What we're working on... What we're working on RSS
What people are saying...
“Toenail cutting service at Clapham Hobbs”
by Linda Law on 23 Feb 12
Excellent service, great staff, best £9.50's worth I've had. Why struggle when this service is at hand?
“That principle has been explicitly stated by policy advisers to the Conservative Party for years. It has been spelled out on the UK Parliament website for months.”
by Geraint Day on 9 Feb 12
It is to convert the National Health Service and adult social care delivery in England into a regulated market. Of the sort that exist in finance, gas, electricity, water and rail, for example. All areas in which the power of largely useless but extremely costly public regulatory bodies can hardly be expected to be described as having defended the public interest in recent years. Much of what the well-paid public administrators in those public regulators actually oversee and pontificate about is how much the year on year price rises to hit consumers is going to be. When they are even larger than usual the same bureaucrats wring their hands. Not much more. And have they affected the inevitable price rises?
Yet the UK Parliament website very clearly compared the Bill's intentions with those markets. Do the people of England really want to see health and social care treated in the same way as those other areas of life?
“The service I have had to date has been excellent”
by Richard Fuller on 25 Sep 11
I was brought a new chair without asking for it as I already have my own because the one originally supplied was too heavy to expect my wife to assist I just had to find the money to buy. It will be useful as the one I purchased does not fit within all doors in the house and there are occasions when it is necessary with my legs not functioning at all. I am able to cope ith a Zimmer on occasions when necssary
“You are joking?”
by Doh! on 8 Jun 11
One of the most arrogant unhelpful "services" I have experienced.
“Support in filling out form?”
by Jenny Bassett on 15 Mar 11
At first glance, I thought the form looked rather daunting! 24 pages of questions could 'frighten' even a fairly sane person like me. Anyway, I looked through it, and realised it could be completed fairly quickly after the initial personal details are given, as most of the questions only require a 'tick box' answer.
However, dependant on the mental ability of some of the people filling in the form, I think many people would need someone to help them even with the tick-box questions.
I tried to put myself in the position of a person of limited mobility, and with no family in close proximity to help them. I think the colour coding of the questions is helpful, I would expect to complete one or two sections at one 'sitting'.
“My experience of care at home”
by A LINk participant on 3 Mar 11
The latest problem I have had is that they changed the times on my rota at the weekend and didn't bother to tell me. Yesterday evening the carer turned up at 8 pm to get me ready for bed and said she had had another client allocated to her and had asked the office to let me know. They didn't, of course - they never do. This morning the carer who turned up - 3/4 of an hour early - was not the one I was expecting, and also said she had asked the office to let me know. In addition, according to my rota, there are three new carers on the list this week - that will make 11 altogether that I have had.
“Responding to possible budget cuts for day care centres. ”
by Brian J. Osbourn on 10 Sep 10
As a father of a 30 year old son who has Down's Syndrome & Learning Disabilities and who uses One Step Ahead, the news could not be worse. A few weeks ago I arranged a visit for Robert Buckland MP, Justin Tomlinson MP, and Councillor Peter Mallinson who all agreed and stated on their visits that the staff and carers at One Step Ahead do a fantastic job in supporting adults with learning disabilities and the service provided by One Step Ahead is vital in their work and support of such adults.
Yet just a few weeks later Councillor Mallinson states (among other things) that “the whole idea of going to non-building based centres is to get away from the old Victorian way of institutions where you get all the people with learning disabilities and put them in the same building every day…Some people have been going to day centres for years and years and possibly don’t want to change, but there is always resistance to change.”
This ignores the widely accepted fact that those with learning disabilities need routine, routine, and more routine in order for them to feel safe; and being inside a building is key to that. In addition to this One Step Ahead not only provide a life-line to many parents and carers, they also save the council a huge amount of money in the longer-term because they allow these parents and carers a degree of respite that they would not otherwise be afforded.
“You asked for some feedback on the draft wheelchair service leaflet, so here goes!”
by Hilary Fairfield on 7 Sep 10
1. It would be really helpful if some service standards could be included, eg. how long it will take for an OT assessment to take place, how long it will take to issue a wheelchair if someone is eligible.
2. It doesn't include anything about high priority referrals (eg. when someone has a rapidly-progressing conditions, lives alone and is falling repeatedly).
3. It would also be helpful to include something about powered wheelchairs - who is eligible, what the process is for obtaining one, etc.
Thanks for collating the info. I do hope that the feedback will result in some changes to the leaflet.
“Keep up the good work”
by MH (Young Carer) on 19 Aug 10
It’s a very good service with knowledgeable staff who always keep carers informed what is happening. They delivered my Dad’s wheelchair very quickly too
“Footcare service, Clapham Hobbs”
by Mrs D. Clifford on 21 Feb 12
I receive this service at where I live. It is very good and so helpful to those of us who find it difficult to get out and about. It is an excellent service and very much appreciated.
“We have absolutely no idea how we can obtain help with living independently. We intend to live, and die, in our own home without going into hospital or a care home.”
by E.M.I. Harries & R.E.Moxon on 5 Oct 11
As retired nurses we are appalled at the general care of the elderly in hospitals and have no intention of being treated with disdain. We are fully aware that not all nurses are neglecting their patients but, in our opinion, there should not be a single nurse that cannot be trusted to give all their patients the care that they nedd 100% of the time - or at least attempt to do so !!!
“Problems With Care Staff”
by gregor grant on 16 Aug 11
The carer must stick to the time on the rota, and not come earlier or later without phoning first. communication is important with carers, especially when it comes to regular carers going on holiday or changing shift, therefore communication must be improved.
How can they stick to the time on the rota when no travelling time is allowed between visits? Certainly communication must be improved and, in theory, the carer should phone when they are going to be late. My experience, some months ago, is that they didn't do this - probably because they are late so frequently! And even if you are informed about a delay, it can still be very upsetting if the carer turns up an hour late. The carers are exploited both by the care company and the borough, because both bodies know perfectly well that the private care company can't do the job properly for the money that the Borough is willing to pay. I am told that most care companies have a high turnover of staff and quite a high rate of absence due to sickness, which means that rotas often don't reflect what actually happens. Dring my 2 months with care staff from one of the private care companies I had 14 different carers!
“Positive so far...”
by Peter Armstrong on 20 Apr 11
What started out as a unco-ordinated service (possibly due to changeover) has since proved to be a reliable and professional service. 3 different carers to date, but a regular one on weekdays. No complaints so far.
“Support for completing form”
by Harry Dale on 15 Mar 11
I have had a look at the questionnaire and obviously appreciate that it is difficult to put together something like this that does the whole job comprehensively.
So my thoughts are more around the level of support that will be available to people who may well struggle with this document. It seems fairly complex and I suspect that there are many who will skim over some of the answers because they don’t feel they apply to them even tho they do.
Does the decision making take into account the needs of the “non-professional” carers and the need for respite for them. It seems that the aims are to build up an even bigger “marching army” of free labour to me, as with the whole Big Society thing.
What perspective were you putting this out from, are you one of the authors or looking at it from the side of the customers.
Who exactly is this document going out to, is it every person receiving some kind of support in Swindon or have they already been triaged.
It struck me in the HOSC (the first one I went to) when Peter Malinson was being grilled that no one as I recall focused on asking for visibility of the measures that would be employed to ensure care standards were maintained or improved and the methods that would be put in place to ensure they were. More important I would have thought than delving into the cost base of the contract in this instance.
“Since coming back into Swindon management the wheelchair service is really good.”
by vanessa on 21 Dec 10
The team have worked very hard to bring down waiting list times - I hope they get some praise and recognition.
Brilliant update to date <a href="http://www.coach-hirelondon.com">http://www.coach-hirelondon.com</a>
Abodesense is truly an online collection for exclusive home plans. Featuring a number of plan sizes and styles, our key emphasis should be to source plans with your lifestyle under consideration. All of our plans are hand selected and completely exclusive to Abodesense, with quality and value available for every budget level. <a href="http://abodesense.com/">http://abodesense.com/</a>
I wish to express my appreciation for your kind-heartedness supporting people that should have help with your situation. Your real dedication to passing the message all around was really productive and has continuously helped men and women like me to achieve their desired goals. Your entire warm and helpful tutorial means a whole lot a person like me and even more to my office workers. Warm regards; from everyone of us. <a href="http://www.romfordraiders.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=20395">http://www.romfordraiders.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=20395</a>
“Please do you hire wheel chairs? ”
by Ted & Margaret on 7 Sep 10
If so how much notice do you require? I would be interested to have one from August 10th until 25th 2010. Many thanks.
Hi Margaret and Ted
I am afraid we do not lend wheelchairs but we know who does. The best place to start is the British Red Cross: Tel 853723. Unfortunately the service for Swindon is based in Wootton Bassett. Alternatively commercial providers who may hire chairs include Care Plus Mobility at Kembrey Park, Gorse Hill: Tel 615327; or Hearing & Mobility (formerly KeepAble) in Clive Parade, Cricklade Road: Tel 701313
You may find that Shopmobility based under the Wyvern car park in the centre of town can help but I am not sure whether they still lend manual chairs or how much they now charge for a loan of several days: Tel 512621.
All this information can be found in the Wheelchair Services' draft leaflet. I hope that is helpful. Please let us know how you get on.
“Whilst Swindon Adult Services do an excellent job in managing adult services as reported by the CQC, I wonder whether a more local service would ensure that the risks of elderly and vulnerable being missed, or falling through the care net might be reduced.”
by Keith Smith on 6 Sep 10
For example, I live in the rural hinterland, research suggests that there are significant number of elderley ladies living alone, who receive no support. I appreciate that may not require this help, but how do we know? Surely a good starting point would be the local doctor's surgery? Support could then be co-ordinated on a shared voluntary/professional basis. This would strike a chord both with the concept of the 'Big Society' and Swindon's own groundbreaking Connecting People Connecting Places.
Mr Smith is absolutely right, the GP surgery in rural areas in one place where people who require support could have that support co-ordinated from. GPs will always refer people to appropriate services when necessary, and if their patient agrees to the referral. It will be good when connecting people, connecting places really ‘gets off the ground’ and those neighbourhood support mechanisms are available for people who want some support on a friendship basis.
With Best Wishes
Jan Trethewey
Acting Joint Director of Commissioning
on Facebook
on Twitter
Hi Hilary,
Thanks for your comments which are really useful, answers to your questions/comments are :-
1) How Long - The booklet will be printed to last 1 to 2 years so information which may change monthly cannot be put in as it may be misleading.
2) Rapidly Deteriorating conditions : user in this category will have a health professional or GP involved in their care who will discuss with Wheelchair Service their individual case and feed back accurate information to user - again blanket information may become confusing or inaccurate.
3) Powered Chairs - Thanks for this comment which has shown up a gap in the leaflet - a link address for PCT Website which has a detailed 14 A4 page criteria document which could not be included in a small brochure . - I will try to get this added to Version 01 which is on it's way to printers via PCT HQ - if not it will be in version 2
4) You would be most welcome to attend the focus group meetings - your experience and knowledge would be very useful to the group.
Regards, Terry
Comment by Terry Danter on 10 Sep 2010