Council ducking Glen Lodge concerns?

PAY--Glen-Lodge-nursing-home-in-York-where-Pamela-Hudson-75-was-allegedly-bitten-by-a-ratYesterday evenings Health Committee meeting failed to provide reassurances for those concerned by the alleged “rat bite” incident at Glen Lodge.

It emerged that members of the committee had already been sent a report on the incident, but this has not been made public. 

The Department of Health has asked for an independent review of the case and the Council has promised to cooperate with that review.

It is to be hoped that report at least will be open and transparent.

One of the problems with adopting a defensive and opaque approach to issues like these is that exaggeration (or complacency) may creep into both the media and the comments of Councillors. One speaker at yesterday’s meeting not only presumed the scale of the incident, but also the causes and the remedy.

So facts may already to have become the victim of the Councils secretive approach.

The matter will be reported back to the committee at some stage next year.

Residents urged to support vulnerable friends and neighbours over the festive period

City of York Council is urging residents to think of vulnerable friends and neighbours over the festive period.

Casserole_Christmas_Campaign_HeaderIt’s estimated that over half a million older people in the UK spend Christmas Day alone*.

Councillor Carol Runciman, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Health, City of York Council, said: “For many people, Christmas and the festive break is a chance to spend time with family and friends. But for hundreds of older and vulnerable people across the York area the holiday period can be a lonely and difficult time.

“I would urge people to pop in to check on vulnerable neighbours or make time for elderly relatives to make sure they have a warm, healthy and happy Christmas. No one should be lonely over the festive period.”

Top tips for supporting older or vulnerable neighbours, friends and relatives, include:

  • Make sure they’re warm enough – the temperature in their home should be at least 18oC, particularly if they are not mobile, have long term illness or are 65 or over, and they may need to wear several layers of clothes to stay warm.
  • Try to make sure they have regular hot meals and drinks throughout the day.
  • Check that they have enough medication to last the period that their GP practice is closed, so they don’t risk getting ill if they run out.
  • Information about social groups and activities for older people is available through www.connecttosupport.org/york or through contacting Age UK York on 01904 627995.

Christmas can also be a particularly difficult time for people living with dementia. For information about how to support people with dementia over the festive period, visit http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/ and search for ‘tips for Christmas support’.

For more information about Age UK’s national Spread the Warmth campaign visit http://www.ageuk.org.uk/ or see http://www.york.gov.uk/for more information about keeping well during winter.

*figures based on research carried out by Age UK in 2011

Rat attack in York – Inquiry ordered by government

PAY--Glen-Lodge-nursing-home-in-York-where-Pamela-Hudson-75-was-allegedly-bitten-by-a-ratFollowing our story on Tuesday, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has now ordered an investigation.

We had asked for the matter to be reported to the Councils Health Scrutiny Committee which is meeting on Tuesday, but the Council has not yet confirmed that the issue will be added to that agenda.

Patricia Hudson, 75, suffered injuries to her face, body and arms caused, her family believes, by a rodent at the council-run home Glen Lodge, in York.

Rats in elderly persons accommodation

Some people’s nightmare.

PAY--Glen-Lodge-nursing-home-in-York-where-Pamela-Hudson-75-was-allegedly-bitten-by-a-ratA report in The Press claimed that a rat had bitten an elderly resident living in the Councils Glen Lodge sheltered accommodation. The incident happened in June. The victim was hospitalised and – several months later – died.

A Council official is quoted as saying

“It is with regret that, despite extensive efforts by professional experts, environmental health and independent inspectors, we have been unable to determine the exact circumstances of how Mrs Hudson’s injuries occurred”.

Public confidence is a fragile commodity so we find it surprising that the incident hasn’t apparently been considered though the Councils committee system.

An open and honest approach is all the relatives concerned could reasonably ask.

The Council could remedy the defect by asking for a report to be considered at the meeting of its Adult Social Care scrutiny committee next week, The committee has a light agenda.

Dr Dave Cowan, leader of the wildlife programme at the Food and Environment Research Agency, has analysed previous studies to try to estimate a total rat population.

“Rats are almost completely commensal in Britain, [meaning] they’re associated with human activities. That gives us a start because we only really need to think about how many rats there might be living in close proximity to ourselves.”

“It’s pretty rare that rats are inside our dwellings. Less than half a per cent of dwellings have rats,” he says.

In those cases, “it would be just a couple of rats”.

A better figure to take is the number of dwellings that have rats outside, in the garden or driveway or compost heap and so on, Cowan suggests.

“Around 3% of our dwellings have rats present outside. We can come up with a figure of 1.5 million rats in total in Britain in or around our homes.”

The reputation of some of the City’s care facilities have wobbled recently so some reassurance and – if warranted – an apology, would seem to be the least that the Council should offer.

“It’s not OK” seminar

Childcare professionals across the city will have the chance to attend the fourth ‘It’s not ok’ professional seminar at West Offices next week [8 December].

The seminar covers ‘sexual abuse committed by trusted adults’ and will be led by Trish O’Donnell and Lynn Cardwell from the NSPCC. It is particularly relevant to people wanting to learn more about the key things to consider in knowing if someone poses a risk of sexual harm to children.
(more…)

Elderly care figures cause for concern in York

Independent checks reveal over 52% of care homes in York require improvement

Care home quality performance Nov 2015

 

The latest reports into the quality of elderly care being provided, in both Council and privately run homes in York, are being discussed next week. Copies of all CQC reports can be found at www.cqc.org.uk

York falls below the national average in having 9.5% of inspected homes rated as inadequate with a further 42.9% listed as “requiring improvement”.

Only 43% were rated as being “safe” – an assessment which covers such items as the management of medicines.

81% were however rated as “caring”.

So far only 21 (26%) of homes in the City have been inspected by the CQC

Of the two homes rated as inadequate an FOI response yesterday revealed what action the York Council had taken to resolve issues.

South Park – “An improvement plan has been created with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), City of York (CYC) Council and the home to address the issues in the CQC report. Regular monitoring visits from CYC are taking place with the home to ensure that the plan is being addressed”. (Next week’s report however comments “Unfortunately, these improvements have not been sustained of late, but the provider again has shared the plans they have in place for substantial investment in the facilities“).

Haisthorpe House – “An improvement plan was created with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), City of York (CYC) Council and the home to address the issues in the CQC report. Regular monitoring visits from CYC have taken place to monitor progress on this improvement plan and ensure suitability of placements for the residents involved.  The home has now been purchased by a new operator, and CYC will continue to monitor to ensure further improvements are made and sustained under the new provider”.

The Which (https://twitter.com/WhichUK) consumer magazine has recently published a report which may help users of care facilities, and their relatives, when making a choice of home.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

The Council pays for the residential care costs of over 500 elderly people at present. The amounts paid to care home owners varies:  

  • Residential (Ordinary) – £435.45 per week
  • Residential EMI – £460.30 per week
  • Nursing (Ordinary) – £549.85 per week
  • Nursing EMI – £571.45 per week
  • City of York Council Owned EPH – £542.99 per week
93% of customers said they were satisfied with the Council’s home care arrangements.

The Council’s report concludes saying,

“A number of the capacity and quality concerns identified of late are linked to the recruitment and retention of care staff across the city and the sector in general. Providers are facing difficulties in terms of recruiting suitable carers across home care, residential and nursing care services”.

According to another report being considered next week, York is performing relatively poorly on delays in transferring elderly people from hospital to community care. “Reablement” services also take longer to provide in York than elsewhere in the region. The full performance statistics can be viewed by clicking here

Performance elderly Nov 2015

Looking after someone? Know your rights: Carers Rights Day on Friday

Thousands of people looking after a disabled, older or seriously-ill loved one in the region may be missing out on vital benefits and support.

crd-no-date

It’s estimated that there are over 18,000 carers in York alone, with around 1,300 under the age of 18.

Carers Rights Day (Friday 20th November) brings together organisations across the UK to help carers in their local community find out about their rights and how to get the help and support they are entitled to.

It’s hoped that the Day will help reach out to the 6.5 million people in the UK who care for an older, seriously-ill or disabled loved one, informing them of the rights, benefits and the services they are entitled to; including benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, short breaks and access to equipment and technology which can help them in their caring role.

Carole Zagrovic, Chief Executive of York Carers Centre, said:

“It’s vital that we reach out to the thousands of carers in York and let them know about their rights and the support they could be entitled to. We will be able to provide carers with important advice and information to make sure they know how to get the financial and practical support they need, when they need it.”

Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“Every day, 6,000 people begin caring for a disabled, older or seriously-ill loved one. But when this caring journey starts, it can be hard to get the help and advice you need. Without this support, caring can take a serious toll on a carer’s health, finances and wellbeing. No one should have to care alone and Carers Rights Day events mean they don’t have to; carers can get the essential information and advice they need and connect with other local carers.”

Councillor Carol Runciman, Executive member for Adult Social Care and Health, City of York Council, said: “Carers are the unsung heroes of our communities. They provide care and support to friends and loved-ones, but are often unaware of the help and support they can get themselves. Often carers do not realise the importance or significance of the work they do. Carers Rights Day is an opportunity to celebrate the impact carers have in our society, while raising the profile of the rights they have and help available.”

Carers can download a copy of the Carers’ Rights’ Guide at www.carersuk.org/carersrightsguide or order a free copy by calling the Carers UK’s Adviceline on 0808 808 7777 or emailing advice@carersuk.org

For more information about York Carers Centre, please contact enquiries@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk or phone 01904 715490.

Case study: Leigh’s story  (more…)

York care home resident helped to fly

 Gail Sorby, deputy manager at Haxby Hall, arranged for 70-year-old John Carpenter to go gliding with Wolds Gliding after finding out from his daughter that it was something he had always wanted to do.

Mr Carpenter, a double amputee, had thought that his medical conditions and disability would make it impossible. Gail and his daughter went along with John and helped hoist John into the plane with the aid of four men. While sessions normally last 25 minutes, John was able to spend over an hour in the air, thanks to favourable thermal air currents. (more…)

York Dementia Action Alliance event

Groups committed to making York a ‘Dementia Friendly City’ are joining forces tomorrow (Tuesday 10 November) to share information and find out more about plans for the future.

The Action Alliance  a group of organisations, individuals and businesses who are working together to make York a dementia friendly city for residents and visitors – is hosting the event at New Earswick Folk Hall between 9.30am – 1pm.

The event will be introduced by the Chair of Yorkshire and Humber Dementia Action Alliance, Steve Poole, and sessions include hearing best practice about how to make cities more dementia friendly, the work of Dementia Friends and Champions, how technology can support people living with dementia, and their carers and help for organisations to create their own action plans.

Councillor Carol Runciman, Executive member for Adult Social Care and Health, City of York Council, said: “With 47 organisations and businesses signed up to York Dementia Action Alliance, more and more people across the city are becoming aware of dementia and how they can help make their work places more dementia friendly. I hope this event will enable organisations to share their experiences and find out what more we can do to make York a Dementia Friendly City.”

Adult social care funding confusion

A similar fate has befallen plans to invest £75,000 in Adult Social Care support.

The latest forward programme shows the item as having been withdrawn.

Originally it had been intended to consider a report which would

“present information about the proposal to invest funding over the next 2 years in community initiatives which prevent or delay the need for Social care funding airportpeople to access statutory social care provision.

Use of £75,000 of this funding has already been agreed, as per the ‘Listening to Residents: Ward Committees’ paper presented to Executive on 30th July 2015 (whereby £75k will be devolved into ward budgets on a ‘per capita’ basis).

Therefore this report makes proposals for the remaining funding.

Officials say this item has now been “withdrawn to allow further work with public health”.

Litter and cleanliness

Consideration of initiatives to improve the cleanliness of the City have been put back until a meeting scheduled to take place on 25th January. Litter is the second most mentioned concern by residents returning our Focus surveys (after footpath surface condition)