TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2010
The following has been posted on several blogs , web sites and you tube , its so good I have had to add it to my blog
The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas the Government took from me the right to peace and harmony.
On the second day of Christmas the Government took from me,
social standing,
and the right to peace and harmony
On the third day of Christmas the Government took from me,
my I B,
social standing, and the right to peace and harmony.
On the fourth day of Christmas the Government took from me,
my contributions,
my I B, social standing, and the right to peace and harmony.
On the fifth day of Christmas the Government took from me,
my bu-us pass,
my contributions, my I B, social standing, and the right to peace and harmony.
On the sixth day of Christmas the Government took from me,
rights to housing,
my bu-us pass, my contributions, my I B, social standing, and the right to peace and harmony.
On the seventh day of Christmas the Government took from me,
mobility in care homes,
rights to housing, my bu-us pass, my contributions, my I B, social standing, and the right to peace and harmony
On the eighth day of Christmas the Government took from me,
5 years of pension,
mobility in care homes, rights to housing, my bu-us pass, my contributions, my I B, social standing, and the right to peace and harmony
On the ninth day of Christmas the Government took from me,
council funded care,
5 years of pension, mobility in care homes, rights to housing, my bu-us pass, my contributions, my I B, social standing, and the right to peace and harmony
On the tenth day of Christmas the Government took from me,
All my DLA,
council funded care, 5 years of pension, mobility in care homes, rights to housing, my bu-us pass, my contributions, my I B, social standing, and the right to peace and harmony
On the eleventh day of Christmas the Government took from me,
Independent Living Fund,
All my DLA, council funded care, 5 years of pension, mobility in care homes, rights to housing, my bu-us pass, my contributions, my I B, social standing, and the right to peace and harmony
On the Twelfth day of Christmas the Government gave to me,
a ticket to Dignitas.
Contemporary words by 'Hossylass'
Monday, December 20, 2010
Short spells in the sun are good !
New health advice recommends short spells in the sun - without suncream and in the middle of the day.
Seven organisations have issued joint advice on vitamin D, which the body gets from natural sunlight.
The nutrient keeps bones strong, and protects against conditions like osteoporosis.
The guidance was drawn up because it is thought fears about skin cancer have made people too cautious about being in the sun.
Cancer Research UK and the National Osteoporosis Society are among the bodies which agree that "little and frequent" spells in summer sunshine several times a week can benefit your health.
The experts now say it is fine to go outside in strong sun in the middle of the day, as long as you cover up or apply sunscreen before your skin goes red.
This is excellent news to all sufferers SAD
Seven organisations have issued joint advice on vitamin D, which the body gets from natural sunlight.
The nutrient keeps bones strong, and protects against conditions like osteoporosis.
The guidance was drawn up because it is thought fears about skin cancer have made people too cautious about being in the sun.
Cancer Research UK and the National Osteoporosis Society are among the bodies which agree that "little and frequent" spells in summer sunshine several times a week can benefit your health.
The experts now say it is fine to go outside in strong sun in the middle of the day, as long as you cover up or apply sunscreen before your skin goes red.
This is excellent news to all sufferers SAD
Monday, December 13, 2010
Cuts will test the NHS and social services in England
The recently announced Government spending plans will test the NHS and social services in England to the limit, a report by the Commons Health Select Committee syas and brother dont we all know it !!!.
The MPs state that the plans assume efficiency savings on a scale never before seen in social health or NHS fields of operation .
The Mp's are calling for the Department of Health to deliver a "credible plan" on where the efficiency gains will be made.
NHS CEO Sir David Nicholson has estimated the health service needs to make efficiency savings worth between £15bn and £20bn over the next four years.
The chairman of the Health Select Committee, former Conservative health secretary Stephen Dorrell, said that target will test both the NHS and social services to the limit.
"There is no precedent for efficiency gains on this scale in the history of the NHS, nor has any precedent yet been found of any healthcare system anywhere in the world doing anything similar," Mr Dorrell said.
The committee also looked at adult social services because of significant cross-over between care services and the NHS.
The reorganisation of the NHS will cost around £1.7bn, but the committee is not so sure.
Efficiency savings
"It is unfortunate that the government has not yet provided even a broad estimate of the likely reorganisation costs; and it is unhelpful for the government to continue to cite the £1.7 billion figure, as it does not relate to their specific proposals," the report says.
A Department of Health spokesman said the government was committed to sustaining and improving services in the face of a tough economic climate, but efficiency savings were needed.
"Reform isn't an option, it's a necessity in order to sustain and improve our NHS.
"We have been clear that the NHS must cut back on bureaucracy, not on front-line care."
The spokesman said additional funding for social care worth £2bn would be available by 2015.
"This additional investment will make it possible to protect people's access to care, without tightening eligibility.
"Councils and NHS partners will need to work harder to improve efficiency and achieve improved value for money."
Nigel Edwards, acting chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents 95% of organisations that make up the NHS, said the committee had got it exactly right.
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services also warned that some tough years lie ahead.
Association president Richard Jones said a gap will open up between the needs and demands of older people and adults with disabilities, and the resources available to meet them. ?
All this is very worrying , are we heading for a melt down in the field of health and social welfare in England
The MPs state that the plans assume efficiency savings on a scale never before seen in social health or NHS fields of operation .
The Mp's are calling for the Department of Health to deliver a "credible plan" on where the efficiency gains will be made.
NHS CEO Sir David Nicholson has estimated the health service needs to make efficiency savings worth between £15bn and £20bn over the next four years.
The chairman of the Health Select Committee, former Conservative health secretary Stephen Dorrell, said that target will test both the NHS and social services to the limit.
"There is no precedent for efficiency gains on this scale in the history of the NHS, nor has any precedent yet been found of any healthcare system anywhere in the world doing anything similar," Mr Dorrell said.
The committee also looked at adult social services because of significant cross-over between care services and the NHS.
The reorganisation of the NHS will cost around £1.7bn, but the committee is not so sure.
Efficiency savings
"It is unfortunate that the government has not yet provided even a broad estimate of the likely reorganisation costs; and it is unhelpful for the government to continue to cite the £1.7 billion figure, as it does not relate to their specific proposals," the report says.
A Department of Health spokesman said the government was committed to sustaining and improving services in the face of a tough economic climate, but efficiency savings were needed.
"Reform isn't an option, it's a necessity in order to sustain and improve our NHS.
"We have been clear that the NHS must cut back on bureaucracy, not on front-line care."
The spokesman said additional funding for social care worth £2bn would be available by 2015.
"This additional investment will make it possible to protect people's access to care, without tightening eligibility.
"Councils and NHS partners will need to work harder to improve efficiency and achieve improved value for money."
Nigel Edwards, acting chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents 95% of organisations that make up the NHS, said the committee had got it exactly right.
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services also warned that some tough years lie ahead.
Association president Richard Jones said a gap will open up between the needs and demands of older people and adults with disabilities, and the resources available to meet them. ?
All this is very worrying , are we heading for a melt down in the field of health and social welfare in England
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Report of the Independent Investigation into the care and treatment of Mr SN. The South West Strategic Health Authority published today
The Following is fron the web site of AWP
"Mr SN was convicted of the murder of Mr Philip Hendy, whom he had fatally stabbed on 29 April 2007.
Mr SN received a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years. Mr SN had been in receipt of mental health services, latterly provided by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust since 1990.
The report states: “We do not consider that responsibility for the homicide can be attributed to the failings of any individual, but we do make a number of findings and recommendations aimed at improving clinical practice and case management. We express particular concern about record keeping, the lack of diagnostic formulation, risk assessment, and the sharing of information between agencies. We make strong recommendations about the care of the bereaved families of victims, and we propose a review of the Independent Investigation process to reduce delay and duplication”.
Hazel Watson, the Trust's Director of Nursing said: “We deeply regret the tragic death of Mr Philip Hendy and once again offer our deepest sympathy to his family and to all those who have been touched by his untimely death. “We accept the criticisms of some of the procedures which existed in parts of the Trust in 2007.
Significant improvements have already been made.”
I like many will have grave concerns that to many of these system failures seam to be taking place , we seam to have lots of reports lots of sugested action but no improvement ?
"Mr SN was convicted of the murder of Mr Philip Hendy, whom he had fatally stabbed on 29 April 2007.
Mr SN received a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years. Mr SN had been in receipt of mental health services, latterly provided by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust since 1990.
The report states: “We do not consider that responsibility for the homicide can be attributed to the failings of any individual, but we do make a number of findings and recommendations aimed at improving clinical practice and case management. We express particular concern about record keeping, the lack of diagnostic formulation, risk assessment, and the sharing of information between agencies. We make strong recommendations about the care of the bereaved families of victims, and we propose a review of the Independent Investigation process to reduce delay and duplication”.
Hazel Watson, the Trust's Director of Nursing said: “We deeply regret the tragic death of Mr Philip Hendy and once again offer our deepest sympathy to his family and to all those who have been touched by his untimely death. “We accept the criticisms of some of the procedures which existed in parts of the Trust in 2007.
Significant improvements have already been made.”
I like many will have grave concerns that to many of these system failures seam to be taking place , we seam to have lots of reports lots of sugested action but no improvement ?
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Mental Health inpatient care in Wiltshire
BBC NEWS printed this article toady regarding the closure of MH beds in Wiltshire
Devizes mental health hospital to close 30 unused beds
Twenty beds are to close at a psychiatric hospital in Wiltshire under a plan to treat more mental health patients in the community.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership said the beds, at Green Lane Hospital, Devizes, were amongst 30 going empty in the county every week.
It claimed many patients had voiced preference for being treated at home.
Clinical director Dr Julie Hankin said the money saved by the bed closures would be re-invested in the service.
"We're spending public money on keeping beds open which aren't being used and we feel this is a fantastic chance to use that money more effectively," she said.
"The money is being invested in other parts of the service, so although it's about efficiencies, it's not about ripping money out of the service."
Karen Frayling, from the mental health support charity, Alabare Include, said that while she supported the care of patients in their home environment, there were concerns that some could "fall through the gap".
"What we don't want to see are people who are too unwell for our community-based service, but aren't poorly enough to need to be in hospital," she said.
"Nobody wants that group of people not to receive a service."
-----------------------------------------------------
Well the plan is I am lead to believe that all in-care be undertaken at Salisbury , one imagines at the Fountain Way site , this does make good financial sense but has any one considered the social cost of this ?
Devizes mental health hospital to close 30 unused beds
Twenty beds are to close at a psychiatric hospital in Wiltshire under a plan to treat more mental health patients in the community.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership said the beds, at Green Lane Hospital, Devizes, were amongst 30 going empty in the county every week.
It claimed many patients had voiced preference for being treated at home.
Clinical director Dr Julie Hankin said the money saved by the bed closures would be re-invested in the service.
"We're spending public money on keeping beds open which aren't being used and we feel this is a fantastic chance to use that money more effectively," she said.
"The money is being invested in other parts of the service, so although it's about efficiencies, it's not about ripping money out of the service."
Karen Frayling, from the mental health support charity, Alabare Include, said that while she supported the care of patients in their home environment, there were concerns that some could "fall through the gap".
"What we don't want to see are people who are too unwell for our community-based service, but aren't poorly enough to need to be in hospital," she said.
"Nobody wants that group of people not to receive a service."
-----------------------------------------------------
Well the plan is I am lead to believe that all in-care be undertaken at Salisbury , one imagines at the Fountain Way site , this does make good financial sense but has any one considered the social cost of this ?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Mental health on the TV
I am posting this article from the BBC news page with a very heavy heart , its proves what many of us already know , that the stigma attached to mental illness is alive and well.
Health
22 November 2010
Last updated at 02:24
TV mental health portrayal rapped
Many depictions of mental illness on TV are frightening and misleading, a government-backed report says.
The study, commissioned by the Department of Health, found nearly half of all mentally ill characters were portrayed as dangerous to others.
Its author said the "axe-wielding maniac" stereotype should be ditched.
Mental health charity Mind said progress had been made in dramas such as EastEnders and Shameless, but more improvement was needed.
Television and films have been using the "madman" as a dramatic device for decades, but in reality, the vast majority of people with mental health problems pose no risk to others.
The Glasgow Media Group, working on behalf of a Department of Health campaign called "Shift", examined dozens of popular dramas and comedies to see how mental illness was presented to the viewer.
It found that most references to mentally ill people were insulting, examples being the terms "crackpot", "basket case" or "a sad little psycho".
In addition, 45% of storylines involving people with mental health problems found them posing some kind of risk to others.
Recent examples were a character in ITV soap Emmerdale who drugs the village vicar, or a schizophrenic killer in the popular US show CSI: Miami.
'Improve perceptions'Even in BBC One soap EastEnders, which was praised for a realistic portrayal of bipolar disorder with character Stacey Slater, had the same character eventually commit murder.
Professor Greg Philo, who led the research, said: "Fictional film characters like Hitchcock's Norman Bates in 'Psycho' have long established the idea of the 'mentally ill' as crazed and dangerous in the public mind; television has been doing the same thing for decades.
"Great progress has been made in recent years, but we've some way to go before we see more of the everyday realities of living with a mental health problem properly represented and stereotypes like the axe-wielding maniac take a back seat."
Almost half of programmes did offer sympathetic portrayals, although these often showed the character as a "tragic victim", the researchers said.
The depiction of another character with bipolar disorder on Channel 4's Shameless won praise for accuracy and sensitivity.
Paul Farmer, the chief executive of Mind, said that improvements over the past decade had been due to the willingness of scriptwriters and programme producers to involve people with personal experience of mental health problems while carrying out research.
He said: "It is also clear, however, that there is still much work to be done until we are at a stage where accurate depictions are the norm rather than the exception.
"I hope this report will encourage programme makers to follow these examples of good practice to create accurate, well-rounded characters that can improve perceptions of mental health."
Health
22 November 2010
Last updated at 02:24
TV mental health portrayal rapped
Many depictions of mental illness on TV are frightening and misleading, a government-backed report says.
The study, commissioned by the Department of Health, found nearly half of all mentally ill characters were portrayed as dangerous to others.
Its author said the "axe-wielding maniac" stereotype should be ditched.
Mental health charity Mind said progress had been made in dramas such as EastEnders and Shameless, but more improvement was needed.
Television and films have been using the "madman" as a dramatic device for decades, but in reality, the vast majority of people with mental health problems pose no risk to others.
The Glasgow Media Group, working on behalf of a Department of Health campaign called "Shift", examined dozens of popular dramas and comedies to see how mental illness was presented to the viewer.
It found that most references to mentally ill people were insulting, examples being the terms "crackpot", "basket case" or "a sad little psycho".
In addition, 45% of storylines involving people with mental health problems found them posing some kind of risk to others.
Recent examples were a character in ITV soap Emmerdale who drugs the village vicar, or a schizophrenic killer in the popular US show CSI: Miami.
'Improve perceptions'Even in BBC One soap EastEnders, which was praised for a realistic portrayal of bipolar disorder with character Stacey Slater, had the same character eventually commit murder.
Professor Greg Philo, who led the research, said: "Fictional film characters like Hitchcock's Norman Bates in 'Psycho' have long established the idea of the 'mentally ill' as crazed and dangerous in the public mind; television has been doing the same thing for decades.
"Great progress has been made in recent years, but we've some way to go before we see more of the everyday realities of living with a mental health problem properly represented and stereotypes like the axe-wielding maniac take a back seat."
Almost half of programmes did offer sympathetic portrayals, although these often showed the character as a "tragic victim", the researchers said.
The depiction of another character with bipolar disorder on Channel 4's Shameless won praise for accuracy and sensitivity.
Paul Farmer, the chief executive of Mind, said that improvements over the past decade had been due to the willingness of scriptwriters and programme producers to involve people with personal experience of mental health problems while carrying out research.
He said: "It is also clear, however, that there is still much work to be done until we are at a stage where accurate depictions are the norm rather than the exception.
"I hope this report will encourage programme makers to follow these examples of good practice to create accurate, well-rounded characters that can improve perceptions of mental health."
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Bed-Blocking Great Western Hospital in Swindon
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 !
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 !
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