On Friday, 18 July, Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill was officially debated in the House of Lords. The discussion lasted nearly 10 hours, and ultimately passed its second reading without a vote. Lord Falconer opened the debate, by emphasising the safeguards of his proposed law, as well as why the system needed to be changed. …
Assisted Dying Bill sparks 10-Hour Debate in Lords Read More »
The House of Commons Education Committee has published a report entitled “Into Independence, not Out of Care: 16 Plus Care Options,” which focuses on the inadequate accommodation young adults receive after leaving the care system in England. The report focuses on several core issues, and offers recommendations for each area including; The safety of ‘other …
Living-arrangements for young people leaving care “Inadequate.” Read More »
According to Norman Lamb, minister for care and support, the NHS is currently “dysfunctional” when it comes to caring properly for child and adolescent mental health needs. Lamb told the parliamentary health committee, holding the final evidence session for its inquiry into child and adolescent mental health services that services had to improve. He explained …
“Dysfunctional” care for child and adolescent mental health Read More »
The Government is expected to announce that a system of special measures designed to improve failing hospitals will be extended to care homes and domiciliary care agencies. The CQC is set to apply their ratings-system currently used on failing hospitals to care homes. The process was introduced by CQC following the public inquiry into the …
Hospitals in England are being given guidelines regarding safe nurse staffing levels, as provided by NICE. While the official guidance states that “there is no single nursing staff-to-patient ratio”, it also claimed that having less than two nurses on a ward during any shift was a cause for concern. NICE outlined several other “red flag” …
The CQC has announced that their 12 new fundamental standards will not come into force in October this year as previously planned, and they are now intended to come into force in April 2015. CQC states that their fundamental standards are used to “underpin our assessments on whether care has fallen below acceptable standards.” The …
According to a recent National Audit Office report looking at GP out-of-hours services, the total number of cases handled by GP out-of-hours services has fallen by 2.8 million since 2008. The significant fall is partly due to the introduction of the NHS 111 telephone service. The NAO report published the following findings: Although some parts …
The Department of Health has opened a consultation on the Code of Practice: Mental Health Act 1983 (“Act”). The Code is intended to provide guidance to mental health professionals and others who fall under the Act to ensure that they act in accordance with the law. It also provides information on the rights of people …
Department of Health Starts Consultation on Mental Health Act Code of Practice Read More »
NHS England has announced a new programme designed to assist individuals with specific and complicated needs. These individuals have been provisionally split into four groups by NHS England: Children with complex needs People with learning disabilities People with long-term conditions, including frail elderly people at risk of care home admission People with severe and enduring …
Lord Falconer has stated that most of the peers in the House of Lords are in favour of changing the law in order to allow doctors to aid terminally ill individuals in ending their lives, prior to the bills second reading on 18 July 2014. Regarding the bill, Falconer stated “Since it last came to …
Assisted Dying Bill supported by ‘Majority’ of Lords Read More »
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