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Welcome to the Princess Royal
Trust for Carers Newsletter for November 2002
This Month's Theme: Caring For
Health Conditions
We have information on newly-diagnosed conditions, on-going support and
links to other organisations that can help. If you are caring for
someone with a condition that we haven't mentioned let me know and I
will try and find out about it. My contact details are at the bottom of
this message.
Click here to read this month's theme http://www.carers.org/how-we-can-help/help-documents.asp?dsid=1197
Discussion Boards
The boards were busy this month with carers getting help and support for
each other. If you haven't had a look at them yet, click here to see the
latest posts. http://www.carers.org/discussion/discussion-forums.asp
Meheroo's Story
If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's or Dementia you may find
Meheroo's story helpful. She outlines in details how she dealt with the
difficulties caring she found caring for her husband who has dementia.
Click here for Meheroo's story
http://www.carers.org/how-we-can-help/help-documents.asp?dsid=1117#iris
If you have a story that you think would be helpful to other carers
please email it to me.
What Do You Really Want for
Christmas?
Just for fun this year we are trying to find out the 3 Things
Carer's Really want for Christmas... Do you just want some time off, a
new scarf or even a trip to the Caribbean. Please send in your top three
Christmas gifts to and we compile a list of them all. You could even
send your relatives to the site to get some inspiration for your ideal
Christmas gift! Send your Christmas wish list to me using my contact
details at the bottom of this message.
Stress Free Christmas Cooking
Christmas can be a difficult time for carers, to make the day run a bit
more smoothly. Send in your top Christmas recipes and tips and you could
win a prize. Please send your tips to me.
What else has the Trust been up
to?
HSA Champion Carers Gala Ceremony
We had hundreds of entries for the Campaign Carers Competition, and the
winners were presented with their prizes by Her Royal Highness the
Princess Royal. This was a fantastic event, marking the end of PRTC's
10th Anniversary year.
For more information and to see
photos of the winners visit
http://www.carers.org/news/press-releases-detail.asp?dsid=1158
Barclays Speak Out
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in association with Barclays has
carried out the largest ever consultation of carers. The consultation
was carried out through eleven face to face consultation events and a
thorough questionnaire.
On the 21st October 2002 HRH The Princess Royal and Jacqui Smith MP,
Minister for Health, the reports from this consultation were made
publicly available.
We got some really good press for the difficulties carers face using
this consultation document, including a piece in the British Medical
Journal issue 26th October.
The Trust is continuing to push these
findings to get carer's issues across. Read the findings at http://www.carers.org/barclays/findings.asp
Other Useful Information
Government Targets for Health and Social Care
Department of Health priorities and planning for health and social care
have set down older people, mental health and vulnerable children as the
key focus.
By December 2004, all assessments of
older people must begin within 48 hours of first contact with social
services, and be completed within 4 weeks. All social services must be
provided within 4 weeks, and equipment should be provided within 7
working days.
These targets - particularly those
relating to increases in those supported at home - will have
implications for carers and carer services.
See www.doh.gov.uk
Information for Carers of
people with mental Health Needs
MACA (The Mental After Care Association) has published A
Guide for Carers of People with Mental Health Needs. Chapter
headings include: Carers' rights, Assessments, Who's Who in Mental
Health, Mental Health "Labels" - What Do They Mean? Treatment
- What's On Offer, Emergency Help, Respite, Benefits, Glossary (Mental
Health Jargon Explained), Useful Contacts.
MACA is at 1st Floor, Lincoln House, 296-302, High Holborn, London WC1V
7JH Telephone 020 7061 3400 or e-mail maca@maca.org.uk.
Free Flu Jabs for Carers
The Trust is currently trying to work out what provision there is for
free flu jabs for carers across UK. We know that at present this depends
very much on where you live, but we are trying to see how we can improve
this for future years.
The Chief Medical Officer's office
has indicated that GPs should give the vaccine to carers free of charge
if they believe there is a need for the vaccine or if one would be
advisable as preventative measure. For more information see http://www.doh.gov.uk/com/letters/cmo0204.htm#i
Best regards
Esther O'Sullivan
Email me on eosullivan@carers.org
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