Deadline approaches for NHS continuing healthcare

The department of health is reminding families the deadline is approaching for NHS continuing healthcare. Anyone who believes that the NHS should have in the past carried out an assessment into paying for their or their loved one’s care due to health reasons has until Sunday 30 September to apply.

The deadline only applies to:

o those who have never received an assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare – the package of health and social care that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS and is free to the patient; and

o those who believe they may have been eligible for periods of care which occurred between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2011.

Anyone who meets these two criteria should contact their local Primary Care Trust before Sunday 30 September – details can be found online at NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/ or in the phone book.

They do not need any legal advice to request to be considered for an assessment and they only need to notify their local Primary Care Trust  before the deadline. There is no need to present a full medical history.

Public health minister,Anna Soubry said: “In March we asked the NHS to communicate this deadline as quickly and effectively as possible to local people through whatever means necessary.

“However, if you are not aware of the deadline then please don’t worry. If you believe that you or a loved one should have been assessed for eligibility for a past period of care, then all you need to do is contact your local Primary Care Trust by this Sunday. You can find their contact details online at NHS Choices, or in the phone book.

“The deadline to register for an assessment is fast approaching and we want everyone that should have been entitled to be assessed for a past period of care to be considered as soon as possible.”

NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of health and social care that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS, subject to the assessment of a person’s care needs – this is free to the individual.

Guidance for care workers to help reduce fire deaths

For the first time care workers are to be given new advice in a bid to cut fire deaths by helping them spot the tell tale signs of someone who is at high risk of having a fire.

Figures in a London Fire Brigade report reveal that one person receiving care is dying from fire every month in London.

According to the statistics, over the last three years, 36 out of 119 accidental fire deaths involved people who had some form of care services. All but three of the deceased smoked, half had mental health issues and 14 were known to drink alcohol.

Care workers in England will now get extra information about fire safety to support their introductory training. The aim is to give them extra potentially life-saving information on how to spot the signs of a person who is most at risk of dying or being seriously injured, should a fire occur.

Fire chiefs are asking care staff to get in touch with their local fire and rescue service if they notice any of the vital early warning signs. Care workers are often the first to see the tell tale signs like burn marks on carpets from cigarettes or a smoke alarm that has run out of battery.

The chair of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority’s Strategy Committee, councillor Crada Onuegbu, said: “This is a great example of London Fire Brigade working with other organisations to make not only London but the nation safer from fire.

“Care staff do a fantastic job of supporting people within our communities and those who have mobility issues. Sadly these people are among the most at risk from dying in a fire. Now care staff will have the skills to spot the warning signs and help prevent these terrible deaths.”

 Sharon Allen the chief executive at Skills for Care said: “This report is a timely reminder that people who use care services are often at serious risk from fire so we welcome this pro-active approach from fire brigades to tackling this problem.

“Brigades across the country have made significant progress in preventing fires so we would urge care workers and their managers to contact their local officers who can offer free expert advice to anyone they think might be at risk.”

Sense tribute to the co-founder of the charity

The co-founder of the charity Sense, Peggy Freeman has died at the age of 94. She was one of the parents who helped to set up the National Deafblind and Rubella Association in 1955, the organisation which later became the charity Sense.

Born in Sutton Coldfield, she is survived by her four children, sons Ian and Robin, and daughters Ann, who lives in Australia, and Bunty, who is deafblind and lives a in a Sense residential home in Birmingham. Her late husband, Peter Freeman, died in April 1992. 

Peggy Freeman contracted Rubella in 1952 just before becoming pregnant with her fourth child, Bunty who was born on 29 January 1953. Doctors assured her that her baby would be alright but Bunty was born deaf, blind and with heart problems. Peggy had no one to turn to for help until a teacher of deaf children introduced her to other parents of deafblind children. 

She met another parent, Margaret Brock, whose son was similarly born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome and together they formally set up the first parents’ Rubella Group in 1955.  

The group began with ten founder families. Today Sense employs more than 3,000 staff and meets the needs of thousands of dual-sensory impaired people from babyhood to old age.

Gillian Morbey the chief executive of Sense and Sense International and president of Deafblind International said: “At a time when people thought deafblind children couldn’t be educated or live full lives Peggy battled, not only for her own daughter, but what has become the whole Sense family. She is our last great ‘trooper’ from the early days of Sense and will be sadly missed.”

Peggy Freeman received an MBE in 1967 for services to deafblind people for her role in co-founding Sense.

Motability car scheme puts 'reliablity' first

Disabled motorists can benefit from added peace of mind by choosing a car that has been hailed for its reliability in a recent WhatCar? Reliability Survey.

Eight of the top 10 most reliable city cars are available from Motability, the car scheme for disabled people, including the top three – the Suzuki Alto, Toyota Aygo and Kia Picanto – all from no Advance Payment, which means no up-front additional costs to pay. 

WhatCar? and Warranty Direct teamed up to carry out the survey and create the ‘Reliability Index’ – a way to score cars based on factors such as the number of times a car breaks down, the average repair cost and the average repair time.

Nine of the top 10 most reliable superminis are also available through Motability, again, all from no Advance Payment. The compact Vauxhall Agila, spacious Skoda Fabia and practical Honda Jazz took the top three spots in this category.

 People who receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement, can exchange this weekly payment to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair through Motability. Insurance, maintenance, servicing and breakdown assistance are also included in the lease.

Further highlights from the survey include Motability cars suited to small families, such as the Toyota Auris, which came in third and the Mazda3.

Mike Betts the chief executive of Motability Operations said: “For many of our customers, the reliability of a vehicle is one of the main areas of consideration when looking for a new car. Research like this is very useful to both us and our customers and it’s great to see that Motability offers such a variety of those highlighted in these categories. We strive to make a wide choice of cars available to our customers to ensure that they are able to get the right vehicle for their needs.”

Full details of all cars are available on the online Car Search tool at motability.co.uk. For more information on leasing a car from Motability call 0800 093 1000.

£1.5m for personal health budget roll-out

To support the roll-out of personal health budgets £1.5 million has been earmarked to help individuals choose the most appropriate care for them.

A pilot programme involving more than 60 PCTs is underway to look at how the budgets can benefit those who need them, what the funding could be spent on and how personal budgets should be implemented.

People whose complex care needs are paid for by the NHS through the NHS Continuing Healthcare scheme, or those with a range of long-term conditions such as stroke, diabetes, neurological conditions, mental health needs and respiratory problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, have been involved in the pilots.

The evaluation is due to be completed in the autumn. To be ready as soon as the findings are known the department of health has now identified £1.5m to be made available to support the first stage of a potential roll-out.

The care and support minister Norman Lamb said: “We want to ensure more care is tailored around people’s individual needs and preferences. Giving those with complex health needs the control of how to spend money on their care gives them and their doctors the flexibility to try innovative new approaches to achieve better health outcomes.

“Subject to the results of the current pilot programme, our aim is to introduce a right to a personal health budget for people who would benefit from them most – the scale and pace of this will be informed by the independent evaluation.”

Vitalise video builds on Paralympic mood to salute disabled people

A charity video celebrating people with disabilities after the Paralympics has become an overnight internet hit, with more than 10,000 views in just three days.

The video was produced by disability charity Vitalise and features the disabled guests, volunteers and staff at its Southport respite holiday centre performing Queen’s feel-good anthem ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.

It pays tribute to the inspiring achievements of Team GB’s Paralympic athletes, such as Hannah Cockroft and Jonnie Peacock, who are featured in the video.

Vitalise made the recording earlier in the year but decided to delay its release to add its own tribute to Team GB’s Paralympians.

Vitalise’s chief executive Chris Simmonds said: “Thanks to the incredible achievements we witnessed at the Paralympics, disability has never had such a high public profile. We really hope this wave of positivity and goodwill continues.

“This video is our way of saying thank you to our Paralympians, but also of celebrating the achievements of people with disabilities in all walks of life.

“Of course not all people with disabilities are Paralympians, but they all confront their own personal hurdles. In overcoming these obstacles they are performing their own quiet heroics, day in, day out. This video is our salute to that indomitable spirit.”

The video can be viewed on Vitalise’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/VitaliseOnVideo or via the link: http://youtu.be/p0a2tqYDT_4

Stelios Award opportunity for disabled entrepreneurs

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is calling for talented disabled entrepreneurs to apply for this year’s Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK.

The award, jointly run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and Leonard Cheshire Disability, recognises the achievements and unique challenges faced by disabled entrepreneurs. Now in its sixth year, it offers a £50,000 cash prize to the winner.

 Applicants have until 5pm on Friday 26 October to apply and the winner will be presented with a cheque at a special ceremony in London on 3 December.

 Sir Stelios said: “I am passionate about encouraging entrepreneurship, and the previous winners of this award offer proof that there are many highly talented disabled entrepreneurs out there.

“With around 50 per cent of disabled adults out of work it is clear that there still is a long way to go. Removing the barriers disabled people face in business is essential, and I hope that the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs goes some way to highlighting their achievements.

 “We want to hear from talented disabled entrepreneurs who are able to show they have got what it takes to run a successful business and meet a real need in the market.”

Helen Carter from Leonard Cheshire Disability, who leads on the award, said: “Disabled people in business experience disadvantage and discrimination everyday, largely through ignorance - this must change.

“Our partnership with Sir Stelios is helping the charity highlight the barriers disabled people face in the workplace and recognise the outstanding achievements of disabled entrepreneurs.”

Last year there were two joint winners, Rob Smith and Huw Thomas who each won £50,000 to develop their business.

Rob’s business, The Active Hands Company www.activehands.co.uk, designs, manufactures and sells gripping aids which allow disabled people with limited hand function to grip a wide variety of items.

Huw’s business, Promove UK www.promove.uk.com, designs, manufactures and supplies specialist slings used to rescue, evacuate and transfer sick, injured, disabled or incapacitated people.

To apply or to find out more about the award see www.lcdisability.org/stelios, e-mail innovation@lcdisability.org or call 0845 671 7173 (option 1).