Originally Posted by
squidge
Rob lol I'm not best pleased at having to go back and view BTs posts to see what you are talking about lol. He'll be complaining I'm not ignoring him enough if I'm not careful.
Probably the best way to deal with issues around this is probably to look at the issues mentioned in the courier article but it will be a lengthy response I'm afraid. It deserves one though.
Frank kopel's widow is right. At the time he became ill services were awful and in many places even today they are still problematic and it's not good enough. The situation Frank Kopel and his wife found themselves in is awful and sadly, not uncommon. However It's not as simple as just adding under 65s to the existing over 65s system. Giving under 65s free personal care can impact on benefits which are paid to under 65s and which over 65s aren't entitled to. These benefits may include money for personal care which may be removed if personal care is provided. If that happens then this may impact on disability premiums, council tax reductions and other passported benefits and would likely leave people worse off. In addition Carers Allowance is a pitiful amount. £62 a week - not even as much as Jobseekers Allowance. It's disgusting. The Smith commission has recommended that Carers Allowance and PIP be devolved but as we are still without the new powers outlined by Smith we have no option but to work with what we have. The Scottish government has already said that it would increase Carers Allowance to the level of JSA once it is devolved but we are still waiting. As the courier says these are the other issues.
System overhaul for dementia sufferers
There is a real need for an overhaul of dementia services. Much has already been done and dementia link workers and support workers in many areas do a good job. The Self Directed Support act (2013) gives power to dementia sufferers and their carers to get the support they want and I have seen this used particularly effectively with early onset dementia. But It is early days with SDS and we see all the time that social workers don't really understand the system properly yet and this causes immense frustration and real hardship. Rural areas also suffer from a lack of choice and part of that is down to the way we undervalue care services. Poor wages, poor working conditions, lack of training, poor career progression all make for a high turnover of staff and unfortunately a poor quality of care in far too many cases.
A new investigatory independent body set up to look into medical mistakes and negligence within the NHS in Scotland with powers to bring about criminal prosecutions where there is clear evidence of neglect.
We are seeing investigations in Highland and across Scotland and the Adult Support and protection act (2007) has set a legal responsibility to investigate where a concern is raised. There is training in this for carers coming to Wick in November I think. I don't know whether there is a need for an independent body but the NHS is not excluded from the provisions of the ASP act.
Subsidised parking to be introduced at Ninewells Hospital – charges are currently a “tax on the sick and staff”
It's bloody awful that people have to pay to park at these hospitals. I think there are three. Ninewells, ERI and one other I can't remember. We are lumbered with these charges as a result of Labours disastrous PFI contracts. I believe that there have been repeated attempts by the SG and the NHS boards to get the private companies to reduce or get rid of the charges but this has so far fallen on deaf ears. It's too lucrative for the private companies involved to give it up and contractually we are tied into it.
Bringing an end to all under-16s who are the main carers within a family
You can't do this. Families are families and they love each other and will care for them so governments can't "bring to an end" the role of the young carer. What they can do is support the young carers to ensure that they are enabled to have a life, achieve at school and make sure that their opportunities - their "outcomes" are not affected by their caring role. The Carers Bill sets out a duty on councils to assess and provide support and it's going through the committee stage right now having been open to consultation. Many charities have provided information as to how the bill can be improved and we wait to see what changes happen. In my opinion it doesn't go far enough but it does make provision for young carers to be given extra support both in school and at home.
A national helpline to give advice to disabled and their carers to help with benefit or legal issues
Carers Scotland has a helpline and many charities like dementia Scotland or MS society already do this. In addition the CAB does amazing work with those needing legal and benefit advice
More funding for disabled housing
Absolutely. The Scottish Government has found the money to keep the independent Living Fund which has been abolished by WM and we have already spoken about the help to adapt scheme and how that is widening the available help but there is more that can be done. Increasing the amount of social housing being built is good and working with those who have identifiable needs is important to achieve this. And in many cases the wait is too long for the housing need to be addressed.
Help to those who have been unfairly sanctioned with their benefits
This exists already - the Scottish Government has made sure the 3rd sector organisations are funded to provide this through advocacy services or CAB. However as we have already mentioned on another thread the SG has no power to prevent or change the sanctions regime.
Fight to return Employment and Support Allowance to all disabled people and the ending of means testing
This, once again, I'm afraid, relies on Scotland being given the power to have its own social security system. There are no plans to devolve ESA. And even if that could be secured there are absolutely no plans to devolve the running of Jobcentreplus. Without independence or FFA, the Scottish Government is powerless to change these things. I know you guys hate that but it is true.
It's a bit like the bedroom tax. Scotland has not been able to abolish the bedroom tax. The Scottish Government could only agree to pay it on behalf of those affected. In order to do that they had to ask permission from the WM government to spend the money it would cost. That's not ask for extra money from Westminster it's having to ask permission for Scotland to spend our own money on the bedroom tax.
It's worth remembering also that the SNP MPs are pushing for these changed all the time, we saw the Scotland Bill passed with a complete refusal to consider amendments which would have addressed some of these issues. We saw the Welfare Reform Bill passed to the utter shame of the abstaining PLP, the result of which thankfully increased the popularity of Jeremy Corbyn by galvanising many ordinary people to vote for a leader who stood for the things that other candidates forgot and thank goodness for that.
Social care is in an awful mess in some places and ok In others. The SG treads a fine line because it's administered by local councils to take it over would be a mistake. The community empowerment bill also may lead to improvements on services if communities can start social enterprises to provide the care, and the quality of care which may be missing in council provided services. A lot of work to do for sure and it's fantastic that people are standing for holyrood on these sorts of issues. It's massively important that their voices are heard and this is a great platform from which to shout.
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