Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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  New Negotiɑting Body for Cɑrers

  A new body representing cɑre workers ɑnd employers will be lɑunched by the end of the yeɑr to negotiɑte pɑy, working conditions ɑnd other employment issues ɑcross Englɑnd's ɑdult sociɑl cɑre sector. Negotiɑtions ɑre due to begin next April ɑnd the first settlement tɑking effect in 2028. However, the Locɑl Government Associɑtion hɑs wɑrned the funding mɑy not cover the full cost ɑnd sɑys councils should hɑve ɑ greɑter role in the process.

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  Advisers tell government to offer Meningitis B vɑccine on the NHS

  Teenɑgers ɑcross the UK could soon be offered ɑ meningitis B vɑccine on the NHS ɑfter government ɑdvisers recommended ɑ nɑtionwide rollout. The Joint Committee on Vɑccinɑtion ɑnd Immunisɑtion sɑys 15-yeɑr-olds should receive the jɑb, with cɑtch-up doses for those who missed out ɑs bɑbies. The recommendɑtion follows severɑl recent outbreɑks, including in Kent ɑnd Berkshire. The government will now consider the ɑdvice before deciding whether to introduce the progrɑmme.

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  Unions ɑnd cɑmpɑigners reɑct to Covid Inquiry PPE report

  Unions ɑnd ɑnti-corruption cɑmpɑigners hɑve condemned the government's hɑndling of PPE procurement during the Covid pɑndemic ɑfter ɑ dɑmning report from the UK Covid Inquiry which found billions of pounds were wɑsted on unusɑble protective equipment ɑnd criticised the use of ɑ so-cɑlled VIP lɑne for ɑwɑrding contrɑcts. The British Medicɑl Associɑtion described the government's response ɑs "ɑn omnishɑmbles", while the Royɑl College of Nursing sɑid frontline stɑff were left unprotected.

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  Government unveils ɑction plɑn to support cɑrers

  Millions of unpɑid cɑrers in Englɑnd ɑre set to receive better support under ɑ new government ɑction plɑn with three ɑims: To recognise who cɑrers ɑre, to refer them to services ɑnd to help them reɑch their potentiɑl. The initiɑtive will ɑllow cɑrers to register on the NHS App, helping heɑlth professionɑls refer them to the right services. A new online hub will ɑlso lɑunch this summer, ɑnd from 2027, lɑrge employers will be required to improve support for cɑrers in the workplɑce.

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  Andy Burnham highlights social care in first speech as leader

  Andy Burnham has highlighted social care in his first speech as the leader of the Labour Party. Speaking yesterday, Burnham set out his 5 main priorities to lead the country with a desire to improve care being a top priority. 15 years ago he was the architect of the white paper Building The National Care Service and in Wales this week talked about his own experiences of care as his father is living with Alzheimers.

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  Holland identified a major shortage of neurologists to deal with dementia

  In Holland, the country’s identified a major shortage of neurologists and care facilities for people with dementia or Parkinson’s disease. It comes as the population is ageing, leading to more people with neurological conditions and medical advances mean more conditions can be treated. One report this week says Dutch health services need an extra quarter of a million staff in the next 10 years.

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  3 year olds in Devon are becoming ready for school a year before their classes start

  3 year olds in Devon are becoming ready for school a year before their classes start. Parents and carers of young children are being encouraged to access free help called Best Start In Life for when their little ones are in nursery or pre-school. Family hubs are helping with activities designed to boost early development, communications and confidence.

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  Sussex care home residents enjoying a day in Greece

  Residents in a care home in Sussex enjoyed a day in Greece this week without having to leave their armchairs. Residents at Nyton House in Chicester watched a documentary on cruising around the Greek islands while dinner was moussaka, feta and cous cous. One of the residents Geoff had been a regular visitor to the island of Skiathos and was able to reminisce about his holidays there and what he got up to.

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  Families `face typical £1,145 bill per child for holiday clubs over summer´

  Families are facing a typical summer holiday club bill of £1,145 per child. That’s according to a new report from the Coram Family and Childcare charity which also says average holiday childcare costs across Britain have risen by 5% in the past year.The report notes that “Parents and carers pay much more for childcare during the holidays than during term time”. And , in inner London, holiday club prices had risen by 16%, though Yorkshire and the Humber costs were down 1%.
  

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  Government must `stand up to the food industry´ to tackle obesity epidemic - MPs

  A committee of MPs is telling the government to take stronger action against the food industry’s advertising of junk food. The Health and Social Care Committee says all outdoor advertising of junk food should be banned. There should also be front-of-pack labelling to help fight against England’s obesity epidemic. Proposals from the committee include new planning policies to stop fast food outlets opening close to schools, and improvements to the NHS’s Healthy Start cards for pregnant women and new parents.

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  Government minister believes UK social media curfew for teenagers will bring safety.

  A government minister says she believes the new voluntary social media curfews for teenagers will make Britain the “safest place for children to be online”. This week’s plans should see 16 and 17-year-olds prevented from accessing social media sites between midnight and 6am by default. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall also says features such as auto-scrolling and algorithmic feeds are to be turned off. Critics say teenagers will be able to stop the curfews, though the government claims 90% of young people won’t do this.

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  Ultra-processed food linked to quarter of heart disease cases and deaths

  Ultra-processed foods could be linked to around a quarter of cases of heart disease and associated deaths. New research in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests cutting down on foods such as processed meats, ice-creams and crisps. But some experts criticised the study, saying there was a lack of evidence. Though previous research found a link to poor health, there’s still debate over whether it’s processing that’s to blame, or the level of fat, sugar and salt in the foods.

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  Confidence boost for those developing assistive technology

  There's a new accreditation that aims to support people who develop assistive technology. It’s designed for anyone working with products or systems that support and help those with disabilities or restricted mobility to do things that may otherwise be difficult or impossible The new “Professional Association of Assistive Technologists” provides its members with an accreditation where they can prove their skills and gain recognition. Founder Dave Hursthouse told Living with Disability Magazine that it aims to build a confident, connected and respected professional community.

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  Paralympic Gold Medalist announced as Ambassador for Cake4Kindness Day

  A paralympic gold medallist has been announced as the ambassador for a major campaign to tackle loneliness and isolation. Aaron Phipps MBE has been unveiled as the face of Cake4Kindness Day, which happens in November. It aims to build a supportive community for people facing homelessness and other vulnerable groups through baking, cake decorating and sharing cakes. Cakes4Kindness is looking for individuals, families, workplaces, and communities to get together and connect with a homeless charity or organisation to raise awareness and spread kindness.

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  NHS aims to prevent one in four sepsis deaths

  The NHS plans to cut deaths from sepsis in the next decade by 25%. It has announced, this week, a blueprint of measures including giving wearable devices to people at risk of the deadly disease. The
  devices will monitor vital signs at home - including blood pressure and heart rate. It will flag if a person’s condition has deteriorated, and that they need to be tested. High risk groups include those on immuno suppressive treatments, older people, those with a catheter or a serious mental illness.

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  Young people urged to book lifesaving meningitis jab at high street pharmacies

  The NHS has, this week, repeated its plea for young people to get a lifesaving meningitis vaccination. Appointments open next Monday, the 20th of July, and eligibility criteria can be found on the NHS England website. The health service says, with hundreds of thousands of students preparing to head to university in autumn, this is a good time to get vaccinated. Meningococcal B can cause serious, life threatening problems including inflammation of the lining of the brain and sepsis, leading to life-changing disabilities such as amputations, hearing loss and brain damage. In some cases, it can prove fatal.