Charity warns Autumn Budget could lead to almost £1m in extra costs
Brunelcare, a Bristol-based charity caring for older people in their own homes, Care Homes, and Extra Care Housing sites, is concerned about the Autumn Budget and the increase to employers’ National Insurance contributions and the knock-on effect this will have upon the charity. Whilst there was good news in last week’s Autumn Budget for investment in social housing, the NHS, and other public services, Brunelcare estimates that the change in National Insurance will add almost £1 million to its staffing costs, creating significant financial pressures at a time when the charity and other social care providers are already under intense strain. Brunelcare employs 1,100 dedicated colleagues to provide care, housing, and support to 2,000 adults across the South West region each week. Staffing is by far the charity’s largest cost, and more than three-quarters of employees work in social care and support roles. Their initial analysis shows that the 1.2% rise in the rate of employer National Insurance Contribution plus the reduction in the threshold, will mean an almost £1 million increase in Brunelcare’s costs, which is equivalent to 3.7% of its current gross salaries bill. Oona Goldsworthy, Chief Executive of Brunelcare, said: “The lack of funding to support wage increases, in addition to the new financial pressures announced in the Autumn Budget, make it increasingly difficult for providers like us to continue our commitment to paying colleagues the Real Living Wage. We are urging the Chancellor to review the Budget’s impact on the social care system, especially for charity providers. Either local governments must be given sufficient resources to increase fee levels in social care contracts to cover the additional costs created by the Budget’s ‘tough choices,’ or charitable social care and supported housing providers such as Brunelcare should be exempt from the employer National Insurance increase and new thresholds. Increasing taxes aims to strengthen the public services, which is welcome, however the Budget is largely silent about social care and supported housing – a core pillar of a thriving and supportive society. It is unclear how the additional £25 billion funding for the NHS will relate to social care.” In addition, Brunelcare’s wage bill will increase by a further £900k from April 2025, as a result of the 5% real Living Wage rise. Brunelcare first committed to becoming a real Living Wage employer in 2022 and has continued to do so ever since, because they believe championing fair pay for its social care colleagues is the right thing to do, and is vital in sustaining a viable workforce. The combined effect of these unfunded measures means that Brunelcare will start the next financial year with a 7.4% increase in staffing costs. The charity has already heard that Local Authorities will not be able to increase their funding to support the NI increases as they will only receive a real-term increase in spending power of around 3.2% for its services – well short of the sum needed to meet the increased costs the Autumn Budget has imposed on all care providers. Visit the Brunelcare website here: https://www.brunelcare.org.uk/
The Conversation Isn’t Over; Demand Action on Dementia
The Dementia Summit, held on 31st October 2023, was not just a gathering—it was a call for action to improve the education and care of dementia. Leading experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, and those intimately touched by dementia came together to confront the realities of the condition and to forge solutions aimed at improving the lives of those affected. A poignant moment at the summit was the address by keynote speakers Peter Berry and Deb Bunt, co-authors of “Living Well with Dementia.” Peter, living with dementia, and Deb, his close friend, spoke on the truth of living the condition. Peter told delegates: “I want to be treated as me. Treat people with dementia how you’d want to be treated. Be kind.” In a panel discussion regarding the importance of communication, Dr. Natalie Yates-Bolton, Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Salford declared, “We’re the ones that need to think differently.” Delegates engaged in hard-hitting discussions, delving into critical topics such as early diagnosis, the pivotal role of technology and environmental factors in dementia care, breakthroughs in research, caregiver support and the urgency of cultivating dementia-friendly communities. A resounding call echoed throughout, in the bid to attract societal and government attention towards raising awareness of the condition: ‘make dementia cool.’ The summit circled back to a singular truth—those living with dementia must not be forgotten, and the bonds of meaningful connections must not be severed. Dr. Isabelle Latham, Researcher-in-Residence at Hallmark Care Homes, affirmed, “Joy is an ever-present possibility at every stage of the journey and is derived from meaningful connections.” Jackie Pool, Dementia Care Champion at QCS, delivered the reminder, “Everybody has abilities, and our duty is to help them realise these abilities for meaningful connections.” The Dementia Summit 2023 was more than dialogue. Those in attendance convened to share not just knowledge but a collective commitment to action. Networking wasn’t just about connections; it was about forging alliances to revolutionise dementia care. Broadway Events extends gratitude to all speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and supporters for their unwavering dedication to the cause at Dementia Summit 2023. The conversations sparked and the momentum generated aren’t mere echoes; they are the drumbeats of a movement propelling us toward a future where dementia is not just acknowledged but decisively confronted. Continue to talk about dementia; the conversation isn’t over—it’s a demand for change. For more information about Dementia Summit, click here.
Nuffield Health and Careology to Extend Clinical Technology Partnership to Support More Patients Undergoing Cancer Care
Careology and Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, have extended their partnership to provide people undergoing cancer treatment access to advanced digital cancer care technology at 12 NuffieldHealth hospitals across the UK. During a successful pilot of Careology’s digital cancer care platform at Nuffield Health Derby Hospital, which ran from February to October last year, over half of the patients who were provided with the Careology digital cancer care platform (through an app) each month logged their symptoms in response to medication (such as chemotherapy), vital signs and engaged with their clinical nurses about their wellbeing from their home. In total during the pilot, users of the app made 980 symptom updates, 365 journal entries and marked 6,755 medication doses as taken. Elisa Mills, Nuffield Health’s Cancer Services National Lead, says: “Receiving a cancer diagnosis is an incredibly daunting and worrying experience for anyone. Our approach is to support our patients with the latest digital technology to help them understand and engage with their care, which we hope will support our clinical teams to deliver the best clinical outcomes to as many people as possible. The pilot deployment of Careology’s cancer care platform at Nuffield Derby Hospital was a smooth and professional implementation that was deployed with no extra resourcing or staffing required. It was embedded into the teams’ processes and quickly proved beneficial, connecting our patients in their homes to our nursing team at the hospital. We look forward to seeing more positive outcomes at our other hospitals across the UK.” Jo Nicklin, a patient at Nuffield Health Derby Hospital who used the Careology digital cancer care platform during the pilot, says: “It’s like having your cancer care in your pocket. I used it to keep track of my appointments, medication and to report side-effects. Undergoing chemotherapy is brutal at times and the app was supportive, providing instructions if there were any problems. I used the app during the second part of my chemotherapy and I felt it was useful to have, as I didn’t have it for the first part of my chemotherapy.” During the pilot, the digitisation of questionnaires, such as “Holistic Needs Assessments” (HNAs), on Careology’s digital cancer care platform meant people undergoing cancer treatment at Nuffield Health Derby Hospital were more forthcoming in completing them. This enabled the Nuffield Health Derby hospital team to develop personalised care and support plans more easily. Additionally, feedback from nurses and patients during the pilot fed into design improvements of the cancer care platform. Any changes were made incrementally; for example, patients said that they were forgetting to update their symptoms in the app so push notifications were created, increasing engagement by 12%. Julie Little, Cancer Services Lead and Macmillan Lead Oncology Nurse and at Nuffield Health Derby Hospital, explains: “Careology’s digital cancer care platform acted as an extra layer of care for our patients. Careology is continually improving their software based on the feedback and insights our hospital provided during the pilot. It’s very much part of Nuffield Health’s connected healthcare ethos to look after body and mind of our patients and Careology’s cancer care software provides another important way to stay connected with our patients when they are at home.” Careology cancer care software is a recommended service by Macmillan Cancer Support and last year (2022), Careology’s digital cancer care platform won the award for ‘Excellence in Supporting Patients and Healthcare Teams’ at the Forward Healthcare Awards 2022. Paul Landau, Careology’s founder and CEO comments: “We’re delighted to be extending our work with Nuffield Health as they accelerate the roll out of Careology across their hospitals to help transform cancer care. We know that technology can improve patient safety and give care teams early visibility of issues which frees up time to care for those who are most in need. This ultimately means that more people living and dealing with cancer are getting the best possible care, creating a better experience for patients, families and caregivers.” Nuffield Health’s extended partnership with Careology is part of the healthcare charity’s digital transformation plans and ambition is to ensure our hospital patients are receiving the best possible experiences when using our services.
It’s Time to Talk about Dementia: Announcing the Inaugural Dementia Summit
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the highly anticipated Dementia Summit, a landmark conference aimed at igniting conversations and driving change in the field of dementia care. This momentous event will take place on the 31st of October 2023 at The King’s Fund in London, one of the world’s leading healthcare think tanks. The Dementia Summit carries the strapline “It’s time to talk about dementia,” emphasising the urgent need for open dialogue, collaboration, and innovative approaches to address the challenges faced by individuals living with dementia and those around them. With an aging global population and the increasing prevalence of dementia, the need for effective care, support, and research is more crucial than ever. The conference will serve as a dynamic platform for renowned experts, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and explore ground-breaking strategies in dementia care. “We are thrilled to launch the Dementia Summit, a platform that will unite leaders and experts from various disciplines to address the challenges and opportunities in dementia care,” said Emma Barrett, Founder of Dementia Summit. “By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, we aim to drive innovation, raise awareness, and ultimately make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by dementia.” Through keynote presentations, focused speaker slots and panel discussions, participants will gain valuable insights into the latest advancements in research and ideas across a wide range of topics including: The King’s Fund, renowned for its pioneering work in healthcare policy and innovation, is the perfect host for this momentous event. Located in the vibrant city of London, the conference will provide a dynamic and inspiring backdrop for delegates to connect, learn, and collaborate. Registration for the Dementia Summit is now open, and individuals passionate about making a difference in dementia care are encouraged to visit the conference website at www.dementiasummit.co.uk. There, they can find detailed information about the program schedule, esteemed speakers, and registration details. Super Early Bird registrations are currently available, offering attendees the opportunity to secure their place at a discounted rate. Limited sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are also available for organizations eager to showcase their contributions and engage with a diverse audience of dementia experts. Join us at the Dementia Summit as we break the silence, ignite conversations, and work towards a world where dementia care is compassionate, effective, and inclusive. Together, we can make a lasting impact and bring about positive change.
