A charity which provides a life-saving service for Somerset and Dorset hospital patients says it is having to change the way it raises money in response to “donor fatigue”.

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Topics: Care, General

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Heating scheme to help cut cold-related illness (Plymouth Herald)

PEOPLE with a medical condition that is made worse by the cold and damp can get help to heat their homes under a new council scheme.

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Topics: Health, General

Friday, February 24th, 2012

'Silver surfers' should be listened to

As patients' interaction with the health service increasingly moves online, it is easy to assume that the voices of the elderly will be lost along the way. But in this week's Scrubbing Up, Dr Paul Hodgkin of the feedback site Patient Opinion, says social media channels are not just for the young.

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Topics: Elderly

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Plymouth University spends £25m into medical research

Plymouth University is spending £25m on medical research, the establishment has announced.

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Topics: New Research

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

Health trust boosted by outpatient survey

OUTPATIENTS at Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust are so pleased with the care they receive that the Trust has been placed in the top 20 per cent in the country.

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Topics: CQC, NHS Trusts

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

Care regulator head leaves post

The head of the body regulating health and social care has announced her resignation - as a critical government report into its work is published.

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Topics: General

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Call for Dignity Code to protect elderly patients

Nurses and care workers should sign a Dignity Code guaranteeing that elderly patients are treated with respect, say a group of politicians and charities.

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Topics: Care, Care Homes, Elderly, Nurses

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Plans approved for Derbyshire elderly care

Plans to replace 20 care homes in Derbyshire with apartments for the elderly have been approved by Derbyshire County Council.

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Topics: Care Homes

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

GPs 'to prescribe health apps'

GPs could soon offer their patients free smartphone apps to help with managing health conditions

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Topics: Care

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Leicestershire charity recycles £10m of waste medicine

A Leicestershire charity has recycled more than £10m of unwanted medicines to help save lives in Africa.

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Topics: Drugs, Health, General

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Andrew Lansley heckled by June Hautot in NHS protest

David Cameron has said there "are a few myths we need to bust" and pledged to push ahead with his NHS changes after his health secretary was heckled and jostled outside Downing Street.

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Topics: Politics, NHS

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Highcliffe Nursing Home 'expected notice of death'

A woman has called for more rules on what care homes can demand after she was asked to pay £3,000 because she failed to give it four weeks' "notice" before her father died.

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Topics: Elderly, Care Homes

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Good Care Guide launch prompts concerns

Concerns have been raised about a new website that lets people post their thoughts on care providers in England.

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Topics: Care Homes

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Apology for care facility failings

CONCERNS have been raised concerns over the welfare of patients at a facility at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish.

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Topics: Care, CQC, NHS Trusts

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Delay NHS 111 phoneline rollout, doctors urge

Doctors' leaders say they have "serious concerns" about the rollout of the NHS 111 phoneline in England.

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Topics: NHS

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Care home failed to meet essential safety standards, say inspectors

THE OWNERS of a private care home for people with autism blamed its "cutting edge" paper-free management system on its failure to meet essential safety and quality standards.

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Topics: Care Homes

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Slow walking 'predicts dementia'

The speed someone walks may predict the likelihood of developing dementia later in life, according to researchers in the US. BBC NEWS

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Topics: Alzeihers, Alzheimers, Dementia, Dementia, New Research, General, Elderly

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Thousands sign petition to save Cumbria care homes

More than 10,000 protesters have signed a petition opposing the planned closure of three care homes in West Cumbria.

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Topics: Care Homes, Money

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Shouldham Hall Nursing Home criticised by CQC

A Norfolk nursing home is failing to protect the welfare of people in its care, a report by an industry watchdog has said.

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Topics: Care, Care Homes, CQC

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Somerset County Council defers young carers budget cuts

Somerset County Council has deferred planned cuts to its Young Carers Service for one year.

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Topics: Carers

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

South West stroke research is 'saving lives'

Researchers behind a pilot study in the South West say they are saving lives and improving recovery from the country's third biggest killer.

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Topics: New Research, Health

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Royal Cornwall Hospital ward closed after complaint

A ward at the Royal Cornwall Hospital has been closed and staff suspended after a complaint about patient care.

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Topics: Elderly, Failing Care, Hospitals, NHS

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Hypothermia cases almost double

A succession of cold winters paired with steep increases in the cost of energy bills has seen the number of older people dying from hypothermia almost double over the last five years

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Topics: Care, Elderly, Health

Monday, February 13th, 2012

How doctors choose to die

When faced with a terminal illness, medical professionals, who know the limits of modern medicine, often opt out of life-prolonging treatment. An American doctor explains why the best death can be the least medicated – and the art of dying peacefully, at home

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Topics: Doctors

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Apartments to replace care homes for elderly in Derbyshire

Plans to replace 20 care homes in Derbyshire with apartments for the elderly have been announced by Derbyshire County Council.

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Topics: Care at Home, Care Homes, Elderly, Money

Monday, February 13th, 2012

BMA calls for fresh debate on rate of organ donation

Society should have a fresh debate on organ donation, according to a new report by the British Medical Association

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Topics: NHS, New Research, General

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Oldest living twins' aged 102 in Aberdeenshire

Two 102-year-old sisters who live in Aberdeenshire have been recognised as the world's oldest living twins by the Guinness World Records.

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Topics: General

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Alzheimer's brain plaques 'rapidly cleared' in mice

Destructive plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients have been rapidly cleared by researchers testing a cancer drug on mice.

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Topics: New Research, Alzheimers

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Government defeat in Lords over Health and Social Care Bill

The government has lost a House of Lords vote on its controversial plans to overhaul the NHS in England.

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Topics: Nurses, NHS

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Poltair Hospital closes ward due to staff shortages

A west Cornwall hospital has been forced to close a ward because of ongoing staff shortages over the last four months.

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Topics: NHS, Money, Hospitals

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

New council warning over costs of care for the elderly

t's a political and financial worry for all of us; just how do we pay for our loved ones who need residential care?

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Topics: Care, Elderly, Politics

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Lords urged to back NHS private work plan

Peers have been urged to support a move to let hospitals do more private sector work as plans to overhaul the NHS in England return to the Lords.

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Topics: Politics, NHS

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Care for elderly 'let down by fragmented system

Older people are being let down by a social care system in which they are "passed like a parcel" between services, a committee of MPs has said.

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Topics: Care, Elderly, NHS Trusts

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Review under way into Cornwall's ME service

Cornwall's chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) service is being reviewed.

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Topics: Care, NHS Trusts

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Elderly residents given days to leave Holcombe House

Eleven elderly people in a Dartmoor residential home have been given a week to leave. BBC News Website

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Topics: Care, Elderly, Health, Care Home Closed, CQC, General

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Supreme Court to hear social care cost arguments

The Supreme Court is to hear a case challenging the way councils in England can consider their finances when assessing people for social care.

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Topics: Care, Politics

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Older people urged to keep houses warm in February

Keeping your home warm while it is cold outside could potentially save your life.

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Topics: Care, Elderly, Health, General

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

David Flory confirmed as first Chief Executive of NHS Trust Development Authority

David Flory has been confirmed as the first Chief Executive of the NHS Trust Development Authority (NTDA).

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Topics: NHS

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Nurse Plus- Leading by example for Care Home Agencies...

NursePlus have nurses' and carers' at all their care at home agencies across the country. Check out their website for more information www.NursePlusUk.com

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Topics: Care at Home, Nursing Agency, Carers, Care

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

NHS reform bill: Royal College of GPs urges scrapping

The Royal College of GPs has called for the health bill to be scrapped, heaping more pressure on the government's controversial reforms in England.

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Topics: Doctors, Health, NHS, Politics

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Amendments to Health and Social Care Bill published

The Government has tabled a series of amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill in advance of its Report Stage in the House of Lords, which begins next week.