Shaping Our Lives

Independent Living

Sue Bott giving evidence to a parliamentary committee

June 21, 2018 0

Government’s social care funding failure ‘is terrible news for disabled people’

Disabled campaigners have reacted with alarm to the government’s decision that it will not address the social care funding crisis until the end of next year, despite announcing billions of pounds a year extra for the NHS. Despite saying in a speech that ministers “know we need to improve social care”, prime minister Theresa

Activism and Campaigning

June 14, 2018 0

Call for national research as fears grow over loss of DPOs

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There is an “urgent” need for research into the hidden issue of disabled people’s organisations across the country that are being forced to close because of funding problems, say campaigners. Shaping Our Lives (SOL), the national network of service users and disabled people, spoke out this week after further “worrying” figures showing the falling

Independent Living

April 26, 2018 0

Social care ‘citizens’ assembly’ set up by MPs omits DPOs from panel of experts

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A consultation event set up by MPs to produce recommendations from members of the public on the future funding of adult social care has failed to ask any disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) to provide them with “expert” opinions. DPOs have raised “deep concerns” about the way the Citizens’ Assembly on Social Care has been

Politics

Philip Hammond speaking in the House of Commons

March 15, 2018 0

Spring statement ‘shows disabled people will continue to bear brunt of austerity’

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The chancellor’s spring statement shows that disabled people will continue to bear the brunt of austerity, according to leading user-led organisations. They spoke out after Philip Hammond (pictured) resisted calls to increase funding for adult social care and other public services in this week’s statement. Instead, he suggested that he might increase public spending

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

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

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

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

Politics

Sarah Newton speaking in the House of Commons

November 16, 2017 0

New minister for disabled people criticised by her local DPO over voting record

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The new minister for disabled people is facing criticism over her voting record on disability issues from a user-led organisation that provides support in her own constituency. The Cornish MP Sarah Newton was appointed as the new minister late last week as a replacement for Penny Mordaunt, who has been promoted to international development

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