A
region wide trial testing the impact of automated pill dispensers on reducing
levels of hospital readmissions and helping patients to take medication
properly, has resulted in savings of £431k for social care and the NHS.
The
dispenser is a battery operated device which is loaded with medication by
pharmacists, and programmed to release the pills at set times.
Over
250 people took part in the trial which concluded on 31 March 2012.
The
savings break down to approximately £1,700 per person over a six month period;
most of which came from a reduction in the number of home visits required to
remind people to take their medication, and a drop in hospital admissions.
Of
the dispenser users questioned, 96% overwhelming agreed it was effective in
reminding them to take their medication, and as a result improved their health
and made them more independent.
They
were also unanimous in their support for continuing to use the device with 88%
saying it improved the quality of their lives.
Matt
Bowsher, Head of Adult Social Care, Communications and Strategy at Improvement
and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM), said: “The pilot proves the pill dispenser
is highly effective in helping vulnerable adults remember to take their
medication. Failure to take medication properly
costs the NHS and social services heavily and more importantly eradicates
quality of life.”
“The
majority of local authorities and Primary Care Trusts that took part in the
scheme have secured funding to mainstream the Project. We hope the findings
will encourage others to follow their example.”
Full details of the pilot and the
results can be found on the IEWM website.
NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson has written to NHS staff about transition arrangements, following the passing of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
Sir David says the Act provides clarity and certainty about future direction, and that ‘the onus now switches to the health and care system and the complex and challenging task of implementing the changes on the ground’.
He outlines the ‘important progress’ already made in laying the groundwork for transition and emphasises the strong platform on which the NHS can build.
He also sets out the overall approach to the movement of staff between the old and new systems, saying that how this is managed is critical to the success of the transition.
The Bill proposes to:
- set up an independent NHS Board that will allocate resources and provide commissioning guidance
- increase GPs’ powers to commission services on behalf of their patients
- strengthen the role of the Care Quality Commission
- develop Monitor, the body that currently regulates NHS foundation trusts, into an economic regulator to oversee aspects of access and competition in the NHS.
Read Sir David’s letter
Over 40 representatives of leading charities, care homes and housing providers are urging the government to honour its commitment to reform the social care system, and to act now.
In a letter to The Guardian, the directors, chief executives and chairs of some of the country’s most prominent organisations, have called for an end to ‘the crisis in our social care system’ saying the millions of individuals and families they represent ‘cannot wait any longer’.
A White Paper on social care reform is due to be published this spring following the Caring for our Futures public consultation, which ended in December last year.
The organisations are asking the government to introduce legal reforms needed to give everyone confidence they will have access to quality care, when they need it, wherever they liveand to provide additional funding.
In response, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: "We have to get this right, that is why we have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, people who use services and carers on the priorities for social care reform.
"We will publish our white paper on care and support and a progress report on funding reform in the spring."
See full letter and signatories here.
Former President of ADASS, Peter Hay, has warned against letting the fear of ‘failure to achieve perfection’, get in the way of change.
In his final blog published to coincide with the end of his presidential term, Peter explains why ADASS has consistently, but not unconditionally, supported implementation of the Dilnot Commission recommendations. He highlights five points as underpinning the organisation’s position:
Universal support – personal spending on care is growing each year, with people in some areas buying 80 per cent of residential care, and receiving no support from the state. Under Dilnot’s proposals all citizens will be treated equally and fairly, which is consistent with the ADASS aim of universal care and well-being for all.
Freedom from fear – 25 per cent of people face care costs greater than £50k. Dilnot’s recommendations are about taking away the fear of costs that can lead to people losing their homes and other assets - an approach that resonates with the origins of the welfare state, but is placed in a modern context.
Prevention – ADASS recently revisited work it did a decade ago on creating a system based on prevention, community capacity and maintaining wellbeing. Dilnot presents the opportunity of setting up a legally binding system that has preventative care at its core, an approach that is consistent with ADASS’s aspirations.
Funding – Dilnot’s appraisal of insurance schemes to pay for care finds they are inadequate; likewise, finance experts say insurance products do not offer the kind of protection the population needs. ADASS believes this expert advice has to be taken seriously.
Capped system – ADASS is persuaded that a capped system has the best chance of providing protection against astronomical care costs to the greatest percentage of the population.
Peter confirms that change will not be without risk and says: “We are also clear that there are downsides to some of the consequences of Dilnot and reform no major change comes without some potential adverse impact.
“However, no system like Dilnot has been tried anywhere, and like any system it won’t be perfect. We can’t talk ourselves into failure to design perfection as a basis for no change, when the proposals are such a step forward from where we are now.”
See full blog
A White Paper outlining proposals for reforming the adult social care system and a progress report responding to the Dilnot Commission recommendations, will be published soon according to Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow.
The paper was due to be issued this spring, following the Caring for our future consultation, which ran from September to December last year.
Speaking at a cross party Backbench Business Committee debate held last month, the minister said he was anxious to publish the White Paper as soon as he could, and that this was dependent on a cross party agreement on funding.
Findings from the consultation show people do not understand the current care system; there is a lack of information, advice and support; people experience different quality of care depending on where they live in the country; there is a focus on short term results rather than planning for the long term and intervening earlier; people don’t feel they receive the care and support they really want and there is a lack of choice; older people are not given the support they need to keep them independent in their own homes, and younger adults are not getting the support they need to help them into jobs and housing; and services are not joined up.
Consultation findings will be addressed in the White Paper.
Read the transcript or watch the debate
Two
carer support workers in Worcestershire have assisted over 200 carers in their
first year of operation.
Based
in the emergency admission wards at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital and
Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, the support workers were put in place at the
end of November 2010, to help carers of people with a cognitive impairment or
dementia.
Funded
by Worcestershire City Council as part of the Dementia Strategy, their role is
to ensure carers feel supported and informed by referring them for assessments,
and giving them information about other voluntary and statutory services as
well as ensuring they have someone to turn to during the hospital process and
when the person being cared for goes home.
Contact:
Superna Makwana, Carers Development Officer, telephone: 01905 728 824, mobile:
07733 304 038.
Carer Aware is an online training course and information toolkit provided by Dudley Borough Council for carers, people who work with carers, or anyone interested in finding out more about the caring role.
The course covers:
- who is a carer
- their rights
- what support is available from the council
- where to find further information
- knowledge test and certificate.
Participants can access all or part of the course in any order and as many times as they wish.
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