Showing posts from April 2013

Multiple sclerosis patients are missing out on drugs

Only 40% of people eligible for drugs to combat multiple sclerosis in the UK are actually taking them, says a report from the MS Society.

A survey of more than 10,000 adults with MS showed that many were missing out on the seven licensed medicines approved for use.

The charity said a lack of information and access to specialists was to blame.

It is calling for the government to provide a personalised care plan to every person with MS.

To read the full article please click here.

What's going on in Blackpool?

We have had lots of training going on in Blackpool this week with Helen from Abbott coming to spend a full day with us delivering training to the home care team on the new PEG feed machines that are coming into use in the community. Helen commented on how many interesting questions the different groups asked and how it kept her on her toes! She’s back with us next week to do some more!

We have also had Abby our in-house trainer here to deliver the offqual registered first aid training, there were half bandaged bodies everywhere!

I am very honoured to say that I am meeting next week with NAS, who have invited me to become an apprenticeship ambassador - I have of course accepted and can’t wait to get out there telling even more people about the great benefits to both employees and employers of apprenticeships!

Watch out for next week’s blog as we talk about the exciting changes to the Routes Blackpool Team and the new opportunities this will bring!

Dementia Training

It’s been an exciting week at Routes - The Great British Care Show last week was an empowering experience and it was lovely to see so many people passionate about the work they do.

The Alzheimer’s Society delivered an informative session about improving dementia care in a challenging health and social care sector. It got me thinking about what more we can do to help equip our staff with the knowledge and skills for working with clients with dementia.....

We are now, with the help and support of Kim from the fantastic St Ann’s Hospice, delivering Dementia Training throughout our branches to give our staff the knowledge needed to help to provide the best care possible for people with dementia. We are very lucky to have the support of such an inspiring organisation!

NHS bosses ponder hospital hotels to ease ward pressure

Plans for hospital hotels to care for patients who no longer need 24-hour medical care are being considered by NHS managers.

Under the proposals, patients such as the elderly waiting to be discharged, new mothers and stroke patients would recover in hotel-style facilities.

The idea is being reviewed by the new commissioning body, NHS England.

Supporters say the scheme, based on a Scandinavian model, would ease demand on hospital beds.

Patient hotels are common in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden and Norway.

They cater for patients who do not need to be on an inpatient ward, such as couples staying overnight after the birth of a baby or recovering stroke patients.

As well as offering more freedom for patients, the buildings are designed to save money, since a hotel room is cheaper than the price of a hospital bed.

Click here to read more.

Royal College of Nursing brands reforms as 'stupid'

Nurses' leaders have branded parts of the government's plans to reform the profession as "stupid".

The Royal College of Nursing said ministers had missed an opportunity to improve patient care after the Stafford Hospital scandal public inquiry.

The strongest criticism was given to the plan to get trainee nurses to work for a year as healthcare assistants.

A survey by the union of more than 2,000 senior nurses also raised concerns about unsafe staffing levels.

A total of 71% said they were not confident that staffing levels were always adequate, with more than a third saying they were unsafe on a weekly basis.

To read the full article, click here.