The following clip is from the BBC web site
'The government will cancel some parts of its NHS IT scheme and allow trusts to develop their own systems in moves saving £600m, Andy Burnham told MPs.
The health secretary said the £12bn scheme - criticised over delays and costs - would be scaled back with more "options for savings" being looked at.
But it was a "myth" to say the whole project had been "a waste", he said.'
This FLAGSHIP project has been a tale of one disaster after another I suspect the overspend is just beyond belief and the whole concept was , in my humble view flawed from the beginning .
We need to have firm control of all spending re health and social care , we really cant afford to waste money like this .
One a happy note at least the NHS IT scheme WILL SIT IN MANY A OFFICE CORNER GLOWING NICELY !
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Goverment to target Depression
The government is preparing to announce a major mental health policy in England with the emphasis on tackling , preventing depression.
The 10-year strategy may well call for better identification of those most at risk and greater access to psychological therapies.
Depression/anxiety is said to affect one in five people at some point in their lives.
The Fly in the ointment is that it is not clear what, if any, funding will be available for the new plans.
The strategy, to be published taday , is expected to say that depression is as big a problem as heart disease
COST SAVINGS AND BENEFITS
There has been a £170m programme in place for a few years to increase access to a type of treatment called cognitive behaviour therapy, designed to help patients to pinpoint and change the thoughts and actions that cause emotional problems.
It came after the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence said anti-depressants should be reserved for the more severe cases.
It is hoped the plans to be outlined today will broaden the range of psychological therapies available for GPs .
The focus is expected to be on prevention - identifying those most at risk, particularly in schools and colleges along with more help in the workplace, and support in finding a job.
Mental health is the single biggest cost factor of the NHS budget with almost 13% of all funds going on community, hospital, and drug and alcohol addiction services.
The 10-year strategy may well call for better identification of those most at risk and greater access to psychological therapies.
Depression/anxiety is said to affect one in five people at some point in their lives.
The Fly in the ointment is that it is not clear what, if any, funding will be available for the new plans.
The strategy, to be published taday , is expected to say that depression is as big a problem as heart disease
COST SAVINGS AND BENEFITS
There has been a £170m programme in place for a few years to increase access to a type of treatment called cognitive behaviour therapy, designed to help patients to pinpoint and change the thoughts and actions that cause emotional problems.
It came after the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence said anti-depressants should be reserved for the more severe cases.
It is hoped the plans to be outlined today will broaden the range of psychological therapies available for GPs .
The focus is expected to be on prevention - identifying those most at risk, particularly in schools and colleges along with more help in the workplace, and support in finding a job.
Mental health is the single biggest cost factor of the NHS budget with almost 13% of all funds going on community, hospital, and drug and alcohol addiction services.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Care Quality Commission and Wiltshire Council
"The Care Quality Commission (CQC), in the annual performance assessment published today, found the council in 2008/09 was performing well overall. The new rating system grades councils as performing poorly, adequately, well or excellently.
The assessors felt council leaders and senior managers had a clear vision about how services should be provided and these future plans were based on extensive consultation with local people.
There was particular praise for the way the council was working hard to develop community and volunteer-based services and worked closely with local people. They found strong evidence the council listened to people and involved them in the development of services "
The above was taken from a local newspaper in Salisbury and is it has to be said good news for all the Service users in Wiltshire , however what is really needed now is a long term commitment from Wiltshire Council NOT TO CUT any funding to the voluntary sector dealing with social care for the next 6 years .
This would enable the third sector organisation to plan long term .
The assessors felt council leaders and senior managers had a clear vision about how services should be provided and these future plans were based on extensive consultation with local people.
There was particular praise for the way the council was working hard to develop community and volunteer-based services and worked closely with local people. They found strong evidence the council listened to people and involved them in the development of services "
The above was taken from a local newspaper in Salisbury and is it has to be said good news for all the Service users in Wiltshire , however what is really needed now is a long term commitment from Wiltshire Council NOT TO CUT any funding to the voluntary sector dealing with social care for the next 6 years .
This would enable the third sector organisation to plan long term .
Friday, December 4, 2009
Swindon Borough Council Budget Cuts
Services may be cut and jobs lost at Swindon Borough Council under plans to save £10.5m.
Draft budget proposals for 2010/11 include cuts in charity grants, fewer bus routes and the switching off at night of 481 street lights-So says the BBC news
Well its only a matter of time in my humble opinion until Wiltshire Council follow suit, the kindest thing you can say re WC and its financial situation is a cloud of mist vials their fiscal policy .
So are we the Third Sector going to face cuts in grants ? I think the answer has to be yes and are we all geared up to cope with the cuts that's the pertinent question now .
Draft budget proposals for 2010/11 include cuts in charity grants, fewer bus routes and the switching off at night of 481 street lights-So says the BBC news
Well its only a matter of time in my humble opinion until Wiltshire Council follow suit, the kindest thing you can say re WC and its financial situation is a cloud of mist vials their fiscal policy .
So are we the Third Sector going to face cuts in grants ? I think the answer has to be yes and are we all geared up to cope with the cuts that's the pertinent question now .
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Care Quality Commission Report
So its now official as many as 80,000 people are living in care homes or receiving services rated as only "poor" or "adequate", according to a government inspectorate.
Eight local councils have also been named and shamed for their performances in looking after the vulnerable and elderly, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reveals in a report today.
This is a TOTAL DISGRACE ! we throw shed loads of money into the care system yet are unable to provide even the most basic of services , it begs the question WHY ?
Eight local councils have also been named and shamed for their performances in looking after the vulnerable and elderly, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reveals in a report today.
This is a TOTAL DISGRACE ! we throw shed loads of money into the care system yet are unable to provide even the most basic of services , it begs the question WHY ?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
EVERYONE LOVES VOLUNTEER
EVERYONE LOVES VOLUNTEER
Ally Fogg from the Guardian recently wrote the following
‘Everyone loves volunteers. Politicians laud them as the future of the nation; dignitaries pin them with gongs; the Queen invites them to tea. What a pity this admiration does not stretch to extending them any meaningful rights.
Volunteering England is launching a major inquiry to establish exactly what legal position volunteers should (and do) have. The results will be watched closely by the not-for-profit sector.’
Now as a charity trustee I agree that Volunteers are a major part of almost all charity operations and just like paid staff they must enjoy the full protection of the employment law .
However it is a fact of life that some charities are beginning to shy away from using volunteers because of all the paper work and extra overhead costs that the current legal system requires them to undertake re volunteers.
When dealing with Children and vulnerable adults the overhead cost of having a volunteer can be as high as 67% of a paid member of staff.
There have been cases of religious Charities actually closing down operations because there religious views conflict with the modern PC concept of what is acceptable .
LETS BE CAREFUL THAT IN PROTECTING THIS GOLDEN GOOSE WE DONT KILL IT !
Ally Fogg from the Guardian recently wrote the following
‘Everyone loves volunteers. Politicians laud them as the future of the nation; dignitaries pin them with gongs; the Queen invites them to tea. What a pity this admiration does not stretch to extending them any meaningful rights.
Volunteering England is launching a major inquiry to establish exactly what legal position volunteers should (and do) have. The results will be watched closely by the not-for-profit sector.’
Now as a charity trustee I agree that Volunteers are a major part of almost all charity operations and just like paid staff they must enjoy the full protection of the employment law .
However it is a fact of life that some charities are beginning to shy away from using volunteers because of all the paper work and extra overhead costs that the current legal system requires them to undertake re volunteers.
When dealing with Children and vulnerable adults the overhead cost of having a volunteer can be as high as 67% of a paid member of staff.
There have been cases of religious Charities actually closing down operations because there religious views conflict with the modern PC concept of what is acceptable .
LETS BE CAREFUL THAT IN PROTECTING THIS GOLDEN GOOSE WE DONT KILL IT !
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