The Inspector

There will be no more posts on The Inspector for the time being as we have a shiny new blog where you can find all the latest news and views on social care - The Social Work Blog. See you there!

Community Care was one of a number of news organisations to trumpet the return of the delayed discharge as a political issue, after government figures this month appeared to show a 30% hike in the number of days patients spent in hospital when ready for discharge from 2005-6 to 2006-7.

There are a few bits and bobs relating to social care in the Queen's Speech. Check out latest information can be found on the Community Care site.

So the comprehensive spending review has finally arrived - 15 months later than originally planned.
And for adult social care, the immediate news is grim - 1% real terms growth in spending for local government, a quarter of the level accorded to the already booming NHS.
However, the government has held out the prospect of a brighter future by promising a green paper on the funding and delivery of adult care services, designed to tackle demographic change.
So a case of satisfaction delayed? I fear not.

Gordon Brown and the Labour Party travel down to Bournemouth for their annual conference this week.

With an election potentially around the corner what message would you want Gordon Brown to pluck from a bottle as he takes in the air on Bournemouth sea front?

Gordon Brown yesterday made it clear that this particular self-styled heir to Margaret Thatcher is not for turning over public sector pay, in a speech to the Trades Union Congress.
In a characteristic turn of phrase, the prime minister said his priority for the economy was "stability yesterday, today and tomorrow" - which means sub-inflationary pay deals for hundreds of thousands of public sector staff. So much for Red Gordon - the firebrand socialist of Tory mythology, bent on returning Britain to postwar welfarism and trade union omnipotence.

Gangs and City finance may not be obvious bedfellows aside from being two of the biggest news themes of this summer's not-so-silly season.
However, one issue links the two and others of this summer's hot topics, such as exam results, namely the huge level of inequality in the UK.
Yet, in all the political hot air that has been expended on these stories, you will be hard pressed to find a mainstream politician who has mentioned it.
The Thatcherite legacy, that talking about inequality represents the "politics of envy" and that tackling it is an attack on "aspiration" and hard-working families", remains.

Even one puff of a cannabis joint can lead to psychosis, according to research by doctors from two British universities.

Whatever happened to Hazel Blears, fearless ultrablairite, unwavering disciple of the former PM throughout the Downing Street Wars between nos 10 and 11? She has, of course, gone to work for the old adversary as communities and local government secretary, but surely existing loyalties die hard? Well here's Gordon Brown in a speech last year:

Unsurprisingly, 98.7% of the press coverage surrounding new health secretary Alan Johnson has concerned the NHS. Johnson's union background has already marked him out as a potential bridge-builder between the government and health workers, who are fuming about a series of low pay deals this year and fatigued by the seemingly relentless pace of reform within the service.

They say there are few certainties in life besides death and taxes. However, it seems we can add to that list that Patricia Hewitt will no longer be health secretary following Gordon Brown's coronation as prime minister at the end of this month. The Conservatives are calling for her head, and took great delight when Tony Blair refused to recommend her to continue in her job to Brown during prime minister's questions last week.
Political commentators willing to predict Hewitt retaining her post are nowhere to be seen.