomatoes make up one portion of the five-a-day target, and they’re easy to add to salads, pastas and couscous.

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  Wellington Academy recognised for commitment to supporting young carers

  A school in Wiltshire has been recognised for its commitment to supporting young carers. The Wellington Academy in Amesbury has received a Young Carers in Schools award, recognising the work it has done to identify pupils with caring responsibilities and ensure they receive the understanding and support they need. Staff say the recognition reflects the school's efforts to make sure young carers can balance their education with responsibilities at home, while feeling valued and included in school life.

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  New guide launches for young carers in Greenwich

  A new guide has been launched in Greenwich to help young carers and their families access local support more easily. The council says around three thousand children and young people in the borough help care for someone with an illness, disability or mental health condition, although many may not recognise themselves as carers. The guide brings together information on assessments, wellbeing support and local services, helping young carers understand their rights and where they can turn for advice.

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  Research shows varying experiences of adult social care

  New research has found people can face very different experiences when trying to access adult social care in England. The study, commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, says disability, income, geography, ethnicity and digital access can all affect how easy it is to get support. Researchers found unpaid carers and people needing care often face repeated barriers, creating stress and frustration. The report calls for clearer information, better coordination and more consistent services to create a fairer care system.

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  Care workers likely to be exempt for restrictive immigration rules,

  Hundreds of thousands of care workers could be exempted from more restrictive immigration rules, according to an exclusive report in The Guardian newspaper.The new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is said to be considering the measures as part of his commitment to creating a National Care Service, which will be outlined in a speech this week. The report also says he will bring forward the publication of the Casey review into social care, which was set to conclude in 2028.

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  Warwickshire businesses being urged to join My time

  Businesses, venues and employers in Warwickshire are being urged by the county council to join My Time - an initiative designed to provide unpaid carers with a break from their caring duties. The service connects carers with businesses and organisations that donate leisure, cu ltural and wellbeing experiences. Carers UK says that one in five carers have not had a single break in five years. Warwickshire County Council is calling on local hospitality, leisure and retail sectors to contribute to the scheme.
  

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  New multiple sclerosis drug

  Thousands of people in England who live with multiple sclerosis will be offered a new drug that could help them walk more easily and live more independently. Fampridine is now routinely available on the NHS, and it’s taken as a twice-a-day pill. It works like a signal booster for nerves damaged by the disease. For some people an improvement in the ability to walk will make everyday tasks easier, from moving around the house to getting outside.

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  Road traffic noise could lead to Parkinson's disease

  Exposure to road traffic noise over a long period of time may be associated with a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. The findings show that noise triggers stress responses and disrupts sleep, which can affect long-term
  health. The study which included over 3 million Danish people over the course of 18 years is one of the first to link noise pollution to chronic disease.