A summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

Sex case counsellors awarded damages

Two counsellors of some of Britain’s worst sex offenders
won damages from the Prison Service yesterday.

Prison officers Geoffrey Mundell and Barry Bigby were diagnosed
with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of spending four
years dealing with inmates at Albany prison on the Isle of
Wight.

The Prison Service settled claims before the start of a hearing
at the High Court in London. Mundell was awarded £150,000 and
Bigby received £35,000.

Both prison officers had been working on a sex offenders’
treatment programme at Albany since 1992. The prison, which
contains many sex offenders, was one of five chosen to carry out
the programme.

Mundell and Bigby received one week’s training and were
expected to tackle the offenders’ distorted beliefs about
sex. Part of the course involved role-playing.

Mundell became ill in 1995 suffering nightmares, flashbacks,
moods, guilt and loss of self-confidence.

A psychiatrist’s report found he started to think of
himself as an abuser and had bad dreams about abusing children.

Bigby developed a phobia of children brought on by the sight of
them, according to documents submitted for the case.

Bigby’s psychologist wrote: “He now imagines sexual abuse
to be occurring when it is not and he has become excessively
concerned about being misunderstood himself when he is around
children.”

Source:- The Times Wednesday 6 June 2001 page 4


Couple win right to NHS treatment

Publicity over “postcode prescribing” has enabled an older
couple to obtain treatment for Alzheimer’s disease on the
NHS.

Thomas and Barbara Woodward received medication free when they
lived in Swindon. But after moving to Northampton they were told
they would have to pay for it privately.

Mr Woodward was told he would have to pay £165 a month for
the drug Aricept for his wife, who has the illness.

His concern was that he could not afford the treatment and
feared his wife’s condition would deteriorate.

Following publicity of the case, Northampton Healthcare Trust
said guidelines had been introduced which would make the drug
freely available to those who needed it.

The trust’s chief executive John Rom said: “New guidelines
have been distributed. Anyone who is on Aricept will not be denied
access to that drug on the NHS – for instance people moving
into the area.”

Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 6 June 2001 page 4


To boldly, oldly go

Access to transport and health provision should be included in
home care services for older people, according to a survey
published this week.

Researchers at the University of Salford’s institute for
health and social care found that regular, trained carers who
listened to clients, and kept them informed of what tasks might be
expected of them, of aids and adaptations to promote independence,
and of changes in carers, were valued very highly.

The survey report, “Quality at home for older people”, was based
on interviews with 143 older people living in Manchester, asking
them what they wanted from home care services.

It also suggested the NHS could improve the quality of care by
providing a prescription pick-up and delivery service and more
treatment at home.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 6 June 2001 page
4


Unwelcome control

Government backs down over New Deal disability proposal.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 6 June 2001 page
4


A vote loser

Labour’s failure on manifesto access.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 6 June 2001 page
4


Lend an ear

To mark national volunteers week, Matt Barnard looks at why the
Samaritans themselves are in need of help.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 6 June 2001 page
6


Pathfinder for the needy

Rosemary Maguire, first Parkinson’s disease nurse.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 6 June 2001 page
11


Forgotten army

Carers of people with mental health problems don’t get
much support. Marcia White on initiatives to change this.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 6 June 2001 page
120-119


Faith, soup and charity

Welfare provision brings a continuing relevance to church.

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 6 June 2001 page
119

Scottish newspapers

Services head for meltdown

The crisis over care of older people deepened last night as
private residential and nursing home owners threatened to evict
2,585 residents in Lanarkshire unless their fees are increased. NHS
doctors warned that the situation could lead to a breakdown in
health services as more beds are filled by older people
inappropriately.

Scottish Care, the organisation that represents 800 of
Scotland’s 1,100 private care units, has already banned new
admission to nursing homes in Grampian and has promised further
action within days. Scottish Care is now seeking an increase in
fees of £50 per resident per week to maintain current levels
of service.

North Lanarkshire Council director of social work Jim Dickie
said more money had already been offered to the private units but
rejected by them. South Lanarkshire Council’s head of older
people’s services Andrew Reid said that they would contribute
to a national working group to resolve the issue.

A Scottish Executive spokesperson said it would convene an
urgent meeting with the local authorities concerned and Scottish
Care in an effort to resolve the issue.

Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 6 June 2001 page 1

 

 

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