Independent Living

Tracey Lazard sitting behind a table and holding a microphone

March 8, 2018 0

‘Extraordinary’ government response to question over social care progress

The government has failed to set up a single committee involving experts from outside the two departments examining the future of working-age social care, nearly four months after the programme of work was announced. On 16 November, Damian Green, at the time the work and pensions secretary, announced that the government would publish a

Independent Living

Anne Savidge, in a midwife's uniform, holding two babies, in a fading photograph

March 1, 2018 0

Shock and dismay over death of disabled woman abandoned without care

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User-led organisations have reacted with shock and dismay to the “scandalous” failings of a council and care agencies that led to a disabled, terminally-ill woman being abandoned without any personal care just a few days before she died. Anne Savidge was told by Portsmouth City Council last December that there were no longer any

Independent Living

Anne Savidge in her wheelchair, with a lifejacket around her neck

February 22, 2018 0

Inquiry into terminally-ill woman who died 11 days after agencies withdrew care

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A council has been forced to launch an inquiry into the death of a terminally-ill disabled woman, after a public meeting heard how all her personal care had suddenly been withdrawn just a few days before she died. Portsmouth City Council was shamed into acting after councillors heard how 18 different care agencies withdrew

Independent Living

Four people standing on steps, each holding pieces of paper with Scotland 2021 written on them

February 22, 2018 0

Knee-jerk responses to plastic straw campaigns ‘risk isolating disabled customers’

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Businesses are responding to high-profile environmental campaigns to stop using plastic straws without considering the needs of disabled people, disability rights activists have warned. The Scottish user-led political campaign group One in Five fears that “knee-jerk” promises to ditch single-use plastic before sourcing accessible alternatives risk isolating disabled customers and damaging their ability to

Independent Living

Simon Green in his wheelchair, outside, smiling

February 22, 2018 0

Ratings sticker scheme ‘could transform access in Wales’

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Disabled campaigners are seeking to persuade the Welsh government to introduce a new scheme that would see service-providers displaying stickers that show how accessible they are. Bridgend Coalition of Disabled People (BCDP) wants shops, restaurants, transport providers, pubs and other service-providers to display a certificate which would show how well they are rated on

Independent Living

The outside of a redbrick office building

January 18, 2018 0

DRILL funding paves the way for personal budget co-operatives

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Five user-led organisations have secured £150,000 for a research project that will set up what it is believed will be the UK’s first cooperatives for disabled people who receive care funding through personal budgets. The project, led by Cheshire Centre for Independent Living, aims to work with disabled people who receive personal care or

Independent Living

Jeremy Hunt speaking in the House of Commons

January 11, 2018 0

Ministerial reshuffle: Concern over further social care role for Hunt

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The government’s decision to rebrand the Department of Health as the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has raised concerns about its plans for addressing the social care funding crisis. This week’s ministerial reshuffle saw the number of ministers in the department rising from five to six, with Philip Dunne sacked and the

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