January 24, 2008
Thursday, 24th January 2008
Greetings from Angela Gifford, Proprietor of Able Community Care, and welcome to the Able Newsflash, published by email every Thursday morning.
If you enjoy reading it please forward it to any other person who may also find it of interest.
Alternatively, they can subscribe directly for their own copy each week from our website: http://www.uk-care.com
Care News
After two years of planning and research Richard Branson is planning to open the first of six “one stop shop” health centres in 2008. His Virgin Group would open health centres with services of homeopathy and a range of therapies. Last week they began an advertising campaign to attract family doctors interested in joining the new centres.It is not expected that GP’s would leave their existing NHS contracts but could also participate in Virgin Healthcare offering additional NHS services and private services to visiting patients.
It is expected that the government will commission other private healthcare companies to provide similar services. Companies such as Boots are expected to tender for the business.
The DOH is planning to open 250 new GP practices in the next few years and is happy that private sector companies are interested in the £1bn potential business available.
The Scottish Care Commission has frozen their fee levels for 2008/9, that care agencies such as ourselves, plus care homes, child minders, etc. have to pay to them to regulate our services.
The Criminal Records Bureau has now extended its search to over 55 million pieces of non-conviction information. For example, the Bureau can now look into data from the Service Police Crime Bureau which is operated by the British Army Royal Military Police. (Source: UKHCA)
In-House News
Potential new clients have been visited in Surrey and Suffolk.Potential carers have been interviewed in Norfolk.
A client monitoring visit has taken place in Buckinghamshire.
The regular review meeting has taken place with Carmarthenshire County Council.
A new post has commenced in Hampshire for a man in his forties who has Cerebral Palsy. Care Manager is Samantha on 01603 281918. Sal.£590.00pw inc.
Advertisements for carers have been placed in Norfolk and Suffolk newspapers plus the magazine Womans Own.
Interesting Information
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has a bus which will tour approx. 30 UK cities advertising that the Minimum Wage is currently £5.52 an hour. The advertising bus is expected to be seen by over 800,000 people during its tour and is meant to raise the awareness of the legal hourly rate.This month the Disclosure service will issue it’s 15 millionth Disclosure.
Question asked of Able Community Care last week:
"Where I can I hire a hoist in Spain as I want to take my disabled son on holiday?"
Answer : Independent Living Spain hires out equipment for holiday makers and they have a large range to choose from.
Take a look at their website and contact them for help.
You can find them at: http://www.independentlivingspain.com
Another company can be found at: http://www.eurocaremobility.com
We hope you have enjoyed reading this and "see you next week".
Best Wishes,
Angela Gifford, Proprietor
Able Community Care.
Able Community Care is a nationwide provider of Live-in Care services.
Second Hand Disability Equipment - Buy it and sell it here.
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