Issue 73 08.09.21
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Leader fears virus could strike again A SOCIAL care leader fears the world could be hit by a new pandemic sooner rather than later. Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, is concerned it could pose an even greater threat if it involves a vaccine-resistant virus. It was therefore, said Mario, vital that the inquiry into the current crisis should focus on the lessons learned rather than getting bogged down in a blame culture. He praised the Welsh Government for providing better and more effective support to the social care sector than had been the case in other parts of the UK. He said: “We have done things differently here in Wales and it’s very important that we understand what’s happened here, particularly how we can avoid this in future. “We will have to learn to live with this disease and it’s possible it will come back in a form that evades the vaccine. It is therefore vitally important that we learn these lessons. “What we need is an overarching UK-wide review and within that we need to look at what happened here in Wales and the other nations – an inquiry within an inquiry if you like.
“The way the social care sector has been supported in Wales is very different to the rest of the UK and we are grateful to the Welsh Government for the financial aid at a time when it was most needed.” A UK-wide inquiry is due to get underway next Spring, with First Minister Mark Drakeford resisting calls for a Walesspecific review. According to Mario, that was a sensible approach because it would be impossible to completely separate what happened in the different nations of the UK. He added: “A public inquiry will clearly flag up certain issues where things have gone wrong but it won’t necessarily reflect the collaboration and support the sector has had from the Welsh Government. “There is a greater understanding in Wales about how the sector fits into and integrates with the health service. It’s important to understand that in a devolved administration here in Wales and the only way to do that would be to have a separate review that would report into an overall UK-wide inquiry, along with similar reviews in Scotland and Northern Ireland.”
Paw-some visits at care home
A carer at a New Forest nursing home has raised nearly £800 for a cancer charity by braving a head shave. Healthcare assistant Jess Wild, a team member at Colten Care’s Lymington home Belmore Lodge, thanked all who contributed to her initiative which was in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. She said: “I braved the shave in memory of a few people including a mentor whose strong mind and courage I’ll admire for the rest of my life, my grandmother who will forever be my guardian angel, and everyone else who has ever been affected by cancer. My grand total is £782. I am so honoured to be surrounded by such generous and kind people. Thank you to all who supported me.” Jess’ sister Alex Bingham did the honours with the clippers.
A BIG THANK YOU
FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE SAFE AND HAPPY …
WE’RE IN AWE OF YOUR SELFLESS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
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AN EDINBURGH housing development has organised pet therapy sessions for elderly customers to help combat loneliness, following initial success throughout lockdown. Cocker spaniel Caly has been visiting customers at Bield’s Castlebrae Glebe in Craigmillar twice a week since September to provide much needed fun activities and cuddles. Development manager Sharon Tomany organised the sessions to encourage positive mental health and help individuals tackle issues that come with isolation. She said: “The pet therapy sessions have been received extremely positively by customers and staff as there is nothing better than a cuddle from a fluffy animal, especially during a period of isolation where socialising and human interaction was limited. “We made the decision to continue the sessions as customers have noticeably benefited and we’ve seen first-hand just how big an impact it has. I can tell when we have Caly in the building, our customers’ faces light up. “Some of our customers feel comfort with Caly as it brings back fond memories of when they had pets of their own. It fills me with happiness to see how much joy Caly has brought to Castlebrae Glebe, we look forward to her visits.” The 10-year-old spaniel has proved a major hit as customers get the chance to stroke and brush him for up to an hour.
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Home hosts wedding ceremony for devoted Grandmother Beryl Residents at Rogers House Residential Care Home in Wigmore made masks of a different kind during their weekly craft activity. Using plenty of coloured paints and glitter and some blank cardboard cutouts, the residents created their very own theatrical masks, each telling a story of their own. Home manager Jackie Miles said: “Our residents love their craft activities, so our activity team are always trying and think of some innovative and inspiring ideas for them to try their hand at. They had great fun coming up with ideas and seeing their themes come to life.”
Raffle raises £1,470 for hospice HOMECARE provider Bluebird Care Stafford held a raffle that raised £1,470 for a local hospice. With the support of local businesses in the area who donated prizes for the draw, including hampers, vouchers, personal training sessions, and even tickets for a trip to Cadbury World, the raffle was popular amongst Bluebird Care Stafford customers, staff and the general public, with 134 tickets sold. Director at Bluebird Care Stafford, Rick Parekh, said: “To be able to donate this amount to a fantastic
local charity that we know well here at Bluebird Care is amazing. “The services they provide are essential and to support them in any way possible is so important. Thank you to all who purchased tickets, and the local businesses who generously donated prizes.” The fundraiser was organised with the aim of giving back to Katharine House, a hospice in the Staffordshire area that relies on the kindness and generosity of people to provide vital free care for patients and support for their families.
MHA Elmside hosted a re-enacted wedding ceremony, as the close-knit family of resident Beryl Taylor, 95, decided to ‘take the wedding to their Nan’ in the care home’s gardens. Groom and grandson Joe Wiggins married his fiancé Charlene Wiggins (nee Henry) earlier in the month at the Three Rivers Church in Bedford, which was followed by a Covid compliant reception at The Bedford Swan Hotel. Despite live-streaming the event to the many guests sadly unable to attend, the devoted grandson wanted to ensure his grandmother Beryl didn’t miss out on the magic of the day, so a plan was hatched. Joe said: “Family means a lot to us and we were gutted that Beryl was unable to come to the real wedding. “We wanted her to share in the magic of our marriage and create memories and photos for the future, so this seemed the perfect alternative. “I have always been very close to my Nan, I understand that she may not be able to remember our wedding re-enactment clearly, but I believe that the happiness she experienced during our visit will stay with her.” Bride Charlene added: “My Dad was able to walk me down the ‘aisle’ again and it was great to have Beryl feel like she was part of our big day. I loved putting my dress on again as brides don’t often get to wear their dress a second time.” Vilawan Hawkes, home manager at MHA Elmside, said: “We couldn’t let Beryl miss out, so the happy couple re-enacted their wedding day especially for her at Elmside.
“It was a special moment, and so lovely to share our garden with them, especially during our Garden Week. Many congratulations to a lovely couple.” The bride and groom added: “We were very touched by the reception we received from both the staff and residents at Elmside. “We arrived to a round of applause and some very touching comments and congratulations. We were lucky to get a feel of the magic we had on our wedding day, all over again. “After the “ceremony” at Elmside we had some quality time with Nan at our own ‘reception’. “We had cake and wine and listened to some of Nan’s favourite music, she tapped her foot and sang along, it was beautiful. These are memories we will never forget.”
Advertiser’s announcement
Gainsborough to pioneer at Care Show 2021 GAINSBOROUGH Specialist Bathrooms will be demonstrating, through clinical evidence, how its baths with integrated antimicrobial BioCote technology are proven for advanced hygiene and care excellence on stand C32 at the Care Show (NEC, 13-14 October). Part of the Gainsborough Healthcare Group, Gainsborough Specialist Bathrooms is a 360-degree provider of bathing solutions for the long term and acute care sectors. Its bath manufacturing prowess, built over 30 years, has established its brands as a leading choice for healthcare providers. Gainsborough Healthcare Group CEO Peter Eckhardt said: “We all fully appreciate that infection control is absolutely critical. “As the sector faces new challenges, Gainsborough believes it has a duty of care as a bath manufacturer to provide solutions that deliver advanced hygiene. This is why we integrate BioCote.” Gainsborough baths were the first and remain the only bathing solutions to contain integrated BioCote technology which provides
99.9 per cent 24/7 protection against viruses, bacteria and microbes. Through robust testing, this silverion additive is proven to combat Influenza H1N1, E.coli, Salmonella and antibiotic-resistant CPE, CRO, CRE, VRE and MRSA. As the need for infection control continues to accelerate due to the
pandemic, the need for dependable antimicrobial protection is now more critical than ever before – delivered by Gainsborough. Results regarding clinical case studies of BioCote will be available on stand C32. Procurement personnel representing care homes, hospitals
and rehabilitation facilities will be able to access this material and discuss BioCote effectiveness with senior Gainsborough representatives. The three power-assisted care baths on display, namely the Gentona, Sentes and Ezion, all contain BioCote and provide exceptional hygiene and efficiency. Each model offers specific performance and economic advantages relevant to individual care scenarios – covering a wideranging scope of patient and carer requirements and maximising moving and handling efficiency. The presence of BioCote provides peace of mind and can reduce the risk of potential staff sickness and infectious outbreaks. As a complementary solution for advanced hygiene, BioCote cannot be wiped or worn away like traditional disinfecting fluids; therefore reducing the possibility of cross contamination – critical in high traffic, communal bathing facilities. Its presence also reduces odours and stains whilst strengthening surface durability, so baths deliver greater long-term value.
CARINGWEEKLY
Cautious welcome for reform plan THE care sector has been responding to the news that the Government is considering an increase in National Insurance to pay for social care reform. Representative body the Independent Care Group said it was pleased that a solution to the social care funding crisis was edging closer. But it warned that funding was only half the solution and the staffing crisis was the current biggest issue facing providers. Chair Mike Padgham said: “This is positive news and an indication that social care reform could at last be on the way. “Personally, I think an increase in Income Tax might be a fairer way to do it, but no doubt the details will be ironed out in the future. “We have waited 30 years and currently have 1.5m people not getting the care they need. “We wait to see what is actually announced but tackling the crippling cost of social care would be a good place to start. “It is wrong that people currently end up selling their home to pay for the care they need. “We have long campaigned for better funding for social care and believe that people would be prepared to pay a little more in taxation or National Insurance, or a combination of both, in return for a properly-funded, fair social care system. “At the same time, this can only
Stewart Stretton-Hill be the very start of reform and has to be a part of a root and branch overhaul of the system to make it fit for purpose. “At the moment the crisis in social care staffing is at the uppermost of providers’ minds as they struggle to get enough staff to cover their shifts. “Any reform would have to tackle the staffing issue and ensure we create a sector which is properly rewarding to those working in it. “We need proper, sustainable funding, for dementia to be treated as other serious illnesses are, and funded accordingly, and for a proper pay and reward structure for social care staff. “Capping care costs – however it is done – is only the beginning. A good
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Mike Padgham beginning but just the start.” But GMB Union says regressive tax, which takes money from the pockets of the lowest paid workers, is not the way to save crumbling social care system says GMB Union Rachel Harrison, GMB national officer, added: “We all know our crumbling social care system desperately needs more cash. “But raising regressive National Insurance – which takes money from the pockets of the lowest paid workers, is not the way to do it. “However the cash is raised, a portion of it must be ring fenced cash to improve the pay, terms and conditions of workers across social care to reflect the skilled and valued job they do.
“The largely women workforce in social care deserve no less than the average UK wage, £15 an hour. Government and employers must make this a priority.” And Stewart Stretton-Hill, tax, trusts and estates senior associate at Irwin Mitchell, agreed. He added: “Given the significant pressure placed on the NHS and the increase in government borrowing during the pandemic, it’s unsurprising that a tax hike has been proposed. “However, increasing National Insurance is a spectacularly unpopular method to raise the staggering sums needed to reform social care. “There’s a number of reasons to reconsider: it would break the Conservative party manifesto commitment; it’s likely to affect low income earners the most when it’s this demographic that finds it the hardest to save for later life; and it seems a large proportion of the funds raised may be used in preference to support the NHS, meaning that the care fee cap may be too high for most to afford in any event. “Proposals that might be more easily digested were examined in our report published with CEBR in February 2020, specifically the Government could expand the existing automatic pension enrolment with tax incentives to provide a long-terms savings scheme accessible at the point of care need.”
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