social-care

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UK politics
www.theguardian.com
1 week ago
UK politics

Government has brought adult social care in England to its knees', MPs say

Chronic underfunding affecting adult social care in England
Concerns about staffing shortages and inadequate government leadership
www.theguardian.com
1 week ago
UK politics

Ed Davey: We need a cross-party agreement on social care'

Liberal Democrats call for cross-party talks on social care to solve impasse after years of failure.
Proposed manifesto promise includes attending cross-party talks on social care after election to address high costs and help the NHS.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

Poor people hit hardest by Covid because of NHS cuts, experts say

Poor people were hit hardest by Covid and poor people living in the north of England were hit hardest of all because of government cuts to health services in the years leading up to the pandemic, experts have said.The worst affected were poor people in northern England from minority ethnic backgrounds, said Prof Sir Michael Marmot as he gave evidence to the independent Covid inquiry on Friday.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

I live in fear of debt collectors': disabled people tell of toll of soaring UK care costs

Disabled people in England are finding themselves in severe financial hardship owing to rising social care costs and the increase in the cost of living.Social care, unlike the NHS, is not free at the point of need.As disabled people are being forced to pay for their care out of their benefits, some are finding themselves thousands of pounds in arrears to councils.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

This is Starmer's moment. Thatcherism has collapsed, and the Tories are at each other's throats | Polly Toynbee

The spectacle of the shipwrecked Conservative party is a wonder to behold.Boris Johnson the destroyer will carry on sinking the remains of the galleon he once captained out of sheer revenge.Cabals of every rightwing complexion include the old bastards of yesteryear John Redwood still at it and new red-wallers seeing their brief careers vanish before their eyes.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

Britain is recklessly exposed' to new pandemics, expert warns

Ministers have systematically dismantled critical vaccine plans drawn up during the Covid crisis and left the country recklessly exposed to another pandemic, one of the most senior figures shaping Britain's scientific response to the virus has warned.In a damning verdict that comes just days before the official Covid inquiry starts publicly examining Britain's preparedness for pandemics, Dr Clive Dix, the former chairman of the UK's vaccine taskforce, said the abandonment of schemes developed during Covid now left Britain fraught with danger.
moreUK politics
Artificial intelligence
ScienceDaily
3 weeks ago
Artificial intelligence

New dressing robot can 'mimic' the actions of care-workers

Two-armed dressing robot mimics care-worker movements
Technology frees up care-workers for companionship and well-being checks
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
1 month ago
Artificial intelligence

From the Editor: Generative AI and social care

Generative AI offers benefits and challenges in adult social care.
Need for knowledge, guidance, and ethical considerations in deploying generative AI in social care.
moreArtificial intelligence
www.theguardian.com
1 month ago
Public health

Frailty in older people rose sharply during austerity years, study reveals

Austerity cuts to the NHS, public health, and social care in England have been linked with a sharp increase in frailty.
The coalition government's austerity programme in the early 2010s is associated with steeper increases in frailty with age compared with the pre-austerity years between 2002 and 2010.
general-election
www.theguardian.com
1 month ago
UK politics

Labour ditches radical reforms as it prepares bombproof' election manifesto

Labour is planning limited first-term reforms on social care, the House of Lords, and green investment in its manifesto.
Labour will not seek to legislate on the creation of a new national care service in its first king's speech, instead focusing on fair pay for care workers and workers' rights.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Boris Johnson's resignation honours list in full

Boris Johnson's resignation honours list has finally been confirmed by the government, after months of wrangling.Below is the full list of gongs handed out to those favoured by the prime minister.Peerages Mr Shaun Stephen Bailey Current Conservative member of the London Assembly Mr Benjamin Gascogne Former Political Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to the former Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Mr Benjamin Houchen Current Tees Valley Mayor Mr Ross John Kempsell Political Director of the Conservative Party and Director of the Conservative Research Department Miss Charlotte Katherine Tranter Owen Former Special Advisor to the former Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Mr Kulveer Singh Ranger Formerly Director of Transport for Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP whilst Mayor of London, and Special Adviser to UK Government on digital strategy Mr Daniel Robert Rosenfield Former Downing Street Chief of Staff for the Former Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Order of the Companions of Honour Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour Sir William Nigel Paul Cash Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Boris Johnson's resignation honours list in full

Boris Johnson's resignation honours list has finally been confirmed by the government, after months of wrangling.Below is the full list of gongs handed out to those favoured by the prime minister.Peerages Mr Shaun Stephen Bailey Current Conservative member of the London Assembly Mr Benjamin Gascogne Former Political Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to the former Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Mr Benjamin Houchen Current Tees Valley Mayor Mr Ross John Kempsell Political Director of the Conservative Party and Director of the Conservative Research Department Miss Charlotte Katherine Tranter Owen Former Special Advisor to the former Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Mr Kulveer Singh Ranger Formerly Director of Transport for Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP whilst Mayor of London, and Special Adviser to UK Government on digital strategy Mr Daniel Robert Rosenfield Former Downing Street Chief of Staff for the Former Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP Order of the Companions of Honour Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour Sir William Nigel Paul Cash Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Barclay refuses to give deadline for long-promised NHS workforce plan

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has refused to give a deadline for the release of the long-awaited NHS workforce plan, but insisted it will be published before the next general election.Health bodies have said it is incredibly disappointing that new long-term proposals, which many were expecting to feature in the Chancellor's spring Budget, have not yet been announced.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
UK politics

NHS waiting lists, inflation, national debt one by one, Sunak's pledges are crumbling | Polly Toynbee

The NHS waiting list in England for hospital treatment has just broken its own record, rising to 7.3 million.Just before the data dropped, the Tories issued yet another murmured apology for missing an NHS waiting time target.A promise to treat all those who had been waiting 18 months for an operation by April had not been met with about 10,000 in that category still in line, the health secretary, Steve Barclay, admitted.
moregeneral-election
www.independent.co.uk
1 month ago
UK news

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

Local councils in the UK have been declaring bankruptcy due to extreme budget cuts.
The bankruptcies have resulted in a lack of adequate social care, transport, education, and housing services for constituents.
www.independent.co.uk
2 months ago
UK news

Sunak to give councils 500m in emergency bailout amid cash crisis

Local authorities in England will receive an emergency bailout from the government to prevent bankruptcy.
Upper tier councils will receive an additional 500m for social care while lower tier districts will receive a boost of approximately 30 to 40m.
BBC News
2 months ago
UK news

Wolverhampton's Santos Care banned from sponsoring foreign staff

A social care provider in Wolverhampton has been placed in special measures and lost its licence to sponsor foreign workers after an investigation by the BBC.
Santos Care was condemned as inadequate following a Care Quality Commission inspection, and Staffordshire County Council said it would no longer employ them.
www.theguardian.com
3 months ago
UK news

Short-staffed sectors in UK respond to measures to cut net migration

James Cleverly's policies on reducing net migration have faced backlash in short-staffed sectors across the economy.
The policies will likely impact the availability of staff in the NHS, care sector, and hospitality industry.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Labour's Scottish deputy leader humbled' by damehood

Scottish Labour's deputy leader has told how she was humbled to be made a dame in the King's first Birthday Honours.Dame Jackie Baillie said the honour was totally unexpected, with news of of its award coming as quite a shock to me.She is understood to be the first sitting MSP at Holyrood to either be knighted or be given a damehood the female equivalent of a knighthood.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

UK entered pandemic with depleted' public services, inquiry hears

The UK entered the coronavirus pandemic with depleted public services and widening health inequalities, the Covid inquiry has heard.A report prepared jointly by professors Sir Michael Marmot, an expert in epidemiology and director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, and Clare Bambra, an expert in public health from Newcastle University, said Government austerity policies impacted the health of the nation in the lead up to the pandemic.
London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
3 months ago
London

Mayor warns of 'full blown recruitment crisis' amid the government's migration policy

The Mayor of London warns of a recruitment crisis in sectors critical to the city's economy due to new migration policies
Sectors such as hospitality, the arts, health, construction, and social care may struggle to fill vacancies as a result
London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
3 months ago
London

Mayor warns of 'full blown recruitment crisis' amid the government's migration policy

The Mayor of London warns of a recruitment crisis in sectors critical to the city's economy due to new migration policies
Sectors such as hospitality, the arts, health, construction, and social care may struggle to fill vacancies as a result
www.thisislocallondon.co.uk
4 months ago
London

London borough councils set for 600m budget overspend

The cost of tackling homelessness in London has exceeded £600m, according to a new estimate from London Councils.
The increase in spending is due to the capital's worsening homelessness crisis as well as demands on adult and children's social care services.
London Councils is calling for an overall funding increase of at least 9% in the Autumn Statement.
www.standard.co.uk
9 months ago
London

London charity worker's suicide sparks calls for greater awareness of body dysmorphia

A beloved charity worker from London took his own life following a lengthy battle with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) - igniting calls for better awareness of the debilitating condition.Conrad Colson, 34, died by suicide last March after suffering from severe BDD, primarily concerning the appearance of his skin.
www.standard.co.uk
9 months ago
London

Heat-health warning for London as UK set for hottest day of 2023

H igh temperatures on Friday and this weekend will impact on those over 65 and with pre-exisiting health conditions, experts have warned.Health authorities have issued the first heat-health alert of the year for six regions ahead of a surge in temperatures.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office said the alert would apply for 72 hours from 9am on Friday.
www.standard.co.uk
9 months ago
London

London weather: When will the UK see the hottest day of the year?

T he weather is not always the UK's strong suit.It's sometimes unpredictable, chilly, and rainy, even in the summer.But, according to the Met Office, the UK can expect clear skies and sun this Saturday (June 10).They have forecasted that it will be the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures hitting 25C in London.
London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
3 months ago
London politics

Mayor warns of 'full blown recruitment crisis' amid the government's migration policy

The Mayor of London warns of a recruitment crisis in sectors critical to the city's economy due to new migration policies
Sectors such as hospitality, the arts, health, construction, and social care may struggle to fill vacancies as a result
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

UK post-Covid plan will not keep public safe, expert tells inquiry

Experts in national disaster preparedness have warned that the UK's post-pandemic resilience plan requires wholesale, radical rewriting and said the government was failing to keep the public sufficiently safe.Bruce Mann, former director of the Cabinet Office civil contingencies secretariat, told the Covid-19 public inquiry that changes called for in the new framework, published by Rishi Sunak's government in December 2022, were too slow and it was almost silent on resourcing.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

David Cameron to be first politician to give evidence at Covid inquiry

David Cameron will become the first politician to give evidence under oath at the UK Covid-19 public inquiry next week when the former prime minister is cross-examined on Monday, the inquiry has announced.The former chancellor George Osborne will also give evidence on Tuesday and Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, and Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, will become the first serving cabinet ministers to enter the witness box when they are sworn in on Wednesday as the inquiry steps up its investigation into the UK's preparedness for the pandemic that claimed at least 226,977 lives in the country.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

Covid inquiry heads for row with government over Google Spaces redactions

A fresh battle over unredacted Covid documents is looming, as the public inquiry's most senior lawyer voiced fears about a tussle with the government over messages sent on the Google Spaces platform.Hugo Keith KC said the same issue threatened to arise as with WhatsApps, which the Cabinet Office is refusing to hand over in full.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

Andy Burnham calls for Labour to adopt proportional representation

Andy Burnham has called for MPs to be elected by proportional representation as part of Labour's plans for a radical rewiring of Britain.The mayor of Greater Manchester's proposals were supported by Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, at the Making Britain Work For Scotland rally in Scotland.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

Covid inquiry must examine impact of UK's broken sick pay' system, says TUC

The Covid inquiry must take an unflinching look at how the UK's lack of decent sick pay left the country brutally exposed during the pandemic, the TUC has said.The UK entered the pandemic with the lowest rate of statutory sick pay (SSP) in the OECD, an intergovernmental organisation with 38 member countries, and with millions unable access it, the union body claimed.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
London

Staff work in central London offices for 2.3 days a week, study finds

Office workers in central London are spending on average 2.3 days a week in the workplace, according to a report that warns against a wholesale switch to working from home.The thinktank Centre for Cities carried out polling of office workers in the capital and found they were spending 59% of the time in their workplace compared with pre-Covid levels.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Government commits to reducing number of national NHS targets

The Government has committed to reducing the number of national NHS targets to enable local health and care systems to focus on improving their patients' health.It is in response to two reviews, including one by former health secretary Patricia Hewitt calling for a raft of targets to be scrapped and a bigger focus on preventing ill health.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

The Guardian view on the NHS: chronic problems get critical | Editorial

The government casts this week's strike by junior doctors in England as a cause of patient suffering, when it is better understood as a symptom of a health service in crisis.It is true that cancelled operations and delayed treatments diminish the service.It is also the case that failure to pay medical professionals properly is a long-term cause of systemic decline.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

Minister refuses to back Hancock Covid claim of protective ring' for care homes

The care minister, Helen Whately, has declined to back Matt Hancock's claim that the government threw a protective ring around care homes at the start of the pandemic.Whately worked under the former health secretary in the first 18 months of Covid, but she avoided endorsing her former boss's assertion, which will be tested at the public inquiry which starts in earnest this week.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

UK government endorsed e-cigarette firm accused of fuelling underage vaping

The government has been criticised for its completely inappropriate endorsement of an e-cigarette manufacturer blamed for fuelling an epidemic of underage vaping in the US.Juul Labs was promoted in an official briefing circulated by the Department of Health and Social Care about the prime minister's plan to close a loophole allowing free samples to be given to children.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

GPs will give patients options to travel further or go to private alternatives

Doctors will be required to give patients options including travelling further for healthcare or going to private alternatives as Rishi Sunak tries to fulfil his promise to cut NHS waiting times.GPs will be compelled to offer up to five healthcare providers when clinically appropriate, allowing patients to select their preference using the NHS app or website.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Government's controlled decision' behind high-level immigration, adviser says

High levels of immigration are caused by deliberate government policy, a senior Government adviser on immigration has claimed.This comes the day before the Office for National Statistics is set to publish figures that could show legal migration reached at least 700,000 in the 12 months to December 2022.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Booking GP appointments to be made easier with upgrade of phones Barclay

Patients will be able to contact their GPs for an appointment more easily under Government proposals to improve access to primary care.The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said practices will be handed 240 million this year to introduce online booking tools and upgrade telephone systems, as ministers aim to end the 8am scramble of patients ringing surgeries for a slot.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

DHSC accepts restrictions caused profound pain', Covid Inquiry hears

The Department of Health has accepted pandemic restrictions caused profound loneliness, pain and anguish as it told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry it would not argue it got everything right in its response.Fiona Scolding KC, a lawyer representing the department, said the Government was often faced with a choice between hugely unpalatable options and decisions were finely balanced.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Researchers call for complete ban on vape advertising

A medical research institute has called for a complete ban on e-cigarette advertising in the UK after a study found young people are susceptible to taking up vaping.The George Institute carried out a global survey, which included some children in the UK, and found four factors influenced the likelihood they might vape exposure to advertising, past tobacco use, high incomes and having friends or family who vaped.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

UK may not have been well prepared at all' for pandemic, Covid inquiry hears

The UK may not have been very well prepared at all to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, the official inquiry's lead lawyer has said as public hearings began.Lead counsel Hugo Keith KC questioned on Tuesday whether the nation was equipped to offer substantial protection to the public as leaders had promised.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Health minister Will Quince to stand down at next election to put family first'

Health minister Will Quince has announced he will step down at the next election so he can put my family and daughters first.Mr Quince said he had informed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who he supported during last summer's Conservative leadership contest, and his local Tory association of his decision not to put himself forward to contest the election, expected to take place next year.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Social care recruitment campaign costing millions branded ineffectual'

Social care recruitment efforts have been branded largely ineffective by a leading care body as figures revealed millions have been spent on a Government campaign in recent years yet vacancies have hit a record high.There were 165,000 vacancies in the social care sector in 2021/22 the same year almost 6.5 million was budgeted for the adult social care recruitment campaign, according to figures retrieved by Care England.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

National Care Service could be launched on NHS 80th anniversary in 2028, report says

A new National Care Service (NCS) could be launched on the 80th anniversary of the NHS but there is no quick fix for our social care emergency, a report has said.A 10-year government spending commitment would be required with a promise to increase real terms funding for adult social care by a significant percentage each year, the report from The Fabian Society think tank said.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

National Care Service could be launched on NHS 80th anniversary, report says

A new National Care Service (NCS) could be launched on the 80th anniversary of the NHS but there is no quick fix for our social care emergency, a report has said.A 10-year Government spending commitment would be required with a promise to increase real terms funding for adult social care by a significant percentage each year, the report from The Fabian Society think tank said.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Cameron-Osborne austerity left UK hugely unprepared' for Covid, says report

The UK was hugely unprepared for the Covid crisis because of years of austerity overseen by David Cameron and George Osborne, according to a new report.The Trade Union Congress (TUC) said funding cuts reduced the capacity to respond to the crisis, leaving the NHS and social care sector dangerously understaffed.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
UK politics

NHS disruption warning as ambulance staff strike in south-east England

Ambulance staff in the south-east of England are to strike over pay for the second time on Tuesday, prompting warnings from hospital bosses of further pressure on overstretched emergency services.Members of the Unite trade union employed by two ambulance trusts are striking after rejecting the government's pay offer of a lump sum cash payment for 2022-23 and a below inflation increase of 5% for 2023-24.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

The Guardian view on the future of social care: a chance for Labour | Editorial

Two proposals in the course of a week present opposing approaches to England's care crisis.A government scheme will recruit volunteers to run errands, in a desperate attempt to lessen the problem of people stuck in hospital because they can't be safely discharged.Tasks, including collecting prescriptions, will be allocated via an app.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Some organisations somewhat slow' over Arena inquiry findings, chairman says

Some organisations have been somewhat slow to begin acting on the recommendations of the Manchester Arena Inquiry, its chairman has said.The response to the terrorist attack by Salman Abedi, which killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22 2017, has been heavily criticised by a public inquiry into the events of that day.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

England on track to end new HIV transmissions by 2030, says Government

The Government has said new HIV transmissions could be eradicated in England by 2030 thanks to increased testing.The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said new transmissions of the virus fell by almost a third between 2019 and 2021.Statistics published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in December 2022 estimated that 4,400 people were living with undiagnosed HIV in England in 2021, down from 5,600 in 2019.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Social care volunteers must not be used to overlook workforce issues'

Social care leaders have warned that using volunteers to take medicines and prescriptions to people must not be a distraction to systematic, Government-induced issues impacting the struggling sector.A volunteer programme for the NHS is being expanded into social care, with those who sign up offering support to people receiving care from local services in their community, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Revealed: Stealth tax raid' to hit almost 5m healthcare workers

A stealth tax raid by Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt will force almost 5m healthcare workers to pay hundreds of pounds more in tax, analysis shows.The government's decision to freeze income tax and national insurance thresholds will cost health workers an additional 1.5billion per year, the figures reveal.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Social care volunteer plans a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed'

A new volunteer programme in the struggling social care sector is a drop in the ocean, according to a care leader who has called for much more help from the Government to address record vacancies.Volunteers would be an addition rather than a replacement for trained carers, the Health Secretary has said.
@BladeoftheS Read this article from the Guardian
www.theguardian.com
1 year ago
UK politics

PPE Medpro: UK government issues breach of contract proceedings

The UK government has commenced legal action to recover more than 100m from the company that was awarded two large PPE contracts after the Conservative peer Michelle Mone lobbied ministers.The claim, confirmed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), is for the full 122m paid to the company, PPE Medpro, under a contract for it to supply 25m sterile surgical gowns that was awarded in June 2020.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Transparency row between Government and Covid inquiry widens

The argument over transparency between the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and the Government has widened after the chairwoman heard that WhatsApp submissions from senior aides had been redacted.Hugo Keith KC said the Cabinet Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had both submitted correspondence but had removed elements beforehand.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

Labour to link government tenders to unionised jobs', Starmer tells GMB

Keir Starmer has promised to use public procurement to help create unionised jobs in the UK, after being pressed by a striking GMB member from Amazon's Coventry warehouse.Speaking at the GMB's annual congress in Brighton, the Labour leader was warmly applauded when he backed calls for Amazon to recognise the union in Coventry, calling it a fantastic campaign.
BBC News
9 months ago
UK politics

Children's doctors call for ban on disposable vapes

Children's doctors are calling for a complete ban on disposable vapes because they are likely to damage young lungs and are bad for the environment.But an anti-smoking campaign group says a ban would make it harder for some adults to give up smoking and increase the trade in illegal vapes.UK governments are planning steps to reduce vaping among under-18s.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

4.5bn lost to fraud and error across Covid employment scheme, finds report

The government is still being too slow to recover taxpayer money lost to fraud and error over the pandemic, MPs have said.The cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has also warned Whitehall needs a step change in its approach to risk in order to prevent a similar panic response to future uncertainty.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Government too slow' to recoup taxpayer money lost to Covid fraud and error

The Government is still being too slow to recover taxpayer money lost to fraud and error over the pandemic, MPs have said.The cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has also warned Whitehall needs a step change in its approach to risk in order to prevent a similar panic response to future uncertainty.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
UK politics

Dear Jeremy Hunt, I'd love to get a job. But thanks to your social care crisis, I can't | Denise Wilkins

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has been calling for people to get back to work.But there's one group of people he's overlooked.Many unpaid family carers like me would love to return to full-time employment.But the failure of successive governments to fix our broken social care system has left us to shoulder caring responsibilities that actively stop us working.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Nursing numbers rise but concerns raised about premature leavers'

The number of nurses working in the UK has risen to the highest level on record, according to new figures.There are now 788,638 nurses, midwives and nursing associates registered to work in the UK, according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).Despite the rise, the nursing regulator issued a stark warning about the number of leaving the profession prematurely.
BBC News
10 months ago
UK politics

Labour's NHS plan will offer patients more choice, Wes Streeting says

By Paul Seddon & Laura Kuenssberg

Labour would give people greater choice over where they receive hospital treatment, the shadow health secretary has pledged.Wes Streeting said organising waiting lists by region would give patients more freedom and help tackle backlogs.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is expected to commit to delivering the idea across England during a speech on Monday.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Streeting: Labour would shift focus of health spending towards primary care

A Labour government would over time shift the focus of health spending towards primary care, the shadow health secretary has said.Wes Streeting criticised the way we underinvest in primary care, community services, mental health, diagnostics and capital, insisting we have got to shift that focus.The shadow health secretary said leaders of NHS trusts recognise that the pressure in hospitals is in part driven by the clogged front door of the NHS and by the late discharges in social care.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
Mental health

Call for dementia risk to be included in UK air pollution policies

A wealth of research shows that air pollution is harming our brain health, including our mental health and our risk of dementia.A new report has outlined what we should do next.Prof Frank Kelly of Imperial College London, a former chair of the UK Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution, said: Dementia is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, global challenge for health and social care in the 21st century.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
Mental health

MPs say poor transport to mental health services causing crisis in rural England

Lack of transport to mental health services is causing a crisis in England's rural communities, MPs have said.Farmers and vets in particular have faced high levels of mental distress, MPs on the cross-party environment, food and rural affairs committee say.A report, compiled from 50 submissions and 11 oral evidence sessions, has found isolation, poor public transport and a relative lack of digital connectivity have contributed to poor mental health outcomes for all categories of people across rural communities in England.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Unpaid carer households lack own transport and cope with bad health analysis

At least one in five households with an unpaid carer in some of the most built-up parts of the country have no private transport and have someone who is disabled or in bad health, new analysis shows.The areas include large cities such as Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, as well as some London boroughs where the figure is closer to one in three.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Ministers playing dangerous game' with NHS workforce plan delay

A nursing union has warned that the Government is playing a dangerous game with the delay to the long-awaited NHS workforce plan.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said nursing numbers are plummeting and waiting lists are soaring while the delay continues.The RCN said a review of NHS England/Digital data paints a picture of targets being missed and patients being failed, with record numbers of patients on waiting lists, people waiting hours in A&E, and tens of thousands of vacant nursing posts.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Government set for legal battle with Covid inquiry over Johnson messages

Ministers are preparing for a high-profile legal battle with the Covid-19 inquiry as the Government seeks to challenge the request for Boris Johnson's unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks.Bereaved families and opposition parties hit out at the Government after the Cabinet Office took the highly unusual step of seeking a judicial review of inquiry chairwoman Baroness Hallett's order to release the documents, arguing that it should not have to hand over material which is unambiguously irrelevant.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Extortionate' childcare costs pushing women to have abortions

A woman who had an abortion because she couldn't afford another child is one of a growing number of parents terminating pregnancies because of financial pressures.Leila*, a mother-of-one who works in the financial industry, told The Independent the staggering cost of childcare was one of the main drivers behind her decision to end her pregnancy in April 2021.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Barclay admits 40 new hospitals pledge will cover a range' of building work

Steve Barclay has admitted some facilities included in the Government's commitment to provide 40 new hospitals by 2030 will not be built from scratch.The Health Secretary said the pledge would instead involve a range of things, including refurbishments and the development of new wings.The Government sparked confusion earlier this week when it repeated a 2019 manifesto pledge to build 40 new hospitals by the end of the decade, but acknowledged work may not be completed on up to eight of the original sites.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Parents await murder sentence for most horrific abuse' on baby son

Two parents who told a series of persistent lies to win back and then brutally murder their son had a sadistic motivation, their sentencing hearing has heard.Shannon Marsden and Stephen Boden are being sentenced at Derby Crown Court for what a prosecutor described as a savage and prolonged murder of their son, Finley Boden.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Breaches of single-sex hospital ward rules more than treble since pandemic

The number of patients forced to sleep alongside the opposite sex on NHS wards has soared, new figures show.In the six months to March the most recent period for which there is official data the rule preventing patients of different sexes from being treated on the same wards has been broken more than 25,000 times.
BBC News
10 months ago
UK politics

PPE: Supplier of millions of 'not fit for use' gowns received 47m dividends

A businessman whose company supplied the NHS with millions of apparently unusable surgical gowns earned £47m in dividends last year.During the Covid pandemic, Cambridge-based Chemical Intelligence won £162m of government contracts to provide personal protective equipment (PPE).Data obtained by the BBC shows at least a fifth of the equipment supplied was classified as "not fit for use".
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
UK politics

US banker paid 73m dividend in 2021 after firm won millions in UK Covid contracts

An American banker was paid a 73m dividend in 2021 after his firm won hundreds of millions in Covid contracts, figures show.Banks Bourne, the sole owner of the medical company Tanner Pharma, took the sum from Tanner's UK division, Companies House records show.While Tanner Pharma, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, registered profits of 1.4m in 2019, this figure hit 38.8m in 2020 and 64m in 2021.
BBC News
10 months ago
UK politics

Government not taking 'appalling' alcohol harm seriously, MPs say

MPs are concerned that the government is not taking alcohol harm seriously enough following an increase in deaths.The public accounts committee (PAC) is calling on the government to address the barriers to accessing treatment.In 2021 there was the highest number of alcohol deaths on record and alcohol is linked to 42% of violent crime.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Sunak says immigration not out of control despite record-high figures

Rishi Sunak insisted immigration was not out of control despite figures showing net migration has hit a record high.The Prime Minister, who has promised to reduce immigration and is under pressure from the Tory right to act on the issue, said the net migration figure of an estimated 606,000 for 2022 was too high.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
UK politics

GPs to be compelled to offer patients private alternatives or non-local NHS options

Doctors will be required to give patients options including travelling further for healthcare or going to private alternatives as Rishi Sunak tries to fulfil his promise to cut NHS waiting times.GPs will be compelled to offer up to five healthcare providers when clinically appropriate, allowing patients to select their preference using the NHS app or website.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
UK politics

Tories' failure to tackle alcohol harm is causing public health crisis, say MPs

The government's failure to tackle alcohol harm in England has led to a serious public health crisis affecting millions of people, MPs have warned.Problem drinking is fuelling violent crime and costing the NHS 25bn a year, with the number of deaths almost doubling in two decades, according to a damning report by the public accounts committee.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Government failing to tackle alcohol harm, MPs say

The Government is failing to tackle harm caused by alcohol, with too few people in treatment and barriers to getting help, MPs have said.The cross-party Commons Public Accounts Committee said Government data on how many people are struggling with alcohol problems is out of date, while the costs to the NHS and the economy must be an underestimate.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

NHS app will refer patients to private hospitals to cut wait times

Patients will be encouraged to use the NHS app for private hospital bookings in a bid to cut waiting times.According to The Times, patients will be encouraged to use the app with dozens of private diagnostic centres offering checks for cancer and other conditions to speed up care and increase the NHS' capacity.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

NHS app will refer patients to private hospitals in effort to curb wait times

Patients will be encouraged to use the NHS app for private hospital bookings in a bid to cut waiting times.According to The Times, patients will be encouraged to use the app with dozens of private diagnostic centres offering checks for cancer and other conditions to speed up care and increase the NHS' capacity.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Ministers restrict dispensing of menopause drug Utrogestan after supply issues

Ministers have moved to restrict the dispensing of a medicine used to treat the symptoms of menopause due to shortages being experienced in Britain.The UK Government issued a serious shortage protocol (SSP) for Utrogestan 100mg capsules on Friday.It means pharmacists will be able to dispense a maximum of two months' supply per prescription in a bid to ensure women who use the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can continue to access treatment.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
UK politics

Sunak and Braverman must look beyond borders to resolve net immigration row

It is a topic Rishi Sunak would no doubt prefer to avoid: the record-breaking jump in net immigration soon to be revealed in official figures which is already causing increasingly fractious rows within his cabinet.Even a trip to the G7 summit in Japan was not far enough, with reporters on the flight asking directly whether the prime minister intended to stick to Boris Johnson's 2019 manifesto pledge to bring net immigration down.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
Europe politics

The Guardian view on Tory immigration policy: a moral choice

The campaign to leave the EU promised many things, but hard agricultural labour was not among them.Seasonal fruit picking is physically demanding, poorly paid work that was, before Brexit, done mostly by migrants exercising their freedom to live in any EU member state.Ending that freedom is one of the few Brexit pledges that has been delivered.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
Health

People too tired to lead healthier lifestyles, UK survey finds

It's the question many of us ask ourselves: why don't I exercise more, eat better food and generally lead a healthier lifestyle?For many who want to, but just can't seem to make it happen, it turns out the answer to that question is feeling just too tired.A survey has found that tiredness is why 35% of people don't make the changes to their diet and physical activity levels that would help them close the gap between good intentions and concrete action.
time.com
10 months ago
Health

Why Americans Are Dying So Young

Life expectancy in America fell sharply in 2020.It fell again in 2021.The COVID-19 pandemic certainly played a role, but that's not the whole story.During this same time period, eight of the ten leading causes of death also increased.Even maternal and child and adolescent mortality increased.In August 2022, federal health officials released new data showing that across all demographic groups, Americans are dying younger.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
Mental health

A third of Britons wait more than a month' to discuss dementia concerns

A third of Britons who have concerns about whether they, or a loved one, might have dementia wait more than a month to discuss their worries with others, a leading charity has found, despite early diagnosis being important for treatment, support and planning.According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide, with 60-70% of cases thought to be down to Alzheimer disease.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
Mental health

Not enough is being done to confront the tragedy of dementia | Letters

Amelia Hill rightly reports that Alzheimer's disease only contributes to between 60% and 70% of dementia cases (Part of you dies as well': the toll of caring for loved ones with dementia, 8 May).As we are becoming ever more aware, dementia is a neglected area of health research and management, and social care, too: the consequences, as illustrated by the saddening case studies provided, are tragic.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
Mental health

Ad watchdog cracks down on misleading health and beauty claims

The advertising watchdog is banning growing numbers of advertisements that exaggerate the benefits of health and beauty treatments such as Botox, lip fillers and diet aids.The Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) action is part of a crackdown against beauty clinics and manufacturers of aesthetic products over how they promote themselves.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Mothers whose daughters died call for national allergy tsar

Two mothers whose daughters died from severe allergic reactions have written to the Health Secretary calling for a national allergy tsar.Tanya Ednan-Laperouse and Emma Turay have told Steve Barclay that their daughters' deaths were entirely preventable and urged the Government to appoint a leader to act as a champion for people with allergies.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

The star-studded guestlist: Who's who inside Westminster Abbey

The great and the good are taking their seats for the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla as millions across the globe prepare to watch the historic ceremony.Celebrities, scientists, politicians and other public figures - wearing a colourful array of suits, fascinators, military uniforms and medals and religious clothing - were among those seen filing into Westminster Abbey on Saturday morning ahead of the big event.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
UK politics

Local elections 2023: live council results for England

First results expected soon after midnight On 4 May, 230 English councils are holding elections with more than 8,000 seats being contested.Some are for metropolitan boroughs such as Liverpool city council and others for unitary authorities such as Herefordshire or North Somerset.Both structures are single-tier authorities with responsibility for the whole range of council services, including education, social care, rubbish collection and parks.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Lionel Richie joins guests at royal garden party ahead of Coronation Concert

The King and Queen Consort met singer Lionel Richie and other guests as they soaked up the sunny weather at the first traditional garden party of the King's reign.Buckingham Palace hosted around 8,000 guests on Wednesday afternoon, where attendees also had the chance to mingle with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
www.theguardian.com
10 months ago
UK politics

Ban smoking and tax fruit juice, says George Osborne

Smoking should be banned and the sugar tax extended to include fruit juice and milkshakes, George Osborne has said.In 2016, the Conservative former chancellor announced a sugar tax on soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Irn Bru, claiming the money would be used to provide more sports funding for primary schools.
www.standard.co.uk
10 months ago
London

Unpaid carers in London provide 19bn worth of care - study

U npaid carers in London contribute more than 19 billion to the capital's economy every year, according to a new study.A report by Carers UK and the University of Sheffield found that the economic contribution made by unpaid carers has increased by 29 per cent in the last decade.Unpaid carers are defined as people who look after relatives or friends who have a disability, illness, mental health condition or who need extra help as they grow older.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Minister wants to see social care workers rewarded despite funding pledge cut

The social care minister has said she wants to see workers in the sector rewarded as she was questioned about the decision to halve previously promised workforce funding.Helen Whately said she feels very strongly that reform and investment within training and career progression in social care must go alongside funding for workers' pay.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

NHS is facing extraordinary challenges', health board chief tells MSPs

An NHS boss has spoken out about the quite extraordinary challenges the health service is currently facing telling MSPs that his health board technically cannot afford a tenth of the staff working for it.Jeff Ace, chief executive of NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said the difficulties facing the NHS at the moment were not part of our usual times are difficult' financial pressures.
www.independent.co.uk
10 months ago
UK news

Woman who miscarried fined by NHS for claiming free prescription while pregnant

Sadie Hawkes, who miscarried at nine weeks, was fined for claiming a free prescription A woman who miscarried was fined by the NHS for claiming a free prescription while pregnant.Sadie Hawkes, 33, lost her baby before she had received the maternity exemption certificate that entitled her to free prescriptions throughout her pregnancy.
www.theguardian.com
11 months ago
UK politics

NHS medics and UK nationals faced risky route to Sudan evacuation point

NHS doctors and British nationals faced a treacherous route to reach an airbase north of Khartoum before a deadline for evacuations, amid ongoing airstrikes and artillery fire in the Sudanese capital.Hundreds of people were told to find their own way to an evacuation centre at the Wadi Seidna airbase, about 14 miles (20km) north of Khartoum and its twin city, Omdurman.
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