Blog: Recapp on changes made in 2011

posted on 13 Jan 2012

As we have welcomed in 2012 we all hope for positive changes in our lives including changes made by the government. The year 2011 brought about many changes in Health and social care including bills brought forward by the government to improve hospital admissions and after care for people leaving hospital, large health care companies going into administration and changes to training.

Let’s recap some of these changes month by month.

December-

• Talks about integration of health and social care. Although this is not new in some counties- Devon and Essex among other counties have been changing the way they assist with older people either before they get admitted to hospital and after care and support after discharge.

November-

• Reports about NHS treatment revealed staff lacking care. Many patients reported they were left without food and water or pain relief. As well as reports showing training and understanding was lacking.
• 900% increase in over 60’s apprenticeships. Initially brought out to improve rates of unemployment in those under 25. Signings were up from 400 in 2009 to 3910 in 2011.

October-

• Budgets for over 65’s have fallen by £1.3bn which is almost a fifth
• Government supports early intervention for children and young people
• Start of Health lottery- aims to assist disadvantaged groups
• Inflation to help with state pensions costs, although the changes will not be taken into effect until April 2012. The predicated changes are stated as an increase of £5.31 on weekly pensions.

September-

• Bill to stop default retirement age is almost scrapped. This is aimed to help ageism in the work place.
• Findings show that parents in the UK have spent £34bn to adult dependants. This is a result from rising university and living costs to a harder job market

August-

• Southern Cross chief stands down without severance pay. Equivalent of 12 months’ salary was agreed not to be taken even though it was an entitlement.
• Stats state that children born now are a third more likely to reach the age of 100

July-

• Company promoting telecare installs equipment for free. This was trialled in some councils to show the savings that would be made in social care.
• Dilnot report into funding of care announced
• As energy prices increase one in 5 households spend over 10% on fuel
• Elderly now waiting less time for urgent hip replacements
• Calls made to offer Alzheimer’s test in over 60’s

June-

• Coalition suggests that middle classes face £35,000 bill to help pay for their care.
• Southern Cross announces it’s near collapse

May-

• AgeUK organised protest against plans to raise state pension age
• Disabled people protest about spending cuts

April-

• Government to look into decision to stop using cheques in 2018
• Prudential show that up to 50% in the number of people working longer to support pensions
• Level 4 NVQ registrations now become QCF level 5 in Leadership and Management

March-

• Review into grandparents’ roles after divorce and their legal rights
• Winter fuel top up will not be renewed, Labour have announced that the assistance with winter fuel will not be carried on later this year. Later a rebate by the 6 larger power companies has been introduced.
• Taxes required to increase as people may have been receiving more care than they have contributed towards.

February-

• Camden council set to cut 1000 jobs to make savings to fit into £35m budget savings

January-

• QCF diplomas take the place of NVQ’s. Changes designed to help with manageable sized units and assistance with future learning and development
• Alzheimer’s society state that inadequate care for dementia sufferers force people into care earlier than necessary