NHS failing to learn from Baby P
By Liz Stephens The NHS needs to do more to protect children from neglect and abuse according to a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) out today. Following a national review of NHS child safeguarding, commissioned by the health secretary in the wake of the Baby P case, it has been revealed that several […]
Charity calls for urgent action on care
By politics.co.uk staff The government is facing a “care crisis” unless it conducts a radical reform of the care system to support the growing number of older people needing care, a charity warned today. Counsel and Care said urgent action is needed in the government’s forthcoming green paper on care as care homes face closure […]
Autism bill gets through second reading
By politics.co.uk staff Cheryl Gillan’s autism bill got sent upstairs to committee today, moving a step closer to becoming law. The bill aims to improve recognition of children and adults with autism and to ensure their needs are addressed – especially during the crucial transition from childhood to adulthood. The crucial moment came when an […]
Social care eligibility “defeats many”
Too many people experience “stress and bewilderment” trying to acquire social care, a report says. The independent Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is critical of existing eligibility arrangements, saying the system needs reform because of its lack of transparency and fairness. It is also critical of the criteria’s incompatibility with new approaches based around […]
Brown tackles social care
Gordon Brown is speaking on the need to reform the UK’s social care system for the elderly today. The prime minister’s comments at the King’s Fund come as the government launches a six-month national debate on care and support services throughout the UK. Mr Brown was speaking before a conference on the opportunities technology offers […]
Govt promises more choice and control for disabled people
The government has unveiled its new strategy designed to offer disabled people more choice and control over their lives. Ministers claim the cross-government strategy, which draws on resources from six departments, will enable disabled people to do things non-disabled people take for granted. In Independent Living Strategy, published today by the Office for Disabled Issues, […]
Scottish govt failed to plan for costs of free social care
Scotland’s flagship policy of free personal care for older people has been criticised after an annual £63 million funding gap was revealed. Spending watchdog Audit Scotland said the Scottish government failed to anticipate the full costs of the programme, which provides free personal and nursing care for Scots over 65. The total cost of providing […]
Lib Dems promise improved elderly care
Government should fund a £2 billion package of personal care budgets for the elderly, the Liberal Democrats said today. New Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said increased funding for elderly care would end the “scandalous injustice” of older people using their savings to pay for necessary care. The Liberal Democrats would accordingly introduce a “care […]
Govt to address carer concerns
Gordon Brown says he will listen to carers’ concerns in this year’s forthcoming government strategy review. Yesterday saw the close of a consultation on how to improve the lives of Britain’s six million carers marked by an event attended by ministers. Over 1,700 submissions have been received and the government intends to work through them […]
Johnson unveils personal budgets for social care
The government today announced plans to give people in need of social care personal budgets to commission their own services. Health secretary Alan Johnson said the plan for Personal Care Budgets would “transform” care for older and disabled people. The scheme is being rolled out across the country following successful pilot trials and is backed […]
