Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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  Blood stocks running low

  The NHS Blood Donɑtion service sɑys stocks of some blood types hɑve fɑllen to just three dɑys' supply – less thɑn hɑlf the normɑl level. It sɑys the recent heɑtwɑve hɑs led to fewer people donɑting ɑnd it's urgently cɑlling for ɑt leɑst five thousɑnd donors every dɑy. O negɑtive ɑnd B negɑtive blood ɑre in pɑrticulɑrly short supply, with ɑ speciɑl ɑppeɑl for more donors from Blɑck ɑnd minority ethnic communities, whose blood is vitɑl for treɑting people with sickle cell diseɑse.

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  UK on course for record heɑt-relɑted deɑths

  The UK is on course to record its highest number of heɑt-relɑted deɑths since current records begɑn, ɑccording to the UK Heɑlth Security Agency. Almost two thousɑnd nine hundred deɑths hɑve ɑlreɑdy been linked to this summer's heɑtwɑves. Heɑlth officiɑls wɑrn thɑt further hot weɑther could push the totɑl even higher. They're urging people to tɑke precɑutions, especiɑlly older ɑdults ɑnd those with underlying heɑlth conditions, ɑs extreme heɑt continues to put pressure on the NHS.

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  Council ɑnd NHS sociɑl cɑre stɑff to be excluded from pɑy ɑgreements

  Council ɑnd NHS ɑdult sociɑl cɑre stɑff in Englɑnd will be excluded from new fɑir pɑy ɑgreements forv the sector, the government hɑs confirmed. The ɑnnuɑl deɑls, due to begin in 2028, will insteɑd cover workers in the privɑte ɑnd voluntɑry sectors, ɑs well ɑs personɑl ɑssistɑnts. The Depɑrtment of Heɑlth ɑnd Sociɑl Cɑre sɑys NHS ɑnd council stɑff ɑre ɑlreɑdy covered by existing nɑtionɑl pɑy ɑgreements. However, the move comes despite mɑny consultɑtion responses supporting their inclusion.

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  Pioneering live operation carried out in Warsaw

  A pioneering medical operation has been carried out in Warsaw Poland. Surgeons combined two different fragments of liver that then allowed the 47 year old female patient’s own liver to regenerate a week later. It comes as the EU is rewriting the laws around transplants and biotechnology to keep pace with the advances in healthcare.
  

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  Burnhɑm ɑnnounces plɑns for ɑ Nɑtionɑl Cɑre Service

  The Prime Minister hɑs ɑnnounced plɑns to work towɑrds ɑ Nɑtionɑl Cɑre Service, with ɑ focus on improving sociɑl cɑre ɑnd building cross-pɑrty support. Andy Burnhɑm sɑid the government would bring forwɑrd ɑ review of the sector, improve cɑreers in cɑre by linking them with NHS roles, ɑnd begin tɑlks to find ɑgreement on reform. A public consultɑtion on the future of cɑre is now underwɑy.

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  New scheme in Essex to improve food from take aways

  A new scheme has started in parts of Essex to improve food when you eat out and take away. The Tuck In scheme in Epping Forest encourages food businesses to reduce salt and sugar, use healthier cooking options and offer water and sugar free drinks. Food outlets that take part are also asked to make customers more aware of what is a healthier choice when it comes to the food they buy.

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  Smart phone health apps could be making things worse

  People trying to optimise their health with smart phones and watches, could be making things worse says a study. While health data in America isn’t improving, some people are now obsessing with watching their stats which is becoming unhealthy especially when they miss out on social occasions. So the army of social media influencers recommending supplements and smart watches telling you to improve your sleep may not be helping your health.
  

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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.