Legal News

A survey of social care workers in more than 100 areas of England, Wales and Scotland for the union, conducted by the University of Birmingham's health services management centre revealed that 57% have seen day centre’s close down. Services for elderly people were hardest hit, followed by those for people with learning and physical disabilities.
The reasons cited by two-thirds of respondents reported increased charges for attendance, meals and transport, with some centre’s stopping the provision of fresh meals entirely. Many of those surveyed said that fees had risen substantially, at times starting from a minimum charge to as much as £50 a day.
Unison said closing day centre’s was a false economy because they provide much-needed respite for carers, as well as monitoring and improving the physical and mental health of some of the UK's most vulnerable people.
Heather Wakefield, Unison's head of local government, said government’s cuts and austerity agenda was hitting some of the UK's most vulnerable people, and another round of budget cuts would make the situation worse.
The day centre’s were a good option for the elderly people, to guard against loneliness. Their loss was devastating. Research has revealed loneliness to be as deadly as smoking, alcohol or obesity for a person's health, so these cuts could cost lives.
The cuts were also a false economy as more elderly people would be forced into long-term care or into A&E, a far more expensive option for the taxpayer.
Another report launched on Monday says that a major cultural shift was needed to tackle the causes of poor and undignified care of older people in care homes and hospitals. The report, entitled Delivering Dignity, says the government should ensure every person receiving care was protected under human rights legislation, rather than only those whose care home place was arranged by their local authority.
The report has been produced by the Commission on Improving Dignity in Care for Older People, an independent group set up by the NHS Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Association. It is said to have received widespread support after a month-long consultation, with feedback from more than 230 health and social care organisations, patient groups and individuals across the country.
A copy of the final report is going to be sent to every NHS and care home chief executive in England as part of efforts to change the way care is delivered for older people. A joint action plan from the three organisations will follow later in the year.
In a joint foreword to the report, the commission co-chairs from Age UK, NHS Confederation and the Local Government Association, said that the commission was set up because older people and their loved ones deserve so much better.