intexasatthe moment

I do think that a lot of the trouble is that actual trained Health Visitors and District Nurses are thin on the ground and the teams mainly consist of Health Care Assistants . Some Health Care Assistants are experienced and fantastic at what they do . But IME many are not and do not know when or what needs refering for another persons input .

Maybe it's standard practice to move staff around ,rotate them through different geographical areas ? My very elderly housebound mother is seen by members of a DNT to dress ulcers on her leg . It's ( apparently ) not possible to be visited by the same member of staff ( even the same 2 or 3 members of staff ) from week to week . Or to be given any more detail of the timing of the visits other than which day/s they are coming - I guess the thinking is that if you're housebound it doesn't matter . And in the summer we were told that the staff ( might only have been the health care assistants ) were being rotated to different areas . So any hint of continuity of care - which believe me is important if you're dealing with long standing wounds - is out the window .

I share the concerns expressed about loss of recreational space ,though I'm sure there'll be an argument about using the park below Sainsburys . There is an argument about a need for social housing . But will it be social housing ?

I think you should speak to the Team Leader to ask why this happened in the first place and what the protocols are to avoid it happening again - to your relative or to someone else . The DNT is no doubt under pressure ( so all the more need to have procedures in place ) and I don't feel entirely comfortable criticising them ....but this kind of experience is far from rare and vulnerable people are put at risk by what IME is a system that often breaks down . Poor communications between DNT and patients and surgeries ,lack of continuity of care ,Health Care assistants who are not properly supported or used in complex cases where greater knowledge/training is needed . I have made formal complaints in the past and to a limited extent have found that things have improved .

Just came across this on Southwark Carers Newsletter and thought it might be of interest . " Wed 16th Jan, 11am Join our new ADDitude Carers Group for carers of people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Attention Deficit Disorder and other behavioural problems. In recent months we've come into contact with an increasing number of carers looking after people, each facing common problems of stress, isolation, and difficulties finding appropriate activities, schools, as well as just ways of relaxing. This new group will be a safe space to talk about experiences and take time out If you'd like to reserve a place or find out more, call us on 020 7708 4497 or [email protected]. "

Muddles with notes seem fairly common . I was recently refused a repeat prescriptio at Forest Hill Rd surgery and was told I'd seen GP 4 days earlier . When I persued this it turned out patient with same name ( I promise mine is not common ) and told " Well you'd better watch out for that then ." How about them watching out for it /using birthdates . Poor you nylonmeals,surely if HV doing their jobs they should have tried to be more discreet ,avoiding putting parents backs up if they really did need support . And showing you another persons notes ? Were they HV or health care assistants ?

Congratulations Ramble ( and everyone else ! ) have been watching for news of your little ones's arrival !

Elmington Estate http://directobjective.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/elmington-estate-revisited.html

or for putting special ops dogs off the scent ...

bump

Another vote for MIU at St Thomas - you can phone them first to check if they think you should come in ,if that reassures you . http://www.selondon.nhs.uk/your_local_nhs/lambeth/your_local_services/minor_injuries_unit

Also I've heard that the Lister walk in at New Cross has shorter waiting times .

Won't it need to be Xrayed ? And require a visit to Kings ?

deleted

I know my mother's world has shrunk as she's got older ,not that she ( or her generation ) socialised in anything like the way people seem to these days . There are lots of activities for older people in London ,Duilwich Helpline as you know run several .But a joint elderly parents + carers weekend event as you say doesn't exist . My mum wouldn't go for that - she likes to be the centre of attention and if I'm there it would be me she wants to talk to . She'd be annoyed if I took her out and then I spent time talking to others and not her .

Southwark Carers http://www.southwarkcarers.org.uk/for-carers/ offer support for carers .

Shame nobody worked within the system when Southwark were going down the Academy route and giving away all their secondary schools . And who'll remember now what your take on that was ?

Just a few facts about sponsorship funding - Since 2009 no funding has been required . Since 2007 a "comparable professional commitment " was acceptable instead of a financial one . Prior to this ,discounts were available and taken advantage of for sponsors with more than 3 Academies . With tax relief and sponsorship taking the form of endowment funds the actual cost of funding which as said was UP to ?2 million is reduced . Two more points since 2007 the government has given Academies ?288 million in start up funding . This is money over and above amounts paid to ordinary state schools . It is no longer given but certainly gave sponsors a head start to establish their reputation . As at March 2010 of Academies pledging endowment fund sponsorship , only 11% had paid what was pledged ,58% had paid nothing . All figures from National Audit Office http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/11410/1/1011288.pdf I am not suggesting that Harris hasn't paid what it pledged but illustrating why I dislike and distrust sponsorship . And of course there is my main concern - why should our children's education be dependent on cash sponsorship from private individuals ? To me it smacks of a return to Victorian philanthropy .

James - can't the LA sponsor a school ?

James - why can't the LA sponsor/set up a new primary school ?

Well put Fuschia and thank you for taking the time posting and providing figures behind the spin . I find the profilation of original Academies ,new Academies ,Free Schools confusing and I completely understand thats many are so busy getting through life that their main concern is a place for their primary school child . I think the current set up is wrong - I don't want a fragmented education system in the hands of a number of individuals with much power ,many freedoms ,little control ,opaque motivations and varying degrees of success. And who I've not voted for . And the fact that I don't know what the answer is and can't come up with alternatives ,doesn't mean that what we have now in Southwark is ok .

Yes James . Now lets see , who else would be an unsusual provider apart from faith ? I've got it ! Local authority .

Yes ,great . Harris primaries or nothing .

Just my paranoia I'm afraid . I used to work for a large non profit making charity providing sheltered housing . But the non profit making bit just meant that monies were transferred across to a seperate arm with a different name . I've seen too many wheels within wheels ,too many instances of seperate companies that aren't that seperate being given contracts . I've read too much about big companies evading tax ,organisations like W4E ,not to be cynical . I'm not saying Harris is the same ,but I just don't trust business . I think making money is in their DNA - many like Harris will strive to do some good with it ,but it's too philanthropic for my taste ,too rich man in his castle ,poor man at his gate . And I don't want that DNA/ethos leaching into education .

I too have concerns about so much state education ( funded by the tax payer ) being in the hands of a private commercial business . I realise that a seperate arm will have been set up to manage schools but I'm not completely reassured by this . There is so much misunderstanding surrounding sponsors and Free schools - many thought that sponsors of the original Academies were throwing cash at the schools when in fact they were given buildings on 125 year leases ,set up funding exceeding monies given to other local secondaries ,and government funding to refurb or rebuild old buildings . In return they were not obliged to provide any cash themselves - it was enough that they contributed " know how " . Harris Academies use a banding system so that they get a range of abilities - in middle class areas this may mean a larger intake of lower abilties than would come about if proximity to the school were the deciding factor . In more deprived areas it will mean that greater numbers of more able children are admitted than would be the case if proximity were the factor . And Harris use fair banding referenced to national abilities ( not local ) ,so the intake reflects not a fair mix of the abilities of that years intake of children in the area but a fair mix of a national profile of abilities . I'm not against banding at all but it is used to ensure that each intake includes a good number of able children rather than to ensure ( out of some Victorian philanthropic vision ) that "socially deprived " children can get in . The LA has very little power or influence on any of Southwarks secondary schools - all of whom are their own admissions authorities . Who makes up the LA Admissions Forum ? what powers does it have ? where were they when the Charter School kept refusing to recognise a particular route to the building despite several succesful appeals ? what are their views now on the requirement that children going through secondary transfer should not have to sit multiple tests set by different schools ?