Shoe shop opened by Mobility Solutions
A shoe store complete with a diagnostics machine to help get the best fit for customers has opened in Glasgow. With problems such as bunions and swollen feet preventing many elderly people from buying comfortable shoes on the High Street, the Mobility Solutions store promises to ease the pain of finding the correct footwear. The opening of Mobility Solutions’ shoe shop, within its Glasgow superstore, was sparked when the company found shoes and slippers were among its best-selling products among customers. Mobility Solutions shoe shop offers a larger selection of shoes and slippers So to give the best possible service, the store expanded its selection and dedicated a whole new shop to footwear! As well as increasing its popular Cosyfeet selection, the store have added a huge selection of Padders footwear, making its selection of shoes and slippers over triple the size that it was previously. Furthermore, the Padders range will soon be available to purchase in Mobility Solutions’ online store – keep an eye on its website mobilitysolutions.co.uk for updates on this coming soon. Staff say they are delighted to have also installed a brand new diagnostics machine to help them fit customers with the most comfortable and supportive shoes possible. The footwear supplied by Mobility solutions is easy to put on and take off, caters for wide or swollen feet and is sturdy enough to provide support. The store hopes that they can help alleviate mobility issues, which it turn can cause difficulty in walking and lack of confidence when moving. Visit the Glasgow superstore at 75 Hawthorn Street, Glasgow (open 7 days a week) to see the vast selection of shoes or email info@mobilitysolutions.co.uk for further information. Mobility Solutions is part of the Allied Vehicles Group, which was established in 1993. Allied has grown to become the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of adapted and special purpose vehicles and produces wheelchair accessible cars, MPVs and minibuses. it stores in Glasgow and the Clyde Valley offer a full range of mobility products from daily living aids to accessible vehicle sales and hire, all under one roof.
Wybone clinical waste bin promises to reduce spread of infection
As flu season continues to grip the country, Wybone have introduced a clinical waste bin which promises to perform even better than before, reducing the spread of infection. The Capsule II All Plastic Sackholder compliments Wybone’s existing range, which began production in 1973. The firm is this year marking its 20th anniversary of supplying of sackholders to the NHS. Wybone’s easy-clean range includes metal, hybrid (plastic and metal) and capsule units. The capsule has been further developed to incorporate a plastic pedal and body with no metal components to deliver an all-plastic unit – the Capsule II. Managing director Richard Cooper used the expertise of NHS staff to develop the Capsule II and believes customers are at the forefront of product design, saying, “Working with customer feedback was an important step in the design process of our fully plastic sackholder; this enabled us to make minor adjustments to help the unit perform better in operational environments. We encourage our customers to request a sample and welcome their feedback.” The Capsule II clinical waste bin’s key features include: high-impact ABS plastic components, offering the highest available fire retardant ‘V0’ rated plastic conforms to HTM-05-03 Fire Safety Regulations ideal for sensitive areas such as operating theatres safe to use in areas with MRI scanners castors fitted to the back for manoeuvrability hands-free unit to reduce spread of infection rounded corners and no sharp edges easy-clean plastic frame multi-point pedal access can be operated from any angle integrated plastic damper in slow-close lid, reducing noise leak-proof tray to catch spills or liquids removable body allows for a deep clean off-the-wall design to avoids dirty marks or indents on the wall Richard adds, “We’ve invested heavily in this new Capsule II and taken the time to understand the requirements of our customers. We believe we have brought a stylish and high quality product to market that offers a greater protection from cross infection threats. The removable body and leak proof tray enables the unit to be cleaned easily, thoroughly and quickly. The one-piece hinge and handle is devoid of joints to stop any bacterial ingress. The units are available to suit 28, 42 and 80 litre sack sizes and with a choice of yellow, black, orange and white components. We’ve introduced a Click and Change lid system that can be quickly changed with minimal tool requirements.” The lid and base are available in a wide range of colours – including yellow, orange, black and white – to aid the segregation of clinical waste and ensure correct disposal. The sackholders are designed and manufactured by Wybone’s in-house team in south Yorkshire, so both small and large orders can be fulfilled quickly and efficiently and every bin is quality checked before leaving the factory. To request a sample or book a meeting, please email hello@wybone.co.uk
Partially-sighted Rhona, 86, writes memoirs in care home
A former teacher is close to completing her memoirs despite being registered blind, thanks to special technology and staff at her care home. Rhona Handcock, 86, began her life history several years ago but had to put her writing on hold because of her husband’s failing health. The couple moved into Hastings Court care home on The Ridge in November when the struggle to manage Mike’s health needs at home became too much. “Before we moved I had dangerously high blood pressure because daily life was so stressful,” said Rhona. “But now I can relax; I know my husband is safe and cared for, we’re much closer to family here and I can get on with my writing.” Rhona, who met her husband as a newly qualified teacher, has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder which destroys cells in the retina. Registered blind in 1996, she uses a specially adapted keyboard and software that reads her work to her and allows her to make the type on the screen much bigger. Rhona can focus on writing her memoirs in the home while staff care for her husband Hastings Court is a purpose-built, 80-bed care home providing person-centred residential, nursing and dementia care in Hastings. Rhona’s memories of Hastings include four years in the town in the 1960s when her husband was a teacher at St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, now St Paul’s Academy, in St Leonards-on-Sea. “Being in Hastings was a special time for us, it’s where we had our first two children,” remembers Rhona. “Now it’s going to be the place I complete my memoirs in and that’s very exciting.” Home manager Georgina Gamble is delighted the home has been able to keep Rhona and Mike together, saying, “We always do our best to accommodate couples, especially after 59 years of marriage! Rhona could have stayed at home because she’s completely independent but being able to move into our residential ‘Bluebell’ suite means she’s got none of the worries of maintaining a house, she has her husband close by and she can get on with her writing.” Rhona said she was inspired to write her memoirs by her two children and five grandchildren. “They’ve always loved stories about my many aunts and uncles, and my childhood in Surrey when we hosted a Land Girl during the War. They said I should write it all down and I’ve loved doing it. Because I’m at Hastings Court I can finish the book now – I’m on the final chapter which I’ve called, ‘The Last Lap – Old Age’. “People are the bread and butter of my life, my main-stay, an essential requirement, but my family are like a rich fruit cake!”
Chickens provide animal therapy at care home
A disabled chicken named Dill and her sister Rosemary paid a visit to residents at a care home to provide animal therapy sessions. The animals were brought in to help keep the residents occupied and prevent loneliness and boredom, and residents enjoying interacting with the feathered friends. The hens belong to Wendy Watkins, a chicken breeder from Whatsandwell, Derbyshire, who took them along to Burton Closes Hall Care Home in Bakewell. Wendy has eight chickens all named after herbs, with Dill living with a disability after her neck became stuck in her chest when born. The residents had chance to meet and stroke the chickens as part of the animal therapy visit, which helps to improve social interaction and lessen the effects of loneliness, depression and anxiety among the elderly. Residents were amazed at being able to handle the chickens and loved the animal therapy Wendy also read poetry to the residents as part of the visit, reciting a poem she wrote when she got her first chicken. Hazel Jones, home manager at Burton Closes Hall, said: “It was a lovely visit from Wendy and her chickens. The residents loved meeting them and were amazed at being able to touch and feel them. “Animal therapy sessions have improved social engagement and communication among the elderly. They also help tackle depression, loneliness, boredom and anxiety.” Here, resident Doreen Maltz, 89, holds Dill with the help of Wendy. Burton Closes Hall Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Blood test equipment can ease A&E admissions of elderly
A new piece of equipment is helping to reduce local A&E admissions of frail patients as it can complete a blood test within just four minutes. HORIBA UK Ltd, Medical recently installed the Microsemi CRP in Thame and Marlow Community Hospitals within Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. The machine is the latest point-of-care testing analyser which streamlines existing diagnostic pathways in the community. The Microsemi CRP is compact and user-friendly, and uniquely delivers a lab-accurate, three-part differential full blood count (FBC) combined with a C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement from a single tiny 18μL whole blood sample within just four minutes. Information gathered from the blood test can determine the presence of bacterial infection and inflammation and, given the rapidity of results delivered, patients can receive the treatment they need straight away or be referred appropriately and without delay. Opened in 2017, the new Frailty Assessment Hubs at Thame and Marlow (alongside those already existing at Stoke Mandeville & Wycombe Hospitals) offer a ‘one-stop shop’ for frail patients in the locality to receive the care they need closer to home. These also have the added benefit of reducing pressure on the local acute sites by reducing unnecessary admissions – particularly during the busier winter months. Teams of elderly care consultants, nurses, therapists, paramedics and GPs are available on site to provide expert assessments, undertake tests and agree a treatment plan with patients. If required, they can refer patients to the right community or hospital team to provide ongoing support or treatment. Commenting on the beneficial impact of the Microsemi CRP analyser, Shelagh Wojtowicz, staff nurse at Marlow Community Hub (pictured), said, “Patients see it as an advantage. Before the analyser was installed, we sent our samples away via two collection slots. Of course, this meant that patients were not able to access their results until one to two days later, whereas now we can perform a combined FBC and CRP, see a result within four minutes and take the relevant course of action almost immediately. It also means that patient samples don’t get lost.” Having blood test equipment in the community can help ease the winter crisis Kate Lee, lead nurse, added, “Although the service is in its early days at Thame and Marlow, the impact that the implementation of these analysers has had on Stoke Mandeville ED and Wycombe’s Urgent Care Centre has been invaluable, especially in the winter months.” Mandy Campbell, Sales & Marketing Manager, HORIBA UK, said, “We are delighted that the installation of the Microsemi CRP analyser at these vanguard Community Hub sites can enhance the quality of service delivered to patients. These instruments have become an integral part of improved, streamlined local healthcare by rapidly providing laboratory-quality results in a conveniently-accessible POC setting.” For more information on HORIBA UK Ltd Medical and its products, please visit www.horiba.com/uk/medical.
CQC find failings at two care homes
A care home owner and manager have been fined after a resident died in a fall from a second floor window, reports the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Highcliffe House Limited, which runs Highcliffe House Nursing Home in Felixstowe, Suffolk, was fined £16,500 plus a £170 victim surcharge at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court. Manager Alison Quilter-Cudworth, was fined £1,000 plus a £170 victim surcharge in a prosecution brought by the CQC. The prosecution was brought against the company and Quilter-Cudworth following an investigation into the death of a resident, William George Willmott. Mr Willmott was found dead outside the Cobbold Road home in 2016 after falling from his second floor bedroom window which, at the time, did not have window restrictors. A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Willmott had sustained significant injuries as a direct result of the fall. Bena Brown, prosecuting, told the court: “Both defendants failed a vulnerable man who relied on each of them to keep him safe. In addition the defendants exposed other service users to risk of harm.” The home had undergone previous health and safety audits when the need for window restrictors in residents’ rooms was highlighted. In addition, a CQC inspection in May 2016 found a lack of support, care planning and risk assessments for service users in distress. “At the time of his death William was recognised by care staff to be suffering from severe anxiety and depression. He had been identified as at risk of ‘severe panic attack leading to disturbed behaviour’ and of falling,” added Ms Brown. “The defendants took insufficient action to ensure staff caring for William understood how to manage his anxiety and depression. Furthermore, they failed to address environmental factors such as putting window restrictors in place which had been a long term concern and how to mitigate risk. It is the prosecution’s case that the accident resulting in William sustaining fatal injuries was entirely avoidable and the overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the registered provider and registered manager, who both had a clear role in ensuring that safe care and treatment was provided to William.” CQC carried out an urgent, focused, inspection at Highcliffe Nursing Home as a result of Mr Willmott’s death. This found a lack of environmental risks assessments at the home and the window in Mr Willmott’s room opened up to 50 centimetres. As a result of the inspection, urgent conditions were imposed requiring the provider to fix windows and review all health and safety at the service. Admissions to the home were also restricted and the home was placed into special measures. Jemima Burnage, head of adult social care inspection in the central region, said: “While we welcome the fact that both the provider and manager accepted responsibility in this case, we would always rather not be in the position of having to take action because vulnerable people have been failed by those providing their care. “We appreciate how distressing this has been for Mr Wilmott’s family and, like them, hope this case prompts other care home operators and managers to review their properties and systems to better ensure people’s safety. It is vital that people using care services are not left at risk of harm. “Our inspectors were shocked and saddened by what happened at Highcliffe House Nursing Home and took immediate action to protect people living at the home following Mr Willmott’s death. It was the serious failure of the home to protect people from avoidable harm that led to CQC’s prosecution of the provider and the home’s manager. “In their roles as provider and registered manager, Highcliffe House Limited and Quilter-Cudworth had a specific legal duty to ensure care and treatment was provided in a safe way. We found they had failed to do this by not ensuring suitable window restrictors were in place that would prevent any person, including Mr Willmott, from falling from the building. “Where we find any care provider has put people in its care at serious risk of harm, we will consider holding them to account by using our powers to prosecute.” Highcliffe House Nursing Home complied with the conditions CQC imposed after Mr Willmott’s death. The home is subject to ongoing monitoring. High court refuses to grant injunction against CQC’s report of ‘inadequate’ home Meanwhile, the CQC appeared in the High Court to defend its decision to publish a report on a care home which it had rated inadequate. The owners of Ashworth Grange care home in Dewsbury, West Yorks, had applied for an injunction to prevent CQC publishing the report. During an inspection in September 2017, the provider was found to have failed to provide care as required by regulations. At the High Court last week, Ideal Carehomes (Number One) Limited, were refused an injunction and the judge awarded the CQC full costs of more than £15,000. The report has now been published on the CQC website. Debbie Westhead, deputy chief inspector of adult social care, said: “It is our duty to ensure that health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care. “People have the right to know the quality of care they are receiving – in this case a service that was inadequate. We have a statutory responsibility to publish the reports of our inspection, as confirmed by the High Court in this case.”
More detentions than ever before under Mental Health Act
A review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has concluded that the rise in detentions under the Mental Health Act is an indicator of a healthcare system that is under considerable strain. Mental health charity Mind called for a review of the Act and blamed “failings across the system” for the fact that more people than ever before are being detained. The CQC report explained that healthcare professionals will only detain people under the Mental Health Act when other options have been considered already, such as whether support can be provided in the community or if the patient can be cared for in hospital on a voluntary basis. Yet in the 10-year period between 2005/06 and 2015/16, the number of detentions increased by 40% – from 45,484 to 63,622. As part of its role in monitoring the use of the Mental Health Act in England, CQC made a commitment to explore what could be causing this trend. It has done this by reviewing the available data, by visiting specialist mental health (independent and NHS) services, and by speaking to patients and to representative bodies to gather their views. CQC published the outcome of its review, which found that the causes of the rise in rates of detention can be grouped under four main themes: 1. Changes in mental health service provision and bed management: This can include there being fewer alternatives to inpatient care in some parts of the country (such as support in the community). It might also be due to the high demand for hospital beds preventing admission on an informal (voluntary) basis, early in the course of a person becoming unwell, or leading to premature discharges, which can then lead to re-admissions. 2. Demographic and social change: This includes general population growth, as well as growth in sections of the population that are more likely to be detained, such as older people with dementia, people who are homeless and people whose health is affected as a consequence of alcohol and substance misuse. 3. Legal and policy developments: The broadened definition of a mental disorder in the revised Mental Health Act in 2007 is already understood to have led to increased applications for detention. As well as that, there is greater awareness, for example among the police, of mental disorder and among clinicians who wish to ensure there are legal safeguards in place when caring for people who lack mental capacity. 4. Data reporting and data quality: This includes better reporting of detentions, as well as the potential for double-counting, such as when a detained patient moves between wards or from one hospital to another. In terms of further trends to explain the ongoing rise in detentions, CQC found no evidence that professionals had been misusing the Mental Health Act in any way; for example, patients who did not meet the criteria being detained so that they could be guaranteed an over-night bed in hospital. Dr Paul Lelliott, deputy chief inspector of hospitals (lead for mental health) at the Care Quality Commission, said: “There is no single reason to explain why detentions continue to rise every year. Population growth, societal changes, better national reporting, duplicate reporting, increased awareness of mental disorder and expanded criteria for detention are all contributing to more and more instances of people being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. ‘Mental Health Act detentions have been rising for years, which is deeply concerning’ “Some of the factors at play in the rising rates of detention, both nationally and locally, are also signs of a healthcare system under considerable strain. Detentions under the Act can be influenced by gaps in support and provision in the system. This includes limited hospital bed availability, which means that people cannot easily be admitted as voluntary patients early in the course of their illness. This is a particular problem if it is coupled with limited support for people in the community, which can prevent a person’s mental disorder from deteriorating to a point that detention under the Act is necessary. “It will take more than changes to primary legislation to tackle this fully and to ensure that people with serious mental health problems always get the safe, high-quality and compassionate care they deserve, when, where and how they need it. Changes to the law must happen alongside action to address the wider problems.” Vicki Nash, head of policy and campaigns at Mind, said, “Being detained under the Mental Health Act is the most serious thing that can happen in terms of your mental health. Detentions have been rising for years, which is deeply concerning. There is a review of the Act underway, which presents an opportunity to look at what is wrong with legislation, the guidance that underpins it and the way it’s used in practice, and this report will be useful in informing that review. “Ultimately this report confirms what we hear, every day, about the state of NHS mental health services. Many people are not getting the right care when they ask for help and, as a result, are more likely to become more unwell, reach crisis point and need to be detained under the Act. The steady rise in detentions points to failings across the system, from having to wait for therapy to pressure on beds. This is why the NHS’s Five Year Forward for Mental Health plan is so important. We’re at the beginning of a long road to improving mental health services, and making sure the Government and the NHS deliver on their promises over the next few years is crucial.” CQC representatives said they had shared the briefing with the Government, to aid its independent review of the Mental Health Act, and also with providers and commissioners to help them plan and review their services.
‘Game-changing’ blood test could detect pancreatic cancer early
A “game-changing” new blood test for pancreatic cancer has been unveiled by researchers. The new test, formulated by scientists at John Hopkins University in the US, looks for signs of eight common types of cancer including pancreatic cancer. It requires only a blood sample and may prove very inexpensive. “The idea is this test would make its way into the public and we could set up screening centres,” says Nickolas Papadopoulos, one of the Johns Hopkins researchers behind the test. “That’s why it has to be cheap and non-invasive.” The blood test is undergoing further trials with the aim being that people could eventually take it once a year, the researchers say. Ali Stunt, chief executive and founder of Pancreatic Cancer Action – who is herself is a 10-year survivor of pancreatic cancer – said, “Eight out of 10 patients are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when it has spread to other parts of the body, making the disease incurable, so we desperately need better ways to diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier to give patients the best chance of survival. “This blood test is a really exciting development. While a 70% success rate needs to improve, the fact that it can detect some early pancreatic cancers could be game-changing for patients. “This test will be particularly important for those who are suffering vague symptoms (such as early pancreatic cancer patients) and gives a potential tool for GPs to rule cancer in or out. The caveat is that it now needs to be tested on people without a cancer diagnosis to see if very early disease can be detected and for it to be used as a screening tool in those at high risk of developing cancer.” Pancreatic cancer test uses non-invasive method The test, called CancerSEEK, is a unique non-invasive, multi-analyte test that simultaneously evaluates levels of eight cancer proteins and the presence of cancer gene mutations from circulating DNA in the blood. The test is aimed at screening for eight common cancer types that account for more than 60% of cancer deaths. Five of the cancers covered by the test currently have no screening test. “The use of a combination of selected biomarkers for early detection has the potential to change the way we screen for cancer, and it is based on the same rationale for using combinations of drugs to treat cancers,” says Nickolas Papadopoulos, Ph.D., senior author and professor of oncology and pathology. The findings were recently published online by Science.
Autism care home receives inadequate CQC rating
An autism care home has been rated as inadequate overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after it found an unexplained injury was not investigated quickly enough. Inspectors found The Hoffmann Foundation for Autism – 4 Park Avenue in Wood Green, north London, also found that risks were not fully assessed and inspectors reported that two bathrooms were out of use. There was also an “unpleasant smell” in one bedroom and a bathroom. The residential care home can provide accommodation and care for up to six people with learning disabilities and may have autism or Asperger’s Syndrome. The care home was rated as inadequate for being safe and well-led and requires improvement for being effective, caring and responsive. The CQC also found that risks associated with people’s health and care were identified but not appropriately assessed, and people’s care plans and risk assessments were not reviewed and updated when their needs changed. In addition, carpets were damaged and some flooring was uneven, presenting tripping hazards, while the premises were dirty and doors damaged which posed a risk to security. Autism care home review will take place within six months The report added, “However, inspectors did see that people shared positive and caring relationships with staff. Relatives said staff were caring and friendly. People’s cultural and spiritual needs were acknowledged and supported when required.” CQC’s Debbie Ivanova: “If there is not enough improvement we could take action to prevent the provider from operating this service.” Debbie Ivanova, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of adult social care, said: “The Hoffmann Foundation for Autism – 4 Park Avenue will continue to be kept under review. Where necessary, another inspection will be conducted within six months, and if there is not enough improvement we could take action to prevent the provider from operating this service.” The full report is available at http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-124999804
