Care Sector News Review: November

A quick round up of what’s been in the news, and what’s been happening within the care sector in the last month.

Welcome back for the November edition of Care Sector News Review.

While medical research news has been mixed, a series of awareness initiatives organised by charities and facilitated by the public have turned attention back to the practical assistance of people in need.

Read on to learn more about the latest developments in care services, medical research and awareness initiatives.

Care services

• Care providers nationwide have held events and services in honour of Armistice Day (November 11) and Remembrance Sunday (November 13).
• The House of Lords has been preparing to take evidence from the devolved Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, which is trialling a new regional care model.
• Age UK and the Alzheimer’s Society have strongly criticised public care quality standards in England, claiming the number of older people not receiving care has risen 50% since 2010.
• Hundreds of care homes across the UK are denying visitation rights to relatives who complain about the quality of care provided.
• 25% of UK care homes face severe financial hardship within the next three years, according to a new study from Opus.
• The East of England Co-op has received a royal commendation for their dementia-friendly retail awareness training programme.

Medical research

• Dementia is now the leading cause of death in England and Wales, according to ONS. This has been largely attributed to an ageing population and improving diagnosis.
• However, a new US study appears to verify earlier findings from European studies that the proportion of people with dementia is actually falling.
• A new drug thought to have the potential to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s has failed in the final stage of clinical trials.
• Palliative care can dramatically improve quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis, according to a study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• Approximately 9,000 stroke patients per year are being denied NHS treatment that could prevent disability due to a lack of skilled staff, a number of UK academics have stated.
• Researchers from Manchester University have identified a drug that could potentially limit and then repair brain damage following a stroke.

Awareness initiatives

• Fundraising and awareness initiatives have been held across the country to mark Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month and Mouth Cancer Action Month.
• November was also COPD Awareness Month. A series of events and discussion groups were held to raise awareness of this condition, which disproportionately affects older adults.
• Self Care Week took place from November 14 – 20. Supported by the NHS, the initiative is designed to give people the information they need to look after themselves at home.
• World Diabetes Day was held on November 14. Led by the International Diabetes Federation, this year’s event aimed to raise awareness of complications with diabetes.

Join us again at the end of December for the final Care Sector News Review instalment of 2016.