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“The public ought to be able to have confidence in regulators such as the CQC. The CQC does not have and does not deserve such confidence, according to at least two opinions of the House of Commons and a public audit body.”
by Geraint Day on 5 Apr 12
The item in the Swindon LINk e-bulletin of 4 April that highlights the Care Quality Commission's (CQC's) inspection reports on care facilities is good insofar as it raises the need for vigilance about the quality and standards of services. However, there is also a need for the public to have confidence in regulators such as the CQC. The CQC does not have and does not deserve such confidence, according to at least two opinions of the House of Commons and a public audit body. Far too many quangos such as the CQC have become out of control and perform a poor public service but at very great public expense. And sometimes it is not just national regulatory and support bodies that are poor users of public resources.
Users of health and social care services should be made aware of that by bodies such as LINks. Apart from anything else, public resources wasted on the high salaries and running costs of poor-performing administrative public bodies are simply not available for the provision of care.
“Diet before drugs Nutritonal therapy is a unique blend of art and science. What counts is what works in human experience. Scientific proof is definitely not always necessary. ”
by jackie habgood on 6 Oct 11
If most of our everyday health problems can be treated so much more quickly and effectively by nutritional therapy, why is it not currently available on the NHS. It would save the medical profession a huge amount of work.
Why are drugs are being given as a temporary fix when so many everyday problems could be eradicated completely and permanently by simply by drinking more water, screening for food allergies, and changing to a more natural diet. It would reduce our drugs bill astronomically, and prevent untold unnecessary suffering.
Example: eczema, asthma & wheezing - dehydration and dairy products are about the most common causes of all this misery, but modern medicine has a different mind set, it does not seriously consider diet in such cases, and never would. Why is it still being allowed to suppress the symptoms with drugs when there is a safe, speedy, cost free natural cure. The market for asthma drugs is bottomless.
BE CAREFFUL: Cutting out dairy products could provoke a severe asthmA attack when you try it again. Simple instructions on cutting out dairy products safely in are in 'The Hay Diet Made Easy' by Jackie Habgood Also read 'Your Body's Many Cries for water' by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj - about dhydration and asthma and much, much more.You will be very surprised at what you read..
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“Make sure that your Doctor,Dentist,Hospital,Nurse,Carer is treating you with Dignity and Care also turning up on time,and staying to the Allocated time,also doing all you request.”
by Tricia on 22 Mar 11
It is Important that you are cared for with Respect also supported in the way you would like to be.This applies to all of you that are being cared for.
If you are not happy with your carer or your service,please pick up the phone and tell your provider. Or get friends or family to talk on your behalf.
If anyone feels that the service they are getting is not being covered in the correct way ,please keep a diary of Events and Inform the Appropriate Service,please notify your Agencies Doctors or Hospital,If you are not happy with the Response you are well within your Rights To take it to The Quality Care Commission,who will look into the complaint ,and deal with it on your behalf,Never be afraid to speak out on Genuine concerns,you are well within your rights to do so.
“There are a lot of creative and positive things around learning disability services at the moment with people being offered more opportunity and choice around what they do in the day. However, future funding and service provision is uncertain which could have a negative impact on current work and development of ideas.”
by Dawn Dixon on 4 Jan 11
Swindon Advocacy Movement works for the rights of people with learning disabilities. We have seen the growth of more opportunities for people and more awareness of what people want and need. Personalisation agenda could bring many positive changes but also challenges.
“Pastoral & spiritual care for those with learning disabilities”
by John Roe on 6 Dec 10
GWH has a chaplaincy, which of course is there to offer such care, alongside medical care. I would value a conversation with interested parties to explore this vital area further.
As a Christian minister, who has a special interest and involvement in the spiritual support of adults with LD, I am conscious that this is an area that historically been denied those with LD, particularly those who have or are in degrees of institutional / residential care. My experience is that those with LD have an equal, if not heightened awareness of their spirituality and mutuality in pastoral care in the widest sense. I would encourage a conversation with interested parties, including those at GWH to explore further this important area.
John raises a good matter to discuss and reflect upon for service improvement. We will need to identify the issues and then develop action plans and ways of delivering pastoral/spiritual care to people with Learning Difficulties. Since the original posting of this matter on the LINk website we have made arrangments to explore this further.
“There seems to be a gap in support for young people with disabilities as they approach adulthood. They experience difficulties in accessing the services they need. While they’re in the education system, it’s fine; then suddenly the provision seems to fall off a cliff. The Transition Information Network aims to bridge that gap. ”
by Robert Buckland MP on 25 Nov 10
Recently I attended the launch of a new website by The Transition Information Network to help young people with disabilities. ‘Transition’ sounds like a bit of jargon, but it’s a way of recognising the growing challenge of helping disabled youngsters as they move out of school into the adult world. At that stage there seems to be a gap in support, and young people experience difficulties in accessing the services they need as adults. While they’re in the education system, it’s fine; then suddenly the provision seems to fall off a cliff. The Transition Information Network aims to bridge that gap and I know that in Swindon there’s already recognition that we need to work on this. We should be looking at the provision process as a whole, not splitting it between childhood and adult care. Most importantly, we should provide young people with personalised budgets so that they can access the specific care they need. It’s vital to recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work for everyone. A number of major charities were represented at the launch, and we discussed how we can work with service users to improve support and provision for young adults with disabilities in the future.
Transitions: Here is an update on work in Swindon on improving the Transitions Process between child and adult services for young people with additional needs ages between 13-25 years old:
Background: The National Transition Support Programme was implemented as part of the Aiming High for Disabled Children initiative – a chance for local areas to assess and improve the transition from Children Services to Adult Services for young people and their families. In Swindon this highlighted that a multi-agency Strategic Management Group, including parents and carers, should meet regularly to develop the work around transitions. One of the first actions was to compile a Transitions Protocol.
Transitions Protocol: Following a great deal of work and consultation with both parents and professionals a Transitions Protocol has been developed. The Protocol is a document that can help staff in different agencies, in partnership with parents and young people, to work together to plan the journey of a young person with additional needs into their adult life. The Protocol will be used by all agencies to ensure that there is a consistent approach to transitions, and that families get the best opportunities and experiences.
Transitions Development Worker: A Transitions Development Worker was appointed until the end of March 2011. She worked with professionals, parents and carers and looked at ways to improve communication between services by holding multi agency discussions. She also worked on the development of a new transition planning system that focuses more on the young person and their needs. Another aspect of the Transitions Development Worker’s role was to develop information and training in understanding effective transitions available to young people, parents/carers and professionals. Training days have been set up to support professionals in applying the protocol in practice.
Information Booklets: This document will explain the different steps along the way and give an overview of the people who can support families through this journey. This document was developed from information contained in the Transitions Protocol
Transitions Event: The Transitions Event on Friday 28th January is targeted at both Parents/Carers of disabled and vulnerable young people and professionals who support them and aims to introduce the latest version of the protocol and allow teams to showcase their services in a multi agency forum.
Support Services: leaflets from various services for young people with additional needs between the ages of 14-25 years old have been collected to provide parents and professionals with further information about available services and will be made available along with information booklets an the protocol on the transitions section of the Swindon Borough Council Website in April 2011 (www.swindon.gov.uk).
“There is a problem with the posters”
by Jaginder Bassi (Director Swindon Racial Equality Council) on 11 Oct 11
Read the posters and there are problems because you don't need to be British to be settled. One can be citizen from another country but have settled status and therefore entitled to free NHS treatment. It seems that this will add more confusion.
“Reporting hate crime”
by Norma Thompson on 22 Mar 11
If anyone wants to report a hate crime etc, it explains it all: http://report-it.org.uk/home
And it is often forgotten that hate crime can also manifest towards those with disabilities. See here: http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/press_releases/110_11/ for how prosecutors "are still in the foothills when it comes to prosecuting disability hate crime."
“More accessible information for people with learning disabilities is needed as standard practice.”
by Dawn Dixon on 4 Jan 11
No enough accessible info. available.
“Dentists to be trained to deal with those who have learning disabilities”
by Brian & Joyce Healey on 22 Dec 10
Our son has learning disabilities and dislikes going to the dentist. He has needed a filling for two years but every time we take him he resists the treatment he needs. Perhaps if dentists were trained to deal with these types of situations it would be better. We are trying again soon.
“'Getting it Right' conference at GWH.”
by John Roe on 6 Dec 10
I was interested in Derek Benfield's comments on the GWH conference, on providing care for those with learning disabilities whilst in acute care hospitals. I also attended the conference, and like Derek, I was both impressed by the presentations, and with the message that much progress has been made at GWH in improving the standard of care of LD patients. My experience of just a couple or so years ago at GWH when my daughter, who has medium LD, had a week-long stay in hospital as an emergency medical admission, was little short of catastrophic. All the issues she faced were addressed by the conference, which was very heartening. It was also clear that our complaints at the time had been carefully listened to, and had helped influence positive steps towards duty to care appropriately.
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A good point well made John. I will talk to Jo Osorio and perhaps we can progress this through LINk.
Comment by Derek Benfield on 6 Dec 2010