The 2010 Health Investor Awards have named Lifeways Community Care as the Specials Care Provider of the year.  The awards which were established to recognise outstanding achievements in healthcare, have always had Lifeways as a strong competitor in the category, winning year after year, placing higher against strong competition. The judging panel said: “The winner’s rapid growth has been underpinned by outstanding quality of delivery.”  Paul Marriner, Chief Executive, collected the

 Knowsley council’s children’s services, adult services and NHS held a special ‘moving on’ event for the parents of young people with disabilities or special/ additional needs.  Over 40 families attended the events at the Kirkby suite where professionals from Knowsley agencies were there to offer information and answer any questions about the support available for children ‘moving on’ from children’s services to adult services support.  The sessions were so successful that there

  Don Pratt, 65, has sold his taxi firm and retired this week as he was left a very generous tip of £250, 000 in the will of Ms Mary Watson, who he drove to and from the shops, to the doctors and on other errands around Newquay where she lived. Don’s Cabs was the firm Mrs Watson used every day to get around the Cornish seaside resort, becoming a regular customer 20 years ago after Mr Pratt offered to help take her shopping into her home. Mr Pratt said: “I always try to help old peo

A prominent charity worker has urged hospitals to improve the quality of the food they are serving patients, writes Kate Ferguson. Dame Betty Asafu Adjaye who runs the Mission Dining Club in Harlesden, a dining and social club for elderly and vulnerable residents, claims that too often severely ill and elderly hospital patients are given cold, unappetising food. Betty, who was made a Dame in 1997 in recognition of her tireless charity work, frequently visits sick club members in hospital, deliv

People are having to wait much longer to get wheelchairs in north Wales compared with those in the south, an assembly committee report says. AMs on the health committee said ministers should end what they call the “postcode lottery” of the service. Disability Wales’ chief executive said the wheelchair service must be “brought into the 21st Century.” Health Minister Edwina Hart said she is already taking action to speed up the delivery of wheelchair services. The rep

MERSEYSIDE pensioners will continue to get free travel despite a national rule change. The Department for Transport announcement means over the next 10 years the age at which people are entitled to their free bus pass will gradually rise from 60 to 65. But Merseytravel said the change will not affect Merseyside. Chairman Mark Dowd said: “We will continue to provide free travel on buses, trains and ferries after 9.30am for everyone over the age of 60 or who meets the disability criteria, a po

The Health Committee warned urgent action was needed and told the political parties to stop their point-scoring and seek solutions instead. The cross-party group said if politicians failed they would “betray current and future generations”. Ministers are expected to set out their plans for reform of the £16bn system in the coming weeks. Social care, which includes support provided by councils to people in their own homes for things such as washing, eating and dressing as well as res

The number of people being excluded from social care in England will continue rising unless there is a major revamp of the system, experts warn. The King’s Fund think-tank pointed out rationing had already started with many councils only helping the most in need. It said the best way to limit the problems was to create a partnership between the state and individuals where both contributed to the cost of care. It comes as ministers are discussing changes to the funding system. Home help and

Police investigating the deaths of an elderly couple after a fire at their sheltered accommodation have arrested another teenager. Mr and Mrs Adams’ relatives described them as the “rock” which united the family Kath and Albert Adams, both 77, died after suffering smoke inhalation on February 27. A mobility scooter parked outside their front door in Rugby, Warwickshire, was set alight and the flames then spread to their house. A second fire was also started at the sheltered

Mobility scooter users could be required to take a MOT test and take out motor insurance in the future. A three-month consultation on the matter considered issues such as weight limits, training, fitness to drive, insurance and registration, according to transport minister Sadiq Khan. “The review also made some key recommendations: that vehicle users should have third party insurance; that a simple fitness to drive assessment be developed; and that vehicle users should receive more advice