Local and national news

That's how...

...a summer should be! Or so we are told by those more senior amongst us who always seem to remember the golden days of long, hot summers. Climate change or not, we’re looking forward to a round of great ‘recharging’ events over the winter, so watch out for the invitations in this or the next issue. If you’ve never attended an event before, try to get along to one this time - we’ll promise you that you’ll enjoy the time out.

Make Time for Health

New Patient and Public Involvement Forums are being set up in every locality in the country this autumn. Carers and people who use the health service are being invited to apply to join these Forums, which will replace the Community Health Councils.

The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement, which is overseeing these Forums, is running a national recruitment campaign called Make Time for Health.

The idea came out of the Government’s plan to modernise the NHS, and to make patients and their needs more central to the delivery of health services. It is envisaged that over time, the Forums will gain a broad knowledge and expertise about a range of health-related issues. They will make recommendations on the delivery of local health services, influence the design of the services, and monitor the effectiveness of the Patients Advice and Liaison Services (PALS).

There will be a separate Forum for each of the Primary Care Trusts in South Hams & West Devon, Teignbridge, and Torbay. There will also be a Forum for South Devon Healthcare Trust.

Most carers are (or have been) users of a health service (GP, hospital, pharmacy, etc), and so are entitled to apply to become members. This is an opportunity for carers to become champions for the health of other carers, so you are encouraged to look into what this is all about.

For further information, call the Commission on 0845 120 7115, visit their website at www.maketimeforhealth.org, or write to: Make Time for Health, PO Box 11442, Birmingham, B2 4WP.

'Soapbox'

Mr S writes:
The NHS and Government refuse to accept and address the main cause of health problems. Until they do, they will only be seeking ways of making carers more efficient, while coercing them and those they care for into carrying out as much work as possible for as little as possible. Thus, in suggesting ways that they can more easily do this, the more we contribute to our own collapse and growth of an increasingly unaffordable and unmanageable monster of stress and ill health.

Enough is enough. This traditional abuse of the caring conscience must not be allowed to continue. As a group, professional and voluntary, we should have more confidence in our principle and start promoting this as the priority for a healthier and wealthier society. Do you really believe those highly paid ‘Experts’ who claim we have no choice other than to compete against one another ever harder and faster? The emotional consequences of these actions against nature’s evolution produce most of our physical, mental and other needless social ills, increasingly ensuring our eventual breakdown as individuals and societies.

The principle of competing for one another through mutual equality, care and cooperation is gathering pace. As a group, we can aid this progress by looking at our own lives and considering what we are being required to work and suffer for. Perhaps readers may care to offer some examples for the Soapbox and other platforms of democracy so that we can begin to use our combined strength and expertise to produce the reforms required? As carers and sufferers, we must stop being sheep and start being shepherds.

What do you think? Write into Soapbox...

Parent Carers Guide to Special Education

If you are interested in finding out more about the Special Education Needs process, Devon Parent Partnership Service are running a series of courses around South Devon - free to carers who live in Devon and Torbay.

This is a chance to better understand the Code of Practice for Special Education Needs, and meet other parents. The courses are certificated and accredited through the Open College Network South West. For more information, call the WEA on (01752) 664089.

Missed Opportunities

Carers UK have published a new report based on a survey of 1,700 carers from across England, called Missed Opportunities: the impact of new rights for carers. This examines the impact of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, Direct Payments, and services delivered directly to carers which were allowed for the first time under the 2000 Act.

The report sets out recommendations for Government, local authorities and the NHS. The cost is Ł13 (including p&p), and can be purchased by calling 020 7566 7626

A free summary can be downloaded from www.carersonline.org.uk

How Good is your Service to Carers?

As part of the National Strategy for carers, the Government developed a set of 5 quality standards for local services that support carers. The standards cover the provision of information, breaks, emotional support, caring for carers, and having a voice. On behalf of The Kings Fund, Roger Blunden (the speaker at Torbay’s Carers Conference 2001), has published a guide to help groups and organisations assess how well they are meeting these standards.

The guide is a practical resource for commissioning agencies and providers of services alike, whether in the statutory, private or voluntary sector. It contains checklists, as well as advice on how to collect evidence to demonstrate good practice. It is available from the Kings Fund Bookshop, email bookshop@kingsfund.org.uk, tel (020) 7307 2591 - price Ł5.50 (inc p&p).

Wealth Warning!

Not everybody knows this, but…

If your cared-for person spends more than 28 days in hospital, their Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance stops, as well as your Carers Allowance. (DLA for children under 16 continues for 12 weeks.)

This means you can expect to have to re-apply for them if and when your cared-for returns home. It is no comfort to know this, but at least it will not come as such a surprise as it does to many carers.

For more information about the rules surrounding these benefits, you can call the Department for Work and Pensions on 0800 88 22 00 and ask them to send you leaflet GL12 (updated in June).

Better Deal on Winter Fuel Payments

If you or your cared-for person are over 60 (by 21 September), and getting a state pension or certain other benefits, you should automatically receive this payment. If you are not sure whether you should receive it, it is worth checking out. This year, people aged 80+ may get an extra payment of Ł50 or Ł100, on top of the usual Ł100 or Ł200. For further information, or to ask for a claim form, call the Helpline on: 08459 15 15 15

Calling all Carers of People with Learning Disabilities

There are now Carer Groups running in Totnes, Kingsbridge and Tavistock. June would also like to set up a Learning Disability Carer group in Ivybridge. If you would like any information on when/where the groups meet, or are interested in joining an Ivybridge group, please contact June Wilkins, Carers Development Worker, Learning Disability Development Team, on (01392) 686246.

Christmas Lunch and Shopping for Carers

After last years’ successful trip to Exeter, SDCC is arranging another Christmas trip for that last minute shopping. This time the coach will go to Taunton, stopping on the way at the Poachers Pocket, Burlescombe (a popular haunt for carers), for a 2-course Christmas lunch. The date for this trip is 10 December, and the all inclusive price is only Ł3. We’ll endeavour to arrange transport from all around the district, and you would be home in time for tea. You should find a flyer with this newsletter, which includes a booking form. If not, give us a call, and we’ll post you one.

Plan for Carers Services

A couple of years ago SDCC, Social Services and the Primary Care Trust worked together with carers to produce a Carers Strategy for South Hams & West Devon. This set out the principles, together with key issues and action points, that carers in the area wanted the agencies to use when working towards improving services to carers in the local area. This Strategy is now being reviewed to see what progress has been made, and what needs to be changed.

You are invited to attend one of two informal get-togethers being held to have your say in the review. These are on 11 Nov at Kingdon House, Tavistock, or 17 Nov at Kingsbridge Methodist Church Hall. Both include a free buffet. Call SDCC on (01803) 294275 for more info.

Calling all Carers of People with Learning Disabilities

Did you know there is a successful Teignbridge Learning Disabilities Forum which meets every 3 months in Newton Abbot? Carers of adults or young people in transition are welcome. The next meeting will take place on 20 November. For more information, please contact June Wilkins, Carers Development Worker (Learning Disability Development Team) on (01392) 686246.

You may remember hearing about PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)...

...well, Jo Carpenter is the link person for Teignbridge, and it is her job to provide information, or try and resolve concerns about the National Health Service locally. People contact PALS for many different reasons, such as:

They may not be sure where they can hire a wheelchair from

They may have been referred to Torbay Hospital, and be confused as to why they have to wait so long for an operation.

Jo realises that it may be difficult for carers to find out information they need. There is a freephone number you can ring to ask for help. It is 0800 02 82 037. There is usually somebody there, but if not, please do leave a message and Jo or her colleague Sue will ring you back. If necessary, Jo could arrange to visit you to talk things through.

They would also like to hear what you think about the NHS in general - good or bad! Teignbridge Primary Care Trust and Torbay Hospital are often asking for the opinions of patients and carers. Your view is import, so if you feel you would like to take part in a meeting, answer a questionnaire, or talk to someone on the phone, please let Jo and Sue know on the freephone number: 0800 02 82 037

Emergency Response Card for Carers

The Teignbridge Carers’ Link has launched a new Emergency Response Card Scheme, with support from TeignCare call centre. This important new service is a simple and safe way to make sure that if anything happens to carers while they are out, help can be summoned for the person they care for.

Carers’ Link members who join the scheme will be given a card to carry with them at all times. The card will have on it a unique reference number and the telephone number of TeignCare. In an emergency, when someone rings that number, TeignCare staff will make sure the carer’s instructions are followed, so that the person they care for is looked after.

The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No personal details are shown on the card, and the call centre staff do not give out any personal information to the person who calls them. If you are a carer living in Teignbridge, and you are not already on the Carers’ Link but would like more information about joining, please contact Rosemary Whitehurst, Carers’ Link Worker, Westbank League of Friends, Farmhouse Rise, Exminster, EX6 8AL. Tel (01392) 824752.

Christmas Lunch and Shopping for Carers

After last years’ successful trip to Taunton, SDCC is arranging another Christmas trip for that last minute shopping. This time the coach will go to Plymouth, stopping on the way at the Mill at Avonwick (a popular haunt for carers), for a 2-course Christmas lunch. The date for this trip is 16 December, and the all inclusive price is only Ł3. We’ll endeavour to arrange transport from all around the district, and you would be home in time for tea. You should find a flyer with this newsletter, which includes a booking form. If not, give us a call, and we’ll post you one.

The Main Attraction

The annual hotel event for carers in Teignbridge was even more popular last time, with a wider range of activities to choose from. To make it more accessible, we are moving the event to the lovely Cliffden Hotel in Teignmouth. There will still be the wide range of therapies and activities on offer, for both males and females. The date is 22 January. Again, you should find a flyer with booking form with this newsletter. Groups booking for several carers must fill in a form for every carer wanting to go (more available from SDCC).

Launch of Torbay Home Maintenance Register

This scheme was initiated by Torbay Consumer Support Network, and set up by Age Concern Torbay and the Trading Standards Service, supported by the Police. The aim is to provide access to competent, trustworthy and reliable traders who are prepared to carry out minor household works and general home and garden maintenance. Instead of falling prey to unscrupulous traders who call uninvited, older people in Torbay can now ring Age Concern (tel 555181), and ask for the names of traders who are on a list compiled by Trading Standards.

New Emergency Data Link Scheme

Paignton Lions and Torbay Social Services are jointly funding a new scheme to support vulnerable people living at home. The aim is to give the emergency services vital information if they are called to that person’s home as a result of sudden illness or accident. Key details about someone’s illness or allergy, their medication, and the people to contact are stored in a plastic container, which is kept in the fridge. Two small stickers, easily recognised by the emergency services, are attached to the fridge door and inside the front door. If the emergency services have to come to the home, they will see the stickers and get the vital information from the container in the fridge.

The scheme is easy to use and free. It will be a valuable support for carers who have to leave a cared for person alone, or for vulnerable people living on their own. To get one of the Data Link containers, contact the Torbay Carers Register on (01803) 522228. For more information ring James Drummond on (01803) 208438.

More Activities for Older People

An exciting new service is about to be launched in Torbay. The service is for older people who, for a variety of reasons, do not access usual day centres, and for whose health and well being require more individual attention.

Age Concern Torbay, in partnership with Torbay Social Services, will be recruiting “hosts” to provide day care in the informal atmosphere of each host’s home. Each host will welcome two or three older people into their home and organise activities suited to their needs. Age Concern are looking for hosts who enjoy working with older people, and who want to work from home part-time organising interesting and varied activities, including trips out during the day. Hosts will be paid and will receive training from Age Concern.

If you are interested in the service or becoming a Host Carer please contact Deborah Penny, Host Carer Project Manager, on (01803) 555181.

Find out...Speak out...Chill out Report

200 people, at least two thirds of them carers, supported a fun and thought-provoking event held on 13 June. Notes from discussions have been compiled into a report sent to all participants. This also went to Torbay Partnership Committee Task Groups, and other agencies, who have been asked to consider the issues raised and respond to the Carers Panel. Copies of the report are available from SDCC.

Expert Patients

The Expert Patient Programme is an opportunity for people with chronic health conditions to come together with others and develop more skills to help them cope with long-term health problems. Six 2.5 hour sessions start on 23 October. For details, contact Rachel Edwards on (01803) 210919, or Marion on (01803) 215871.

New Support in Paignton

When you are a carer you can sometimes feel very isolated. It is good to meet up with others who understand. Carers’ groups can provide support, friendship and somewhere for you to let off some steam!

A new group is starting in September, meeting on the last Thursday of each month, 2.30-4.00pm, at Parkfield House, 38 Esplanade Rd, Paignton. Free tea and coffee is provided, along with transport and respite care to enable you to go along. For more information, please contact Barbara Relph, Carers Support Worker, on (01803) 605359.

Inspectors Report of Services for Older People

Earlier this year, the Social Services Inspectorate examined the state of services for older people and their carers. A number of carers were involved in this process, and a report has now been published of the findings.

The summary of the report concluded that ‘work with carers was of a particularly high standard’. However, the report also highlights a number of areas for improvement, which the Council are now tackling. A summary copy of the report is available from James Drummond on (01803) 208438.

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