Bed-blocking by over-60s cost Great Western Hospital in Swindon £80,000 last year, it has been revealed.
A hospital spokesman said delayed discharges had come down by 47% in the past two years, but the figures have risen again in the past few months.
He said it cost the hospital £200 a day to accommodate patients.
We all know that the answer to this problem is a totally inter-linked healthy and social care policy on a county wide basis , until this is achieved the problem will continue.
One would hope that with the removal of PCT,s and the transfer of their responsibilities to Wiltshire Council that a single social care /health policy will be achievable .
I for one will not be holding my breath waiting for this to happen !
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Benefit assessment system 'not working'
The following comes from BBC Gloucestershire
MP says benefit assessment system 'not working'
A Gloucestershire MP has criticised the system of assessing whether people with mental health issues are well enough to work.
If people on incapacity benefit are deemed "fit to work", they must actively seek employment.
Laurence Robertson said 48% of appeals against mental health assessments were upheld in the county.
The Department for Work and Pensions said it was unfair to suggest the system was not working.
Mr Robertson, Conservative MP for Tewkesbury, said he had looked into the issue after being approached by some constituents.
He said he obtained figures that showed 42% of people in England had their appeals against their mental health assessments upheld by independent tribunals.
"In Gloucestershire of up to 250 appeals heard 120 were successful, which is 48%," he said.
"Of those who take their cases to appeal, almost half of them are successful which suggests there is something wrong with the original assessment system in the first place."
He said the figures were from August 2009 to July 2010.
"This really does need to be looked into," he added.
"The very people who are not really capable of taking the matters up for themselves, although a number of them are doing, are suffering in this way.
"There must be an awful lot of people who because of the nature of their illness don't take the issue to appeal."
'Want to work'
Sophie Corlett, from mental health charity Mind, said the organisation agreed with Mr Robertson's findings.
"A lot of people with mental health problems can work and want to work - and working is good for your mental health if you're able to," she said.
"But for many people they're not at that point yet or they're too unwell and the assessment doesn't really work on that."
She said the assessment was based on a series of questions that were mostly geared towards physical health.
Overall assessment
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesman said it was unfair to suggest the system was not working, and that out of everyone who is assessed overall, five per cent appealed successfully.
The figures include those with physical ill health, as well as mental health issues.
The calculation is based on the published statistics of the 420,000 new claims to Employment and Support Allowance from October 2008 to June 2009.
The spokesman added the department was always trying to improve, and a review into any whether any further changes to the assessment were needed was taking place.
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Ok well any one who has had dealing with the benefit system and mental health will say whats new !! , service users have face this up hill battle for years and to be totally honest I see no end in sight to this problem , after all a mental disorder is not quantifiable like a physical disability is it ?.
MP says benefit assessment system 'not working'
A Gloucestershire MP has criticised the system of assessing whether people with mental health issues are well enough to work.
If people on incapacity benefit are deemed "fit to work", they must actively seek employment.
Laurence Robertson said 48% of appeals against mental health assessments were upheld in the county.
The Department for Work and Pensions said it was unfair to suggest the system was not working.
Mr Robertson, Conservative MP for Tewkesbury, said he had looked into the issue after being approached by some constituents.
He said he obtained figures that showed 42% of people in England had their appeals against their mental health assessments upheld by independent tribunals.
"In Gloucestershire of up to 250 appeals heard 120 were successful, which is 48%," he said.
"Of those who take their cases to appeal, almost half of them are successful which suggests there is something wrong with the original assessment system in the first place."
He said the figures were from August 2009 to July 2010.
"This really does need to be looked into," he added.
"The very people who are not really capable of taking the matters up for themselves, although a number of them are doing, are suffering in this way.
"There must be an awful lot of people who because of the nature of their illness don't take the issue to appeal."
'Want to work'
Sophie Corlett, from mental health charity Mind, said the organisation agreed with Mr Robertson's findings.
"A lot of people with mental health problems can work and want to work - and working is good for your mental health if you're able to," she said.
"But for many people they're not at that point yet or they're too unwell and the assessment doesn't really work on that."
She said the assessment was based on a series of questions that were mostly geared towards physical health.
Overall assessment
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesman said it was unfair to suggest the system was not working, and that out of everyone who is assessed overall, five per cent appealed successfully.
The figures include those with physical ill health, as well as mental health issues.
The calculation is based on the published statistics of the 420,000 new claims to Employment and Support Allowance from October 2008 to June 2009.
The spokesman added the department was always trying to improve, and a review into any whether any further changes to the assessment were needed was taking place.
----------------------------------------------
Ok well any one who has had dealing with the benefit system and mental health will say whats new !! , service users have face this up hill battle for years and to be totally honest I see no end in sight to this problem , after all a mental disorder is not quantifiable like a physical disability is it ?.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Carers suffer in Wiltshire
In the last few years within the Peoples not so Democratic Republic of Wiltshire we have seen cuts in funding for carers ,mental health , advocacy and the Wiltshire users network , all these during the golden years of the Labour Governments prudent fiscal management .
We how face the most draconian cuts in council funding and the demise of locally based and run PCT's ,cause for grave concern to all .
We need in these times of economic decline to ensure that front line social care services are not subject to cuts .
So what effect have the above mentioned cuts had on carers in this area of Wiltshire ?
Well the most obvious one has been the loss of Advocacy Works , a great locally based advocacy service that helped empower a large number of people , including carers , it was a great comfort to know that the local support was there in times of need .
The loss of the Bridge Project was a major blow to mental health users and carers in West and North Wiltshire , the four Saturday clubs where well attended and sorely missed by service users and there carers alike , nothing has been put in place as a substitute.
We all acknowledge that the number of carers will increase in years to come and it will happen.
Just think one day you can be working in a well paid job , blissfully unaware of carers or carers issues yet the next day a full time carer trying to live on the fraction of your former income.
Cuts in funding of Health and Social care will only lead to greater suffering for carers and service users in our county , Yes support the NHS but PLEASE don’t forget the carers and Service users ..
We how face the most draconian cuts in council funding and the demise of locally based and run PCT's ,cause for grave concern to all .
We need in these times of economic decline to ensure that front line social care services are not subject to cuts .
So what effect have the above mentioned cuts had on carers in this area of Wiltshire ?
Well the most obvious one has been the loss of Advocacy Works , a great locally based advocacy service that helped empower a large number of people , including carers , it was a great comfort to know that the local support was there in times of need .
The loss of the Bridge Project was a major blow to mental health users and carers in West and North Wiltshire , the four Saturday clubs where well attended and sorely missed by service users and there carers alike , nothing has been put in place as a substitute.
We all acknowledge that the number of carers will increase in years to come and it will happen.
Just think one day you can be working in a well paid job , blissfully unaware of carers or carers issues yet the next day a full time carer trying to live on the fraction of your former income.
Cuts in funding of Health and Social care will only lead to greater suffering for carers and service users in our county , Yes support the NHS but PLEASE don’t forget the carers and Service users ..
Care groups warn on government funding reform pledges
The BBC report that -
"Care groups are warning the government risks failing to deliver on a pledge to reform the funding system for the long-term care of elderly people in England.
In a letter to the health secretary, they suggest a commission has lost "momentum" and changes may not be put in place in this parliament.
They say the "major challenge" needs to be addressed.
The Department of Health says reform remains a government priority and the commission will report by July 2011.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley set up the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support in July."
Once again government is sitting on a time bomb waiting to explode , with cuts in local Councils sending under way this problem will only escalate.
"Care groups are warning the government risks failing to deliver on a pledge to reform the funding system for the long-term care of elderly people in England.
In a letter to the health secretary, they suggest a commission has lost "momentum" and changes may not be put in place in this parliament.
They say the "major challenge" needs to be addressed.
The Department of Health says reform remains a government priority and the commission will report by July 2011.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley set up the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support in July."
Once again government is sitting on a time bomb waiting to explode , with cuts in local Councils sending under way this problem will only escalate.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
CQC-Mid Staffs NHS Foundation Trust
So the dear old Care Quality Commission (CQC) has in its infinite wisdom found Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust managed to comply with just five out of the 16 objectives set out by law to maintain quality and safety in hospitals.
Its said that while the trust had improved in some areas, the latest inspection report said problems with the way hospitals handle medicine had increased in the last 12 months.
The CQC has said it has minor concerns about eight other standards and moderate concerns about three, including management of medicine , supporting workers and complaints.
Inspectors said many of the concerns would be addressed once action plans were in place.
"Our findings lead us to have a moderate concern in the management of medicines," the report said.
I just love the MODERATE ! To me its totally unacceptable !!!
Its said that while the trust had improved in some areas, the latest inspection report said problems with the way hospitals handle medicine had increased in the last 12 months.
The CQC has said it has minor concerns about eight other standards and moderate concerns about three, including management of medicine , supporting workers and complaints.
Inspectors said many of the concerns would be addressed once action plans were in place.
"Our findings lead us to have a moderate concern in the management of medicines," the report said.
I just love the MODERATE ! To me its totally unacceptable !!!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday thought from a truly great lady Mother Theresa
THE FRUIT OF SILENCE IS
PRAYER.
THE FRUIT OF PRAYER IS
FAITH .
THE FRUIT OF FAITH IS LOVE .
THE FRUIT OF LOVE IS
SERVICE.
THE FRUIT OF SERVICE IS
PEACE .
PRAYER.
THE FRUIT OF PRAYER IS
FAITH .
THE FRUIT OF FAITH IS LOVE .
THE FRUIT OF LOVE IS
SERVICE.
THE FRUIT OF SERVICE IS
PEACE .
Friday, October 29, 2010
Cuts to Warden Services in Wiltshire
People living in sheltered and semi housing in Wiltshire are worried that the warden service will be reduced.
Wiltshire Council is facing increasing demand due to people living longer, but needs to cut its overall budget.
The council say the service will be made more efficient. Funding from the government is to be reduced by 7.1% each year over four years.
Well we all know that first Councils reduce services and that cut them ! I fear that this will be the case here .
Wiltshire Council is facing increasing demand due to people living longer, but needs to cut its overall budget.
The council say the service will be made more efficient. Funding from the government is to be reduced by 7.1% each year over four years.
Well we all know that first Councils reduce services and that cut them ! I fear that this will be the case here .
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