Across the country recently, there has been a lot of discussion about how useful 15 minute visits are, as part of a care package. If someone is also having other visits to provide care throughout the day, then the short 15 minute visits can be a useful means of checking that someone is safe or providing a drink or medication, if required. But how satisfying are they for the individual? Certainly, it is a very short time if someone requires more than a drink or check, particularly if there is no other interaction with people during the day. What are your thoughts on this? Here is a link to interesting article about this topic.
Author Archives: admin
Fill your social calendar with events prescribed by your GP
Following concerns about the increase in social isolation and loneliness in communities, GPs are being encouraged to prescribe trips to lunch clubs and museums as part of new measures to tackle the problem. Read and view more from the BBC There is also evidence that learning basic computer and internet skills can reduce loneliness.
NHS – Alert! Update on the care.data project
NHS – Alert!
NHS care.data scheme
The government has announced that the implementation of its care.data project has been postponed until the Autumn, following concerns expressed by the Royal Colleges, charities, private companies, patients and the British Medical Association that there has been inadequate public notification and that many people do not understand the implications of the scheme. There are concerns that NHS England has failed to inform patients about how the data collected will be used, and by whom, which could undermine patients’ confidence in the NHS. Nor has the right to opt-out of the scheme been publicised adequately. Continue reading
GPs to send care.data ‘opt-out’ letters
NHS care.data scheme
Following the Government’s decision to run a pilot scheme with 500 GP practices this Autumn, the Chair of the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) announced that a pilot study involving the extraction of patients’ medical records from 100 GP practices will start in the autumn. GPs continue to express their concern about the lack of of patient awareness of the care.data project. GPs involved the pilot study have therefore decided to send out ‘opt-out’ letters to their patients in order to ensure that they can make an informed decision about whether or not they wish to have their medical records made available for possible purchase by academics and commercial enterprises.
To follow the progress on care.data, please view the previous blogs on this page and also the Government survey article on the ‘Have your say’ webpage. Closing date August 8th.
More than half of the public are unaware of the care.data project!
NHS care.data scheme
More than half of the general public still has not heard of the Government’s project of sharing patients’ medical records and making them available for purchase. This was revealed by an IPSOS MORI poll commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The survey also found that over half of the general public was against an opt-out policy.
This coincides with the result of a vote by doctors, at the British Medical Association conference in Harrogate, in favour of an opt-in policy. In part, the results of the vote could put pressure on the Government to make a concerted effort to educate the public about the care.data scheme, having failed to do so thus far.
For further details, please read the posts below.
Come cruising with us!
Come and join us on Saturday August 16th, when we are going cruising on a boat in Skipton. The trip includes lunch and there’s time to explore Skipton, too. So bring your cameras and be prepared for a lovely day out.
Looking for company or friendly conversation?
The Friendship Circle is a new venture which aims to provide a meeting place for people to develop new friendships. So, if you’re new to Harrogate and don’t know anyone yet, or would like to meet new people, why not join us in the meeting hall at West Park United Reform Church. Click friendship circle flyer for further details.
Time to prepare for a cyber attack! Computer users take action!
Alarming news from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA): you have “two weeks” to protect yourself from a major cyber-threat. A warning has been issued to all users of MS Windows based equipment.
Is the NHS really going to sell our medical records!
NHS care.data scheme
Members of the the Forum, and visitors, packed the meeting room today to attend a presentation on the Government’s care.data scheme, given by Professor Justin Keen from Leeds University. He described the progress of the scheme to date, its aims, proposed benefits and some of the controversies surrounding it. Forum members were keen to hear about what would be happening to their medical records and this controversial topic certainly stimulated a lot of questions both during and after the presentation. A very informative and worthwhile meeting.
Please see the next post for further details about the care.data project, or click here for detailed information. If you wish to opt-out of the project click caredata_opt-out form for a form to print or alternatively click here for further advice.
Crisis talks postpone Government’s medical records data project
NHS care.data scheme
The government has announced that the implementation of its care.data project has been postponed until the Autumn, following concerns expressed by the Royal Colleges, charities, private companies, patients and the British Medical Association that there has been inadequate public notification and that many people do not understand the implications of the scheme. There are concerns that NHS England has failed to inform patients about how the data collected will be used, and by whom. Nor has the right to opt-out of the scheme been publicised adequately.
On June 27th the British Medical Association voted in favour of an opt-in policy.