Independent Living

Jeremy Hunt speaking in the House of Commons

January 11, 2018 0

Ministerial reshuffle: Concern over further social care role for Hunt

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

Independent Living

Mark Harrison holding a microphone for another speaker

November 30, 2017 0

Equality watchdog seeks legal advice on possible right to independent living

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The equality watchdog has asked a barrister to examine whether there needs to be a legal right to independent living for disabled people, because of concerns that their rights to choice and control over their lives is being “eroded”. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has asked the lawyer to assess how independent

Independent Living

Mark Williams speaking into a microphone held by Ellen Clifford

November 30, 2017 0

Conference plans fightback against independent living ‘catastrophe’

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Disabled campaigners have gathered at a conference to help develop plans for a fightback against the independent living “catastrophe” facing users of support services across the country. The Independent Living Campaign Conference heard that disabled people are now designing “a new vision” for independent living that is user-led and based on rights and the

Independent Living

November 30, 2017 0

Government fails to back bill that could open up access to 800,000 wheelchair-users

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A disabled Tory peer has attacked the government for failing to support new laws that would provide access for 800,000 fellow wheelchair-users to 60,000 shops, pubs and cafés across England, Scotland and Wales. Lord Blencathra – former Home Office minister David Maclean – received strong cross-party support for his Equality Act 2010 (amendment) (disabled

Independent Living

Hundreds of white flowers lying on grass

November 16, 2017 0

Research linking care cuts to 120,000 deaths ‘is fresh evidence austerity kills’

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“Indisputable” new research has linked government cuts in adult social care and health spending to nearly 120,000 “excess” deaths in England since 2010. The research, published just before midnight last night (Wednesday) by the online journal BMJ Open, concludes that people over 60 and residents of care homes have been particularly affected by the

Independent Living

November 16, 2017 0

Council and care company retreat over disabled woman trapped in residential home

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A young disabled woman says she has been “punished for a crime she did not commit”, as she waits for written confirmation that she can finally leave the care home where she has been trapped for nearly a month. Lakhvinder Kaur, who is still facing an eviction notice from the care home in east

Independent Living

November 16, 2017 0

Finding a wheelchair ‘is expensive, time-consuming and rarely straightforward’

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Choosing and funding a wheelchair is expensive and time-consuming, and often results in the purchase of unsuitable and uncomfortable equipment, according to new research by a user-led charity. A survey by the spinal cord injury charity Back Up found that nearly a quarter of respondents had been forced to buy a second wheelchair because

Independent Living

November 9, 2017 0

Council faces legal action after slashing woman’s post-ILF care without telling her

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A local authority is facing legal action after a “deeply concerning” decision to slash a disabled woman’s care package before it had completed an assessment of her care needs. Hounslow council appears to have ignored its obligations under the Care Act by removing more than half of her support without even telling her what

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