December meetings

Remember we don’t hold a meeting in December – though we’ll be going to the Stand up for Stigma comedy event at St Helens Central Library. It’s the last one for this year so it would be good to see you there.

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Pat’s Petition

This e-petition was started by a group of volunteers who are all disabled or have caring responsibilities.

Stop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families

The government were embarking on wholesale reform of the benefit system when the economic crisis struck. These welfare reforms had not been piloted and the plan was to monitor and assess the impact of the new untried approach as it was introduced in a buoyant economy.

Unfortunately since then the economy has gone in to crisis and the government has simultaneously embarked on a massive programme of cuts. This has created a perfect storm and left disabled people/those with ill health, and their carers reeling, confused and afraid.

We ask the government to stop this massive programme of piecemeal change until they can review the impact of all these changes, taken together, on disabled people and their carers. We ask the government to stand by its duty of care to disabled people and their carers. At the moment the covenant seems to be broken and they do not feel safe. Illness or disability could affect any one of us at any time, while many more of us are potential carers.

Please read and sign the petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968

More information online at: http://carerwatch.com/reform/

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August meetings

A quick reminder that there are no meetings for the Forum or for the Carers reference group in August.

Oasis does still continue to meet every monday at the URC.

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Liberating the NHS – white paper

Links and information about the white paper are on the ROLE group‘s site.

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International carers conference

For everyone who couldn’t afford to attend the 5th International carers conference in Leeds …  Carers World Radio have put podcasts of some of the presentations online.

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Carers debate in Westminster

The transcript of the debate shows the future plans for carers and the carers strategy. This includes the cancellation of Caring with Confidence. They are looking at ‘the best way to reinvest the money to deliver good outcomes for carers’. (Courses will run locally for the next few months.)

Paul Burstow, Minister of State (Care Services) ended the debate saying:

I hold to the view that carers are an important thread that holds communities together. We need to do more to support them. Their value will grow as our society ages and people with disabilities live longer. We must ensure, both across parties and within the coalition, that the refreshed strategy delivers tangible results, rather than being just a statement of intent. It must be clear about delivering change for carers. That is this Government’s commitment, and I look forward to making the difference, along with colleagues, as we go forward.

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Suggestions for new carers

We often get asked to offer suggestions for people who have just realised they are a carer. This may be after many years of a caring role.

We’d suggest –

1. Get in touch with the Carers Centre.
2. Meet other carers – attend carers groups. Many of us don’t like joining groups or talking about our problems with strangers, but carers are often isolated. Joining a carers group is a great way to meet people who are facing similar issues and to reassure yourself that you are not alone in this. Other carers have specific knowledge about local services. And sometimes it is actually helpful to talk to strangers rather than family.
3. Ask the care coordinator for a carers assessment. The Carers Centre and Carers groups can also tell you about assessments, but a care coordinator will need to do the assessment.

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LINk event on 28th January

This isn’t specifically an event for carers, or for mental health – but it is for all people in St Helens – don’t miss out!

28^th January 2010, 1pm – 7pm, at the Deafness Resource Centre
32-40 Dentons Green Lane, St Helens, WA10 2QB
There will be:

• Refreshments
• Music performance from a special guest!
• Live music from music-net with the chance for you to get up on stage and join in Karaoke.
• Break dance performance from the UC Crew and a chance to try out some dance moves for yourself!
• Singing for your health with ‘Crescendo’
• The chance to find out what support and services are available to you to help you look after your health and wellbeing
• The opportunity to help St Helens LINk to improve health and social care services locally.

St Helens Local Involvement Network (LINk) is a new independent network which will give people the chance to share their views and experiences on local health and social care issues and services.

St Helens LINk will:

• Involve local people in the planning and delivery of services
• Listen to your ideas for change
• Take action on what you tell us.

LINk is not an individual complaints service as these already exist, but it is looking at common concerns and issues amongst people which it can then take up as issues to raise with service providers. LINk has also been given special powers including to expect a response from providers after contacting them and entering specific services to see the care provided.

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Patient Opinion’s national launch

5 Boroughs’ have been piloting the use of Patient Opinion within mental health and now its gone national. Their report of it is here.

They were also included in a programme on Radio 4 about patient feedback (NHS Punters Speak Out) which you can listen to again (for the next week only) here – and part 2 will be broadcast next friday.

Although all the talk is of patients and service users, the website at Patient Opinion does welcome feedback from carers, family and friends. It’s easy to use their site – its about posting your own opinions of services, good or bad. And the information does go, anonymously, to those who run the services. The aim is to make sure that they improve their services.

We show the latest postings on the sidebar of our site. But you can go to their site directly at http://www.patientopinion.org.uk, where you can search for postings about local services.

If everyone made a posting about every contact with services, 5 Boroughs would start to hear about what is good and bad. Like all websites, its only useful once people start using it. So we’d encourage all carers to post on their site. It doesn’t take long and you can do it in your own time. It’s anonymous. And it can really change things.

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Services over december holidays

Together with IT – the group held at the Peasley Cross site – will be open on Tuesday 29th December – call either Peasley Cross or Together for details of times.

Opening times for the Carers Centre:

• 24th December – close at 1pm
• 25th closed (friday)
• Monday 28th – closed
• Tuesday and Wednesday – 29th and 30th – 9.30 to 4pm as usual
• Thursday 31st – new years eve – close at 1pm
• January 1st – closed

Also don’t forget

Carers Direct  –  a national service offering Free, confidential information and advice to help you as a carer

Lines are normally open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.

Holiday opening times will be available here.

Phone –  0808 802 0202 Or email CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk

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