Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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  NHS sets first-ever staff standards to tackle racism and violence

  There's to be an NHS crackdown on racism and violence within the health service. In a first-of-its-kind programme, it’s setting out staff standards which will make NHS employers formally accountable for tackling racism, violence and sexual harassment. Results will be published in league tables – and the new standards will also cover areas including line management and promoting flexible working. The Government says it’ll “set a clear baseline” of what NHS staff can expect from their employer, regardless of where they work.

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  Councils key to making adult social care reform ‘stick’, says LGA

  There's to be a series of pop-up events in Fife to promote fostering. The events at Duloch and Cupar libraries show what being a foster carer is like, the process to becoming a carer, how much foster carers get paid and the support and training available. They also aim to debunk myths like whether you can foster if you're single, in a same-sex relationship, of any gender, if you own pets, or don't own your home. Sessions run throughout July and August and details are on the Fife Council website

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  Fostering pop-ups start this summer in Fife

  A new report that says that COUNCILS are key to reforms in social care. The Local Government Association says that local authorities “must remain central” to the future of adult social care. It adds that national and local government must work together - but need clear and distinct responsibilities to help speed up the system, and reduce inefficiency and inconsistency. The importance of locally-led and person-centred services are stressed in the report, which was published this week, during the LGA’s annual conference in Bournemouth.

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  Views sought to transform benefit paid to carers

  Unpaid carers and their organisations are being invited to share their views on how to improve Carer’s Allowance. It’s part of the first major review of the benefit since it was first introduced 50 years ago. The six-week survey will gather views on modernising the earnings limit to reduce the impact of the so-called “cliff edge”. It also aims to improve predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better support those with work and caring responsibilities. Anyone with views is urged to submit them before the 18th of August via the gov.uk website.

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  30 year partnership between Carer's Trust and National Garden Scheme

  A celebration has taken place to mark a 30-year partnership between the Carers’ Trust and garden charity the National Garden Scheme which has raised more than six and a half million pounds to support unpaid carers. A reception hosted by HRH The Princess Royal at St James’s Palace saw unpaid carers joined by celebrity guests including Dame Mary Berry and Alan Titchmarsh.

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  Suffolk Parent Carer Forum closing down

  A group that helps parent carers ensure their voices are heard is closing down after funding was pulled. In a social media statement Suffolk Parent Carer Forum said the formal winding-up process is underway because money from the Department for Education has been withdrawn. The group says it remains "committed to the principle that parent carers' voices should be heard, respected and valued". The charity which administers the funding, said its decision did not "reflect a lack of commitment, effort, or good faith" from those running the group.

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  Drive to end corridor care risks further issues

  There’s a warning that a drive within the NHS to end corridor care risks leaving patients trapped in hospital car parks instead. Britain’s most senior ambulance chief has told the Daily Telegraph that the health service must ensure that efforts to eliminate long waits in A&E do not leave other patients in even greater danger. Jason Killens warns that attempting to keep corridors clear without making improvements to speed patient flow through hospitals risked leaving paramedic crews and their patients stuck outside.

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  Plans approved to support unpaid carers in Brighton & Hove carers.

  Plans have been approved to support unpaid carers across Brighton and Hove. The strategy called “Think Carer – Building a Carer Friendly City” outlines actions to help identify, recognise and support family and friend carers. It also aims to encourage local services and organisations to become more carer-friendly. Support includes the Carers Card, which offers discounts on activities, and Carers Hub, which provides advice, information and direct support.

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  NHS to use AI to direct patients to the right services

  The NHS will use AI technology in its app to direct patients to the right services. The service will be used to triage patients and work out whether they should get a GP appointment, or whether they should seek help from a pharmacy or go to A and E. The update is expected to reach 200 thousand patients over the next year and be rolled out to everyone by April 2028. The government says it is committed to ending the 8am phone scramble for same-day GP appointments.

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  Women in Norfolk bearing the brunt of caring responsibility

  Women in Norfolk are bearing the brunt of the caring responsibility for older relatives, according to a new report. The report by Healthwatch Norfolk says that some carers are spending more than 50 hours a week providing care, leading to extra emotional and physical demands on them. Most of those who responded to the survey were women over 55 who care for parents or partners. The report has made a number of recommendations for the council to provide extra support for unpaid carers.

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  Health officials urged to prepare for another heatwave

  With another heatwave on the way this week, health officials are urging us to be prepared. While it won't be as hot or as humid as the heatwave in June, the UK Health Security Agency says that the high temperatures could impact health and social care services, and pose a greater risk to vulnerable people. Peak temperatures are fo recast to reach 34 degrees this week.

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  Calls for no further delays on adult social care reform

  Reform of the adult social care sector in England must not be delayed further, and measures must be introduced in the current parliament, according to a group of MPs. The Commons Health and Social Care committee says that the work cannot wait until the general election, which is likely to be in 2029. The report warns that one and a half million unpaid carers face cutting working hours or leaving work altogether to look after a loved one.

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  Burnhɑm considers removing Pɑlɑntir from the NHS

  Andy Burnhɑm is considering ending the NHS’s use of technology from the US firm Pɑlɑntir if he becomes Prime Minister lɑter this month. The Telegrɑph sɑys the move would form pɑrt of ɑ wider review of the Government’s ɑrtificiɑl intelligence strɑtegy, with greɑter emphɑsis on sociɑl vɑlue in public contrɑcts. Pɑlɑntir’s Federɑted Dɑtɑ Plɑtform is currently being used ɑcross the NHS under ɑ seven-yeɑr contrɑct. No finɑl decision hɑs been ɑnnounced.

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  New choking guidɑnce issued

  Cɑre Englɑnd hɑs lɑunched new guidɑnce ɑimed ɑt preventing choking deɑths ɑmong people with leɑrning disɑbilities in sociɑl cɑre ɑnd supported living settings. The prɑcticɑl guide hɑs been developed with heɑlthcɑre professionɑls ɑnd cɑre providers, ɑnd encourɑges person-centred support thɑt bɑlɑnces sɑfety with independence ɑnd choice. It ɑlso highlights the importɑnce of stɑff trɑining, eɑrly identificɑtion of risks ɑnd close working with fɑmilies to help mɑke meɑltimes sɑfer while preserving dignity ɑnd quɑlity of life.

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  Cɑrers Trust ɑnd Nɑtionɑl Gɑrden Scheme celebrɑte pɑrtnership

  The Princess Royɑl hɑs hosted ɑ reception ɑt St Jɑmes’s Pɑlɑce to mɑrk 30 yeɑrs of pɑrtnership between Cɑrers Trust ɑnd the Nɑtionɑl Gɑrden Scheme. More thɑn £6.5 million hɑs been rɑised over the pɑst three decɑdes to support unpɑid cɑrers ɑcross the UK through visits to privɑte gɑrdens. Guests, including Dɑme Mɑry Berry, Alɑn Titchmɑrsh ɑnd Angelɑ Rippon, celebrɑted the milestone while highlighting the importɑnce of giving unpɑid cɑrers opportunities for rest, wellbeing ɑnd support.

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  The state of care in the USA

  As America celebrates 250 years of independence a new study shows a lack of knowledge about care stateside. A YouGov poll found most Americans underestimate the cost of private care while overestimating how much care workers get paid and how much the US government does to help care. The report concludes that while care is a major issue, it’s not got much political support in America.