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People are being recruited to test vibrating underwear at Bristol hospital (03.09.10)
THERE is a buzz around the latest research project at Southmead Hospital.
People with incontinence are being recruited to help test vibrating underwear, which has been developed to trigger a buzzer if their incontinence pads leak.
There are also plans for a similar system to send a text message to a mobile phone as part of moves to improve the quality of life for people suffering incontinence.
Full Article on This Is Bristol

New card to help young carers get better information (02.09.10)
A Lincolnshire teenager has come up with an idea which could help young carers all over the country.
17 year old Bethany Hall persuaded the authorities, including three local NHS and Lincolnshire County Council, to produce a special card which will help young carers get better health care information about the people they care for.
Full Article on BBC News

Bus pass fee could cut deficit, Go-Ahead boss says (02.09.10)
Pensioners could help address Britain's multibillion-pound deficit by paying a one-off fee when applying for a free bus pass, according to the head of one of Britain's largest public transport groups.
Free bus travel for over-60s is likely to escape the chop in next month's comprehensive spending review after it became a battleground in the general election leadership debates, but its £1bn annual cost still looms large for the Department for Transport and the Department of Communities and Local Government, which share the expenditure. The chief executive of Go-Ahead, Keith Ludeman, said his own experience of applying for a pass had suggested one way of saving taxpayer cash while preserving the scheme in its entirety.
Full Article on Guardian

Call to improve care of elderly with broken hips (02.09.10)
One in five elderly people with broken hips do not get surgery quickly enough, a survey shows.
Patients are meant to be operated on within 48 hours, but the annual audit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland showed many waited longer.
Full Article on BBC News

Care services minister outlines revised mental health strategy (02.09.10)
Writing earlier this summer, the prime minister made a powerful call to action on reducing deprivation in our society.
In a newspaper article, he wrote about "galvanising the whole of the public in fighting poverty", and the "miserable chain of inevitability" linking family breakdown, worklessness, drug and alcohol abuse and crime with long-term poverty and exclusion.
Full Article on Community Care

NHS Direct to be replaced by cut-price health advice service (27.08.10)
The health secretary, Andrew Lansley, has let slip that the government is planning to scrap NHS Direct, the hugely popular medical telephone helpline.
While touring Basingstoke and North Hampshire hospital on Thursday, he revealed that the phone service – which this year cost £123m to run – is to be axed.
Full Article on Guardian

The National Carers Strategy

The new government are set to refresh the current national carers strategy and are holding a consultation period until 20th September 2010 in which time they want to hear what the key priorities are for carers.

What would have the greatest impact on improving your life as a carer in the next four years?

If you would like to have your say then take a look at this template for feedback and then get in touch with Rhian Bennett, Programme Lead Carers on 01225 713933 or email rhian.bennett@wiltshire.gov.uk

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Carers’ Voice is a multiagency project run by the research team from Wiltshire Council. The aim of Carers’ Voice is to enable a representative group of carers to share their views, experiences and perceptions on the services and issues which affect them, in order for agencies to improve their services for the benefit of all carers. The Carers’ Voice panel has been established to try and reflect the caring community across Wiltshire and consists of men and women from the age of 18 upwards. It includes carers of adults and children and of people with a range of caring needs from physical and learning disabilities to mental health needs. Carers’ Voice panellists include people who combine caring with paid employment, people who care for a few hours a week and those who care for someone all day and every day.

 

For more information on how to join the panel please contact Sarah Pearce on sarah.pearce@wiltshire.gov.uk, or Sarah Pearce, Researcher, County Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN.

Alternatively, you can complete the current questionnaire online. To see feedback on previous questionnaire results then download a copy of the Carers Voice newsletter.