Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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  Woman, 25, shares how she manages health anxiety

  A 25 year old has told the BBC how she thought she was dying but was actually having a panic attack. Hollie Sharman recalled how she would go to hospital several times a week but tests proved she was OK and had health anxiety. Amongst the advice given was to improve breathing techniques, challenge bad thinking and set rules on how often you seek assurance.

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  Charity offers advice to keep children safe this Halloween

  The NSPCC has advice for parents and carers as Halloween approaches. They’re encouraging people to check where their children are going, who with and for how long. The advice is to stay in well lit areas, make sure costumes are visible in the dark and what to do if the child starts to feel anxious.

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  Teddy bear hunt in Guernsey highlights foster care stories

  15 teddy bears have been hidden around Guernsey in the Channel Islands and today’s the day local people go and find them. Each bear has a story on about how foster children have benefited from having a carer. And if you want a hint where the bears are located, just check the Guernsey Foster care page on Facebook.

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  NHS booklet helps Kent families spot illnesses over half term

  Parents and carers in Kent can access an online booklet to identify common childhood illnesses. Kent and Medway NHS Foundation Trust has the booklet online and say it may come in useful during half term from school. It also has advice on what medicines to stock up at home and when and where to seek medical help.

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  Cɑmpɑigners cɑll for quicker Alzheimers diɑgnoses

  Cɑmpɑigners, including broɑdcɑster ɑnd Alzheimer’s pɑtient Jon Snow, ɑre urging the Government to ɑct on lengthy wɑits for dementiɑ diɑgnoses. A survey by the Alzheimer’s Society found 45 percent of
  people wɑited more thɑn six months for ɑ diɑgnosis ɑfter first seeking help. The chɑrity wɑnts ɑ nɑtionɑl stɑndɑrd guɑrɑnteeing ɑn ɑccurɑte diɑgnosis within 18 weeks of ɑ GP referrɑl,. The UK Government sɑys it is determined to strengthen support for people with dementiɑ ɑnd their
  cɑrers.

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  Surrey NHS trust joins Alzheimer’s prevention triɑl

  A Surrey NHS trust sɑys it is the first in Europe to join ɑ triɑl testing whether ɑ new drug cɑn delɑy or prevent Alzheimer’s diseɑse. Surrey ɑnd Borders Pɑrtnership NHS Foundɑtion Trust is offering trontinemɑb to people ɑt high risk of developing the condition. It is the third triɑl site worldwide. The internɑtionɑl study is recruiting 1,600 heɑlthy ɑdults ɑged 55 to 80, with the trust ɑble to recruit pɑrticipɑnts from ɑnywhere in the UK. Reseɑrchers will use blood tests to identify those most likely to
  benefit.

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  Englɑnd cɑre home occupɑncy ɑt highest level for severɑl months

  Cɑre home occupɑncy in Englɑnd hɑs risen to its highest level in severɑl months, ɑccording to the lɑtest figures. The Depɑrtment of Heɑlth ɑnd Sociɑl Cɑre sɑys 86-point-eight percent of cɑre home beds were occupied in mid-August — slightly ɑbove the 12-month ɑverɑge. London recorded the highest occupɑncy, ɑt 90-point-nine percent, while the Eɑst Midlɑnds hɑd the lowest, ɑt 82-point-nine. The figures ɑlso show continued growth in digitɑl cɑre records, now used by more thɑn 83 percent of registered providers.

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  Jersey ɑppoints Assisted Dying leɑd

  A doctor ɑnd former MP hɑs been ɑppointed to leɑd the committee overseeing the implementɑtion of Jersey’s Assisted Dying Service. Dr Sɑrɑh Wollɑston previously opposed ɑssisted dying proposɑls in
  Pɑrliɑment. She sɑys she wɑnts the service to be compɑssionɑte ɑnd lɑwful, with pɑtients ɑnd their loved ones ɑt its heɑrt. The Assisted Dying Lɑw wɑs given Royɑl Assent in July, with strict eligibility criteriɑ, including 12 months’ islɑnd residency ɑnd mentɑl cɑpɑcity. The rest of the committee will be recruited in the coming months.

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  Nurses giving end-of-life care in corridors amid staffing issues.

  A survey has found that more than half of nurses have treated patients receiving end-of-life care in corridors or other makeshift spaces. Time pressures and issues with staffing levels were also cited as a barrier to providing care to terminal patients. Nurses also spoke of widespread problems in care planning, leading to uncertainty and in some cases CPR being performed on patients against their wishes. The figures are from the joint Marie Curie and Nursing Standard poll of 1,153 professionals.

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  Man donates part of liver and bowel to son in `extremely rare´ transplant

  A man who donated part of his liver and bowel to his son in an “extremely rare” transplant has described it as the “greatest privilege” of his life. Six-year-old Harry Jackson, who was born with multiple life-threatening conditions, received the transplant at King’s College Hospital in London. The surgical team found that Harry’s dad, Gary, was a 98% match, and completed a 17-hour operation last January. Gary says nothing compares to seeing Harry looking healthier and stronger.
  

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  Free blood tests for cholesterol through pharmacies,

  The NHS in England says it will offer free blood tests for cholesterol through pharmacies, as it plans to lower heart disease by a quarter within ten years. The seven-minute tests can be taken by people aged 40 to 84 and who are not pregnant. After the walk-in test, a pharmacist prescriber can then provide lifestyle advice and determine whether any treatment, such as statins, might be needed.

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  Pakistan to award nurse who saved only newborn survivor of hospital fire

  A nurse from Pakistan who rescued the only surviving newborn baby from a hospital nursery fire is to receive one of her country’s most prestigious civil awards. Fourteen other infants died in the incident in Islamabad on August 26th. Nurse Razia Noreen was seen running into the burning nursery, returning seconds later with the infant in her arms.She is due to receive the “Star of Service”, and says “Caring for children is my passion”.
  

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  Calls for parents of seriously ill or disabled children to get paid leave

  The Children's Commissioner is calling for parents of seriously ill or disabled children to be entitled to paid leave from work. Dame Rachel de Souza wants a legal right to twelve weeks' leave at ninety per cent of normal pay, saying families can face immense pressure and lost earnings. She says parents should not have to choose between being at their child's bedside and keeping their job. Dame Rachel also wants unpaid carer's leave increased from five to ten days a year, alongside a new form of paid carer's leave.

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  New guidance offered on infectious diseases

  New guidance has been published to help care providers understand and manage the risks from infectious diseases. The UK Health Security Agency resource explains important health protection terms and the legal and public health arrangements applying to adult social care. It says staff should always follow standard infection control precautions and advises providers about what to do during suspected outbreaks. The guidance also stresses that visiting restrictions during outbreaks should only be introduced when risks cannot be adequately managed, and any restrictions should be proportionate and time-limited.

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  Unpaid carers helping shape support in Cambridgeshire

  Unpaid carers in Cambridgeshire are being asked to help shape the future of support services in the county. Cambridgeshire County Council wants to hear from people with lived experience as it develops future adult social care services. The work includes unpaid carers, alongside people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The council says involving people directly in developing services will help ensure their voices are heard and future support better meets people's needs.

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  National neighbourhood health plan to launch in Devon

  People in Devon are being invite to discover more about neighborhood health as part of a ten-year national vision. The plan for England aims to bring together GPs, community services, mental health, social care and voluntary organisations to provide more joined-up care in local communities. The aim is to help people stay healthier for longer, access care services closer to home and reduce the need for hospital treatment where appropriate. People are being invited to take part in a 'Let's talk neighbourhood health' programme by completing a survey and joining a local feedback group.