Sunday, November 22, 2009

Campaign backs Wandworth’s pet–friendly policies for sheltered housing




Calls for providers to follow London borough’s example

Edited by Andy Porter: A coalition of major charities is calling for pet–friendly sheltered housing policies introduced by Wandworth Council to be adopted nationwide.

The ‘Pets for Life’ campaign, led by the Society for Companion Animal Studies [SCAS] and The Blue Cross, encourages older people’s housing providers to allow elderly residents to keep pets.

Help the Aged and Age Concern also support the initiative.

The campaign highlights Wandsworth, which has permitted pets in sheltered schemes since 2001, as a model for others to follow.

Research shows that around 25 per cent of people over retirement age are pet owners. However, only a small minority of older peoples’ housing providers permit their residents to keep animals.

This means many elderly residents are forced to part–company with their pets when they move into residential care.

Wandsworth’s executive member for housing Martin D Johnson said: “Pet ownership is an enriching part of many elderly people’s lives. As well as offering companionship, they keep their owners active and are a link to social activities that prevent isolation.

“We’ve had pets in our sheltered schemes for nine years without a single significant problem. Our experience proves this type of housing can easily accommodate animals and there is no need to deny elderly people the pleasures and benefits of pet ownership.

“We want other housing providers to rethink their attitudes to animals and realise the huge benefits they represent.”

Elizabeth Ormerod, chairman of the Society for Companion Animal Studies and a practising vet said: “The importance of pets to older people cannot be understated; for some they are their best friend, their family and their only lifeline to the outside world. When age or ill health forces someone to move into care, why should they be parted from a loyal companion who offers them unconditional love and support, comfort and constancy?”

In July this year Nick Palmer MP presented a new bill to the Commons calling for consistent national guidelines on pets in care homes based on the Wandsworth model.

To find out more about the Pets for Life campaign visit website at: www.scas.org.uk.

Wellbeing Newsline > Magazine > Contributors > World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Scotland > Northern Ireland > Wales > Greater London > Norfolk > Suffolk > Essex > Cambridgeshire > Hertfordshire > Bedfordshire > Social network pages > Twitter > Delicious > Wikio > Email the editor > Newsdesk > Skype vision and text > Newslineeditor1

GLOBAL > AFRICA > ASIA > CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA > EUROPE > NORTH AMERICA > OCEANIA
Mind and body wellbeing > Health and social services > Healthcare professionals > Economics > Work and training > Education > Families > Age > Carers > Disabilities > Nutrition > Exercise > Communities > Poverty > Housing > Transport > Abuse > Legal > Prisons > Sexuality > War
http://www.wikio.com
Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

London Councils seek local people’s views on how budget should be spent




Public consultation will run until 29 January 2010

Edited by Kaarina Miles: London Councils are asking Londoners their views on how a capital–wide budget of up to £28 million should be spent.

Currently around 360 voluntary groups receive funding from London Councils across 59 priority areas and include schemes giving disabled people the opportunity to play sport, helping women affected by domestic violence work towards independent lives and working with young people to prevent them becoming involved with gun crime.

Voluntary services have experienced an increase in demand due to the recession with rises in unemployment, an increase in debt and other related side–effects, such as more people suffering from depression.

London Councils is now looking at what areas should be a priority for its funding from April 2011.

The consultation will run until 29 January 2010.

People can respond online, in writing or at one of a series of consultation meetings. Places are pre–book only, on a first–come–first–served basis, and are available for the following meetings:
  • Ealing, Wednesday 25 November,
  • Central London, Thursday 26 November,
  • Wood Green, Wednesday 2 December.
Telephone: 0207 934 9622 for information on the consultation and the London Councils grants scheme. Alternatively, visit website at: www.londoncouncils.gov.uk.

Wellbeing Newsline > Magazine > Contributors > World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Scotland > Northern Ireland > Wales > Greater London > Norfolk > Suffolk > Essex > Cambridgeshire > Hertfordshire > Bedfordshire > Social network pages > Twitter > Delicious > Wikio > Email the editor > Newsdesk > Skype vision and text > Newslineeditor1

GLOBAL > AFRICA > ASIA > CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA > EUROPE > NORTH AMERICA > OCEANIA
Mind and body wellbeing > Health and social services > Healthcare professionals > Economics > Work and training > Education > Families > Age > Carers > Disabilities > Nutrition > Exercise > Communities > Poverty > Housing > Transport > Abuse > Legal > Prisons > Sexuality > War
http://www.wikio.com
Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Latest guidelines for dementia care published by Healthcare for London




Advice for NHS organisations and local authorities

Edited by Nick Adams: The Dementia Services Guide, published by Healthcare for London, offers advice to the NHS and local authorities on how to improve services and offers practical information on the checks that should be undertaken at every stage – from the GP surgery, through to ambulance and hospital care and care–in–the–community.

The guidelines promote early diagnosis and more support for people to live at home for longer. They recommend that health and social care providers should try to slow the progress of dementia with physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, and social activity.

Specialist mental health nurses or other healthcare professional should be assigned to each London borough to support carers; and a senior clinician should take the lead for quality improvement in dementia care in every acute hospital in the capital, according to the guidelines.

Rapid access memory services should also be commissioned to provide expertise in early identification and treatment and support for living well with dementia in the community, and care plans should be prepared to detail the precise needs of patients’ physical, psychological, and social health needs.

Less than half of the capital’s GPs believe they have received sufficient basic and post-qualification training to diagnose and manage dementia, says Healthcare for London, which advises better training across the health sector.

For further information visit Healthcare for London online at: www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk.

Wellbeing Newsline > Magazine > Contributors > World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Scotland > Northern Ireland > Wales > Greater London > Norfolk > Suffolk > Essex > Cambridgeshire > Hertfordshire > Bedfordshire > Social network pages > Twitter > Delicious > Wikio > Email the editor > Newsdesk > Skype vision and text > Newslineeditor1

GLOBAL > AFRICA > ASIA > CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA > EUROPE > NORTH AMERICA > OCEANIA
Mind and body wellbeing > Health and social services > Healthcare professionals > Economics > Work and training > Education > Families > Age > Carers > Disabilities > Nutrition > Exercise > Communities > Poverty > Housing > Transport > Abuse > Legal > Prisons > Sexuality > War
http://www.wikio.com
Bookmark and Share

Monday, October 19, 2009

GP–led, seven–days–a–week service, opens at Charing Cross Hospital




Fulham health centre treats minor injuries and illnesses

Edited by Nick Adams: Local residents in West London should benefit from easier access to GPs and emergency medical care since a new 24–hour health centre opened at Charing Cross Hospital recently.

The Fulham Centre for Health works alongside the emergency department to provide urgent care for people with minor injuries and illnesses. In addition, it functions like a conventional GP surgery and offers registration to local residents with appointments available between 8am and 8pm, seven–days–a–week.

Because the Centre is located on a hospital site it can provide quicker access to diagnostic services, such as X–rays. It joins the Hammersmith Centre for Health, opened in April this year, to provide GP and out–of–hour’s services.

Visit Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust online at: www.imperial.nhs.uk.

Wellbeing Newsline > Magazine > Contributors > World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Scotland > Northern Ireland > Wales > Greater London > Norfolk > Suffolk > Essex > Cambridgeshire > Hertfordshire > Bedfordshire > Social network pages > Twitter > Delicious > Wikio > Email the editor > Newsdesk > Vision and text > Skype: Newslineeditor1

GLOBAL > AFRICA > ASIA > CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA > EUROPE > NORTH AMERICA > OCEANIA
Mind and body wellbeing > Health and social services > Healthcare professionals > Economics > Work and training > Education > Families > Age > Carers > Disabilities > Nutrition > Exercise > Communities > Poverty > Housing > Transport > Abuse > Legal > Prisons > Sexuality > War
http://www.wikio.com
Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Eco–friendly development opens for local people on Hillingdon housing list




First large–scale build to accomplish Level Five Code

Edited by Kaarina Miles: Paradigm Housing, in partnership with the London Borough of Hillingdon and the Homes and Communities Agency [HCA], has opened the first large–scale affordable housing initiative in London and the south east designed to meet the Level Five Code for sustainable homes.

Birchway eco–community uses green water recycling and solar panels to power lights in communal areas. It also has a biomass boiler that burns waste wood chips to power hot water and heating.

The contemporary development, designed by architects Acanthus, will offer 24 one and two–bedroom flats for local people on the council’s housing list.

A living sedum shrub on each low–level building’s curved roof will offer a habitat for insects and butterflies, and the site will have bird and bat boxes.

The Code was launched in 2007 and places particular importance on CO2 emissions. Since May 2008, all new homes are required to have a Code rating [one to six], to be included in the Home Information Pack. A Level One property’s performance is above the minimum required by the Building Regulations. A Level Six property is required to be ‘zero carbon’, for example, have zero net emissions of carbon throughout the year.

For more details visit
Paradigm Housing online at: www.paradigmhousing.co.uk.

Wellbeing Newsline > Magazine > Contributors > World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Scotland > Northern Ireland > Wales > Greater London > Norfolk > Suffolk > Essex > Cambridgeshire > Hertfordshire > Bedfordshire > Social network pages > Twitter > Delicious > Wikio > Email the editor > Newsdesk > Vision and text > Skype: Newslineeditor1

GLOBAL > AFRICA > ASIA > CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA > EUROPE > NORTH AMERICA > OCEANIA
Mind and body wellbeing > Health and social services > Healthcare professionals > Economics > Work and training > Education > Families > Age > Carers > Disabilities > Nutrition > Exercise > Communities > Poverty > Housing > Transport > Abuse > Legal > Prisons > Sexuality > War
http://www.wikio.com
Bookmark and Share

Monday, October 12, 2009

Applicants across London wanted to join National Tenant Voice Council




Representatives in debate will help to shape policy

Edited by Kaarina Miles: Housing associations across London are asking tenants to apply to join the National Tenant Voice Council [NTV] – a new organisation for tenants of housing associations, housing co–ops and local authorities in England that aims to give tenants a voice, influence and expertise at national level.

The NTV will enable tenants to influence national policy by engagement with the Government and other bodies [including the new social housing regulator – the Tenant Services Authority]. It will be accountable to tenants, and aims to reflect the views of tenants sought through consultation and research.

It will be made–up of 50 tenants who will meet to debate and discuss key housing policy issues. Twenty–four members will be nominated by existing tenants’ organisations. The remaining 26 will be recruited.

It will have four key roles:
  • advocacy – to enable and facilitate tenants to speak–up effectively,
  • research – to ensure the views and experiences of tenants, particularly those who are not in tenants’ organisations, are taken into account,
  • support for national and regional tenants’ organisations – to strengthen tenants’ organisations at regional and national level.
  • communication – to develop mechanisms to communicate information to tenants as well as receive the views of tenants.
The closing date for applications is 16 October 2009.

For further information telephone: 0800 917 7396. Visit online: www.hays.com/jobs/ntv

Wellbeing Newsline > Magazine > Contributors > World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Scotland > Northern Ireland > Wales > Greater London > Norfolk > Suffolk > Essex > Cambridgeshire > Hertfordshire > Bedfordshire > Social network pages > Twitter > Delicious > Wikio > Email the editor > Newsdesk > Vision and text > Skype: Newslineeditor1

GLOBAL > AFRICA > ASIA > CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA > EUROPE > NORTH AMERICA > OCEANIA
Mind and body wellbeing > Health and social services > Healthcare professionals > Economics > Work and training > Education > Families > Age > Carers > Disabilities > Nutrition > Exercise > Communities > Poverty > Housing > Transport > Abuse > Legal > Prisons > Sexuality > War
http://www.wikio.com
Bookmark and Share

Richmond providers seek people’s views on two new mental health plans




Aimed at local adults of working age and older people

Edited by Kaarina Miles: NHS Richmond and The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames would like people who live and work in the borough to participate in a consultation on mental health services as they develop two new mental health strategies.

The two strategies will last five years, from 2010 to 2015, and are for adults of working age and for older people.

The providers are particularly keen to hear from those who use/have used mental health services and their carers, and have designed a simple consultation questionnaire for this purpose. They ask people to give their views on how to improve all aspects of mental health care, from GP services to Community Mental Health Teams and housing services to self–directed support.

Questionnaires are available from the Mental Health Commissioning Team, telephone: 020 8973 3115. It can also be filled–in online at: www.richmondandtwickenham.nhs.uk.

A meeting for adult service users to give their views on the emerging strategy will take place on 30 November 2009. Anyone who wishes to attend should telephone: 020 8973 3116 or email: rebecca.campbell@rtpct.nhs.uk for more details.

Two carer consultation meetings will also take place on 19 October and 23 November. Information on these is available from Kim Willson, telephone: 020 8940 7384.

In November, NHS Richmond will report back with an overview of the comments received from the questionnaire and meetings in October. They will respond to and highlight any themes resulting from the feedback. The first draft strategies will then be available in November 2009 for people to comment on further.

Wellbeing Newsline > Magazine > Contributors > World > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Scotland > Northern Ireland > Wales > Greater London > Norfolk > Suffolk > Essex > Cambridgeshire > Hertfordshire > Bedfordshire > Social network pages > Twitter > Delicious > Wikio > Email the editor > Newsdesk > Vision and text > Skype: Newslineeditor1

GLOBAL > AFRICA > ASIA > CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA > EUROPE > NORTH AMERICA > OCEANIA
Mind and body wellbeing > Health and social services > Healthcare professionals > Economics > Work and training > Education > Families > Age > Carers > Disabilities > Nutrition > Exercise > Communities > Poverty > Housing > Transport > Abuse > Legal > Prisons > Sexuality > War
http://www.wikio.com
Bookmark and Share