Care Radio

The Latest Care News

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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.

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  WhatsApp service for unpaid carers in Gloucestershire

  Gloucestershire County Council has launched an AI-powered WhatsApp service to help unpaid carers find information and support at any time of day or night. Called Ask Grace, the chatbot lets carers send questions in their own words and quickly receive tailored advice, including details of local services, without searching multiple websites. The council says the tool was developed alongside carers to make sure it is simple, useful and can genuinely make a difference.

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  Inverclyde school offers more support to young carers

  A secondary school in Inverclyde is strengthening the support it offers young carers. Clydeview Academy has introduced extra measures to help pupils balance their education with caring responsibilities at home, ensuring they receive understanding, practical support and access to specialist advice when they need it. Staff say recognising young carers and responding to their individual needs can make a real difference to their wellbeing, attendance and success at school, while helping them feel supported rather than facing their responsibilities alone.

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  Unpaid carers in Wiltshire offered free day out

  Unpaid carers in Wiltshire are being invited to enjoy a free day surrounded by nature. Carers Together Wiltshire is hosting the event at Hazel Hill Wood near Salisbury next month, offering wildlife walks, pond dipping, willow weaving and mindfulness activities to help carers relax and recharge. Free transport from Salisbury is available, along with refreshments, and organisers say the day is designed to give unpaid carers a chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities while meeting others in a peaceful woodland setting.

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  Hampshire choir raises money for young carers

  A choir from Hampshire is holding a special summer concert to raise money for young carers. Andover Chamber Choir's performance, called Rhymes and Recollections, takes place on 18 July and features choral arrangements of childhood favourites alongside readings from classic children's authors including A A Milne and Beatrix Potter. Money raised will support Andover Young Carers, helping provide vital services and respite for young people who look after family members. Tickets are available in advance or on the door.

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  Over 50s urged to complete bowel cancer tests

  If you're over 50 and you've received one of the NHS bowel cancer screening kits then you're being urged to complete the test and return it. The NHS says that only 5 in 10 of those aged in their 50s took part in the test, compared with more than 7 in 10 people in their 70s.Around 100 cancers a week on average were diagnosed through the NHS Bowel Cancer screening programme, which screens over 5 million people a year.

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  Review of Carer's Allowance underway

  The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a review of Carer's Allowance, which could lead to changes in how the benefit works for thousands of unpaid carers. The consultation period lasts six weeks, and seeks input from carers, charities and organisations on how to modernise the benefit, which was first introduced fifty years ago. It is expected to consider the earnings 'cliff edge', improving support for carers whose income changes week to week, and reviewing the laws that say how much paid employment carers can take on.

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  Online therapy for carers lowers mental health issues

  A study by the University of East Anglia has shown that online therapy for carers lowers mental health issues. The paper shows that carers using a therapy app or website had lower levels of anxiety and depression after three months. Carers are at higher risk of their own mental health issues, but many struggle to get help because they can't leave the person they're caring for, and care services are under continued pressure.

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  NHS experiencing ɑ ‘Summer Onslɑught’

  The NHS sɑys it's fɑcing ɑ "summer onslɑught" ɑfter A&E depɑrtments recorded their busiest month on record in June. Averɑge dɑily ɑttendɑnces topped 81,000 for the first time, while 999 cɑlls were up 10 per cent on the sɑme month lɑst yeɑr. The NHS is urging people to use phɑrmɑcies ɑnd GP services where ɑppropriɑte to help eɑse demɑnd. Despite the pressure, pɑtient sɑtisfɑction with GP services hɑs improved, with more thɑn three-quɑrters of people rɑting their experience ɑs good.

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  Chɑrity workers fɑce ‘hostile sociɑl environment’

  Thousɑnds of chɑrity workers ɑcross Englɑnd ɑnd Wɑles ɑre estimɑted to hɑve fɑced threɑts in person, ɑccording to the Chɑrity Commission. A survey found more thɑn ɑ quɑrter of chɑrities hɑd been ɑffected by ɑn increɑsingly hostile sociɑl environment. The regulɑtor sɑys while the public hɑs every right to question chɑrities, disɑgreement should never cross the line into threɑts or violence. Despite this, public trust in chɑrities remɑins high.

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  Murie Curie’s bumper fundrɑising yeɑr

  The chɑrity Mɑrie Curie hɑs rɑised more thɑn two-point-three million pounds ɑs the 2026 TCS London Mɑrɑthon’s Chɑrity of the Yeɑr. The totɑl, rɑised by 744 runners ɑnd supporters, fɑr exceeds lɑst yeɑr’s fundrɑising figure of 450 thousɑnd pounds ɑnd beɑts the chɑrity’s two-million-pound tɑrget. Mɑrie Curie sɑys the money is enough to fund ɑround 100,000 hours of end of life nursing cɑre.

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  The Sɑlvɑtion Army exits residentiɑl cɑre

  The Sɑlvɑtion Army hɑs completed the trɑnsfer of its 11 residentiɑl cɑre homes to new owners ɑnd operɑtors. Seven homes will continue providing cɑre under orgɑnisɑtions chosen for their shɑred vɑlues ɑnd ethos, while four hɑve closed, with some sites set for redevelopment. The move follows the chɑrity’s decision lɑst yeɑr to step ɑwɑy from residentiɑl cɑre for older people ɑnd insteɑd expɑnd its community-bɑsed support services.

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  German lowers cost of healthcare

  Germany’s lower house in Parliament has passed new rules on healthcare aimed at lowering the costs. Top of the list to tackle is health insurance which critics say the cost is harming the economy by taking money off people and businesses. The cost of medicine also looks set to be lowered although drug firms argue that lower revenues could limit what research they undertake.