Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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  NHS opens bookings early for winter flu jab

  The NHS is urging millions of people to book their flu jab from this week. The health service is starting preparations earlier than ever, and has opened the national booking system for eligible people to pre-book slots from 1st September. Those eligible, include pregnant women and children. The NHS is looking to ease winter demand after back-to-back heatwaves have seen staff treat record numbers this summer.
  It says flu season usually peaks in December and January and it’s starting vaccinations in autumn, to make sure those at risk are protected and fewer people are hospitalised.

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  Paralympian visits care home to talk resilience

  A rehabilitation care home in Sussex ha played host to a renowned Paralympian turned TV presenter. Steve Brown who captained the Team GB Wheelchair Rugby squad at the London 2012 Paralympics met residents at the Royal Star and Garter home in Worthing. He also met an army veteran who lives at the home and discussed resilience, recovery and rehabilitation with residents. He toured the home’s gym, met with its physiotherapy team – and described how there were similarities between the experiences of residents and his own.
  

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  Innovative playground roundabout designed for wheelchair users

  An innovative new piece of playground equipment has been designed to be accessible to wheelchair users. Inclusive Play has created the world's first wheelchair-accessible roundabout, meaning that those using wheelchairs can play alongside their friends, carers, family and peers. The company told Living With Disability magazine that it’s proud to have created skilled manufacturing jobs in Scotland, where it makes the equipment. It says it’s part of its mission to make playgrounds more inclusive, with no child – regardless of ability –excluded from play.
  

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  Hundreds of carers attend Derby event

  An event in Derby that’s estimated to have supported more than 400 carers in the city. They came together to access advice and information to help them in their caring roles, with more than 70 organisations offering support services under one roof. The “Derby City Carers Event” aimed to raise awareness of the wide range of support available for unpaid carers. Organisers say that the lived experience of those attending, helped create a welcoming and understanding environment.

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  Help for unpaid carers in Knowsley

  Unpaid carers in Knowsley are being invited to meet their local Carers Hub at outreach sessions across the borough. The first takes place in Kirkby Town Centre on Thursday, with further sessions in Huyton on August the twenty-fifth and Prescot on September the tenth. The hub offers personalised support for people caring for friends or relatives, including advice on benefits, help accessing health and wellbeing services, peer support and professional counselling. Carers can speak directly to the team about the help available.
  

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  Unpaid carers in Worcestershire sharing experiences

  Unpaid carers in Worcestershire are being encouraged to share their experiences as work begins to update the county’s All-Age Carers Strategy. Worcestershire County Council wants to hear from people of all ages who provide unpaid care for a family member, friend or neighbour. Their feedback will help shape future priorities and ensure support reflects carers’ experiences and needs. The county has previously worked with health services and the voluntary sector on initiatives designed to give unpaid carers better access to information, assessments and practical support.
  

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  Inspiring carers being recognised in Greater Manchester

  Inspiring carers from Greater Manchester have been awarded scholarships at Gary Neville’s sports university to help them pursue their ambitions. The awards recognise people who have devoted significant time and energy to looking after others, while giving recipients an opportunity to develop themselves through education. Leighton Flynn and Yasmin Baker were supported by the Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United captain after they applied for the UA92 scheme. The scholarships aim to remove some of those barriers and recognise the contribution carers make to their families and communities across Greater Manchester.

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  A new app for unpaid carers in West Yorkshire

  A new app to support unpaid carers is being rolled out across West Yorkshire. The Share2Care app, commissioned by West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, will help carers manage everyday responsibilities and work with others involved in a person’s care. Users can also securely submit a digital contingency plan to NHS patient records, allowing authorised professionals to access arrangements if they are needed. The programme could support up to 250,000 unpaid carers, with opportunities to expand it to other regions being explored.
  

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  Trafford Council in Greater Manchester told to improve adult social care services

  Trafford Council in Greater Manchester has been told it needs to improve its adult social care services by the care watchdog the Care Quality Commission. The CQC report found that although people wer e generally happy with the services they received, there were gaps in ensuring that peoples' voices were heard during assessments. It highlights that children moving into adult care services found the process confusing. The report also highlights mixed experiences among unpaid carers accessing services, and that carers had asked for more support planning for contingencies and taking respite breaks.

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  Good rating for North Lincolnshire care services

  Adult social care services provided by North Lincolnshire council have been rated as good by care watchdog the Care Quality Commission. The CQC said that staff had a clear focus on preventing people from losing their independence. Despite the rating the report noted that some people were waiting far longer than the 21 day target for financial assessments. The report also noted that improvements were required in the support for unpaid carers, people with autism and those livin g in rural areas.

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  Worcestershire County Council want to hear from unpaid carers

  Worcestershire county council want to hear from people who provide unpaid care for a family member, friend or neighbour as part of its drive to shape future support and services. The council is asking for feedback in order to understand the challenges that unpaid carers face, and to find out what support would make the biggest difference to their lives. A council spokesperson said that unpaid carers do so much for those they care for, and have extra challenges balancing their caring with home, work, education and family life.

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  Demand at A&E in England hit a record high last month

  Demand for accident and emergency treatment at NHS hospitals in England hit a record high last month as the service dealt with the effects of multiple heatwaves. A&E saw a record 2 and a half million attendances last month, but despite the extra pressure more patients were seen, treated or discharged within four hours. The NHS also delivered its best performance for planned care in nearly 5 years, with two thirds of patients being treated within the 18-week planned treatment target in June.

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  Heat alerts back for this week

  Heat health alerts are in place for much of the UK as temperatures rise again. Yellow alerts are in place for most of England, from the midlands to the south coast and south west. The alerts mean extra pressure on health services from vulnerable people, and the potential for indoor spaces to become very warm. We're being urged to know the signs of heat stroke and to make sure we drink enough fluids regularly. Carers and those they care for are particularly vulnerable to severe weather. The alerts are in force until Wednesday this week.

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  People in Dudley waiting up to 2 years for care review

  People in Dudley in the West Midlands are waiting up to two years for a care review, according to the government watchdog the Care Quality Commission. Its report shows that reviews of people's care needs could be up to 900 days overdue. More than 1100 people were waiting for a review in July last year. Despite this finding, care services in the area were described as good, with staff who were dedicated and had a good understanding of how to get the best outcomes for people who need care. The CQC's report will be discussed today by the council's Health and Adult Social Care committee.

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  Blood stocks running low

  The NHS Blood Donɑtion service sɑys stocks of some blood types hɑve fɑllen to just three dɑys' supply – less thɑn hɑlf the normɑl level. It sɑys the recent heɑtwɑve hɑs led to fewer people donɑting ɑnd it's urgently cɑlling for ɑt leɑst five thousɑnd donors every dɑy. O negɑtive ɑnd B negɑtive blood ɑre in pɑrticulɑrly short supply, with ɑ speciɑl ɑppeɑl for more donors from Blɑck ɑnd minority ethnic communities, whose blood is vitɑl for treɑting people with sickle cell diseɑse.

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  Hundreds of thousands take advantage of free morning-after pill

  Hundreds of thousands of women have had the morning after pill from high street pharmacies in the first 5 months since the NHS made it available free of charge. New data shows just over 300 thousand doses of the emergency contraceptive pill were supplied between October 2025 and March this year. Women are able to visit their local pharmacy without an appointment and get the pill after a confidential consultation with a pharmacist. Pharmacy teams are also able to help women with ongoing contraception.