Councils spending less on social care – report

An analysis of English councils’ spending plans for social care this years suggests an 8.4% cut, equating to £610m, according to charity Age UK. Charity director Michelle Mitchell said: “Funding for social care is already inadequate and the system today is failing many...
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Dealing with ‘do not attends’

A trust at which one in 10 outpatients don’t turn up for appointments has been launching initiatives to try to deal with the problem. Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust (LCH) says the problem is costing thousands of staff hours and wasting precious appoint... <<Read More>>

Domestic abuse identification scheme for GPs shows good results

A programme helping GPs identify victims of domestic abuse and get them help has had “highly promising” results. A case study published by the Health Foundation has lessons for PCTs and commissioning... <<Read More>>

Merger of social care and health profession registers confirmed

The health bill has confirmed the controversial proposal to abolish the General Social Care Council and merge its functions with the Health Professions Council. The organisation will become the Health and Care Professions Coun... <<Read more>>

Carers to get more help

The government has announced that carers are to be given more support and more breaks, as part of its plans for adult social care, A vision for adult social care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens. This will include all carers being given a personal budget by 2013. Personal... <<Read more>>

Less than expected use of new laws to protect people who may need to be deprived of their liberty

Hospitals and care homes are making less than expected use of new measures designed to protect people unable to consent to their care or treatment, according to a new report.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were introduced by law on 1 April 2009 to provide a legal framework for depriving someone of their liberty where they are unable to give informed consent regarding their care...

Innovation offers social care hope

A new pilot being undertaken by NHS Devon with charity Dartmouth Caring, has been heralded as a possible part of the answer to Britain’s social care worries.

The pilot involves the creation of bridge workers – staff paid for by the charity and the local NHS trust together – who, whilst visiting the elderly, can flag up anyone who is need of treatment before they need to be fully hospitalised.