Care Radio

BREAKING NEWS

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  John Lewis aims to recruit a thousand care leavers

  John Lewis says it wants to recruit a thousand care leavers by the end of the decade. It more than doubles its previous target, to support young people who have grown up in the care system into employment. Since its “ Building Happier Futures” scheme was launched in 2022, it has offered jobs to 450 care-experienced young people. Under this new commitment, the Partnership will offer at least 250 roles a year. It’s also planning to take part in the Government’s new Jobs Guarantee scheme, initially offering 30 roles in Waitrose branches.

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  Unpaid carers in Devon receiving wellbeing giftboxes

  Unpaid carers across Devon are receiving wellbeing giftboxes, in recognition of them looking after loved ones with mental health conditions. 100 boxes are being send out, containing warm drinks, gift cards for books and pampering – as well as journals and pens. They also include mindfulness cards, and a personalised letter inviting carers to share their experiences, to shape future support. It’s a collaboration between The NHS Devon Partnership Trust, Devon Carers and the charity, Open Up.

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  Patients to be offered revolutionary new treatment

  Patients with a severe nasal condition are to be offered a revolutionary new treatment. The University Teaching hospital in Hull is one of a small number to offer the injection that treats the condition called “chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps”. It causes a persistent blocked nose, loss of smell and taste and disrupted sleep. Patients are now being offered the new treatment – known as a bio-logic therapy – called Dupilumab. It’s hoped the new injection will replace oral steroids which can cause side effects.

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  Age UK in Wigan launches support programme

  A pilot programme in Greater Manchester has been designed to help older people share memories, strengthen connection and preserve local community heritage. Age UK in Wigan has partnered with Community Story Hub for the six-week programme, to help support gentle, guided conversations with pensioners across the borough. The “Every Natter Matters”, scheme will capture memories of the past, but also encourage older people to reflect on belonging, identity and community. It’ll help shape how storytelling can be used across different parts of Age UK’s work in Wigan, including friendship groups, lunch clubs and dementia-friendly settings.

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  Met Office issues red weather warning

  The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for heat and humidity for tomorrow and Thursday this week. It covers an a large part of southern England and Wales. People have been told to take action to prepare for high temperatures, especially those with health conditions. It's expected that the high temperatures will lead to extra pressure on hospital A and E departments, with the young, old and vulnerable people suffering from overheating.
  
  

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  Radis Community Care celebrates awards win

  Staff at a care provider are celebrating after being recognised with a Stars of Social Care award. Radis Community Care provides care services in England and Wales, with a focus on providing independent living. Its clinical services team received the award for the dedication, compassion and expertise they deliver on a daily basis. The awards are now in their fourth year, and winners were announced at a
  ceremony in London last week.
  

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  Dementia UK offering free clinics in Scotland

  Dementia UK will be running free clinics in Scotland offering advice on how to look after yourself as a person who cares for someone who lives with the disease. The clinics will be held in Hamilton and Motherwell. Specialist support will be available in safe, comfortable and private spaces for people to talk about any aspect of dementia. The clinics are open to anyone impacted by the disease, and they'll be open next month to offer advice from symptoms, diagnoses and how the disease can progress.
  
  

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  Southampton City Council not meeting adult care responsibilities

  Southampton City Council's adult care provision is not meeting its responsibilities to ensure people have access and support, according to a report by the care regulator. The CQC rated the council's services as requiring improvement, while also raising serious concerns around safeguarding processes. The assessment said that there was not adequate respite support for unpaid carers, and far fewer carers were able to have emergency or short breaks than the national average, contributing to burnout.
  

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  Jeremy Clarkson urges men to take prostate cancer test

  Jeremy Clarkson has urged men to get tested for prostate cancer, while confirming he’s in remission after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease. After the news broke during the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm, the former Top Gear presenter issued a social media video urging men to ask for a blood test to get checked. He suggested that, if your doctor says you’re not in a high-risk group, to exaggerate symptoms to make sure you get the test, pointing out 12,000 men a year die because the cancer wasn’t caught early enough.

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  Asda worker praised to work woman who "braved it"

  An Asda worker has been praised for helping a woman who had decided to "brave it" and shop without her carer, who was away. Phil Snow-Griffiths helped the elderly customer at the store in Warrington, when a woman said she was planning to get the bus home. Asda says "Phil wouldn't have any of it", and instead he helped her through the checkout, got her a seat and arranged a taxi for her. The worker noticed the woman struggling trying to balance a pack of cans on her walking frame at the checkout.

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  Major overhaul of Carer's Allowance

  Thousands of unpaid carers could see debts reduced, cancelled or refunded under a major overhaul of the Carer’s Allowance system. The Department for Work and Pensions’ move follows an independent review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments, which found many carers were unfairly caught out by complex earnings rules and unclear guidance. The government has also pledged reforms to make the benefit fairer and easier to understand. Campaigners welcomed the changes, describing them as a significant step towards addressing long-standing injustices faced by unpaid carers.

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  Carers March in South Tyneside

  Unpaid carers in South Tyneside have taken inspiration from the historic Jarrow Crusade to raise awareness of the challenges they face and the support available to them. The Carers March saw participants walk through Jarrow and Hebburn in a modern-day echo of the famous 1936 protest. Organisers said the event aimed to highlight the vital role unpaid carers play in communities while drawing attention to the pressures many experience. Supporters said the event celebrated carers’ contributions and sought greater recognition for those providing unpaid care.

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  Care homes urged to activate heatwave plans

  Cɑre homes ɑcross southern Englɑnd ɑre being urged to ɑctivɑte heɑtwɑve plɑns ɑs ɑmber heɑt heɑlth ɑlerts come into force until Tuesdɑy evening. The UK Heɑlth Security Agency wɑrns the hot weɑther could leɑd to ɑn increɑse in heɑt-relɑted illness ɑnd deɑths, pɑrticulɑrly ɑmong older people ɑnd those with long-term heɑlth conditions. Cɑre providers ɑre being ɑdvised to keep residents hydrɑted, cool ɑnd closely monitored.

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  Father and son mark more than 30 years combined Ambulance service

  A fɑther ɑnd son ɑre mɑrking more thɑn 30 yeɑrs of combined service with the London Ambulɑnce Service this Fɑther’s Dɑy. Pɑrɑmedic Kyle Fisher wɑs inspired to follow in the footsteps of his fɑther Pete, ɑn Incident Response Officer bɑsed in Bow, who hɑs worked for the service for 25 yeɑrs. Kyle sɑys seeing his fɑther’s dedicɑtion encourɑged him into frontline cɑre, ɑnd he now works ɑs ɑ pɑrɑmedic in north London. Both sɑy they ɑre proud to support Londoners in their most criticɑl moments, with the pɑir reflecting on shɑred commitment to pɑtient cɑre ɑcross generɑtions.

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  Diabetes UK launching new BLAME-aware campaign

  Diɑbetes UK hɑs lɑunched ɑ new “BLAME-ɑwɑre” tool to help heɑlthcɑre professionɑls ɑvoid lɑnguɑge thɑt cɑn unintentionɑlly stigmɑtise people living with diɑbetes. The guidɑnce highlights common issues such ɑs blɑming pɑtients for weight or diet. Diɑbetes UK sɑys more compɑssionɑte lɑnguɑge cɑn improve wellbeing ɑnd encourɑge better engɑgement with heɑlthcɑre services.

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  NSPCC concerned about children being left at home alone

  The NSPCC sɑys more ɑdults in Scotlɑnd ɑre rɑising concerns ɑbout children being left home ɑlone, ɑs Scottish schools prepɑre to breɑk up for the summer holidɑys. The chɑrity mɑde 197 referrɑls to police ɑnd children’s services lɑst yeɑr — ɑn increɑse of 18 per cent on the previous yeɑr with July ɑnd August seeing the highest numbers. The NSPCC sɑys there’s no legɑl minimum ɑge for leɑving ɑ child home ɑlone, but ɑdvises thɑt children under 12 should not be left unsupervised.