080606
The National Health Service (NHS) is a paid for
service through the National Insurance Contributions (NIC) thus is
not a free service to UK taxpayers.
Relatively recent changes to the NHS long term
nursing care funding assessment guidelines still give the
impression of a postcode lottery for a patient (young or
old).
Although more acute for the Elderly whom are most
at risk to having a verbal assessment at their most vulnerable,
that some may say is carried out like a modern day 'Spanish
Inquisition', where processes, policies, procedures and practices
appear ad-lib. Perhaps like a 'Monty Python' storyline awaiting the
Parrot Sketch finale! That is - unless you know different?
They say knowledge is power and stemming the flow
of information impairs decision-making like being starved of
oxygen.
Is Patient(s) interests safeguarded by good
preparation and dissemination of reports, forms, guidelines etc.
that facilitates identification, clarity and illustration to the
point of understanding what NHS could, should and is liable for
funding that enables the Patient (and Family or interested parties)
to be forewarned and forearmed?
Is the definition of Social Care and Nursing Care
clearly defined like a 'Bill of Materials' or a 'Recipe' somewhere
that is consistent in interpretation to one and all? Perhaps one
can extrapolate from specific employee job descriptions?
Pam Coughlan's 1999 High Court Test Case set the
precedent for future battles (yip we are talking about Healthcare)
which decided in essence that care needed because of a health
problem should be paid for by the NHS - needs were more than social
services could be expected to fund. Apart from a little movement in
her wrists there was no feeling below her shoulders.
080502
Health Care in the Home - Employers' - Liability
- Public.
British Association of European Drug Sales
(BAEPD): Total UK Drug Sales (c2007) c£9.5bn.
A person with care needs should be treated as an
NHS patient.
ENGLAND
Year 2007 =
Attendance Allowance (2 bands). Day £43.15
or day and night £64.50
People with recognised medical needs also qualify
for a weekly payment from the NHS towards care costs (3 bands)
£40, £87 and £139.
SCOTLAND
Year 2007 =
No Attendance Allowance. All care residents
qualify for £145 a week towards there personal needs.
