Issue 73 08.09.21
The weekly online newsletter for the care sector
Leader fears virus could strike again A SOCIAL care leader fears the world could be hit by a new pandemic sooner rather than later. Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, is concerned it could pose an even greater threat if it involves a vaccine-resistant virus. It was therefore, said Mario, vital that the inquiry into the current crisis should focus on the lessons learned rather than getting bogged down in a blame culture. He praised the Welsh Government for providing better and more effective support to the social care sector than had been the case in other parts of the UK. He said: “We have done things differently here in Wales and it’s very important that we understand what’s happened here, particularly how we can avoid this in future. “We will have to learn to live with this disease and it’s possible it will come back in a form that evades the vaccine. It is therefore vitally important that we learn these lessons. “What we need is an overarching UK-wide review and within that we need to look at what happened here in Wales and the other nations – an inquiry within an inquiry if you like.
“The way the social care sector has been supported in Wales is very different to the rest of the UK and we are grateful to the Welsh Government for the financial aid at a time when it was most needed.” A UK-wide inquiry is due to get underway next Spring, with First Minister Mark Drakeford resisting calls for a Walesspecific review. According to Mario, that was a sensible approach because it would be impossible to completely separate what happened in the different nations of the UK. He added: “A public inquiry will clearly flag up certain issues where things have gone wrong but it won’t necessarily reflect the collaboration and support the sector has had from the Welsh Government. “There is a greater understanding in Wales about how the sector fits into and integrates with the health service. It’s important to understand that in a devolved administration here in Wales and the only way to do that would be to have a separate review that would report into an overall UK-wide inquiry, along with similar reviews in Scotland and Northern Ireland.”
Paw-some visits at care home
A carer at a New Forest nursing home has raised nearly £800 for a cancer charity by braving a head shave. Healthcare assistant Jess Wild, a team member at Colten Care’s Lymington home Belmore Lodge, thanked all who contributed to her initiative which was in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. She said: “I braved the shave in memory of a few people including a mentor whose strong mind and courage I’ll admire for the rest of my life, my grandmother who will forever be my guardian angel, and everyone else who has ever been affected by cancer. My grand total is £782. I am so honoured to be surrounded by such generous and kind people. Thank you to all who supported me.” Jess’ sister Alex Bingham did the honours with the clippers.
A BIG THANK YOU
FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR MOST VULNERABLE SAFE AND HAPPY …
WE’RE IN AWE OF YOUR SELFLESS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
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AN EDINBURGH housing development has organised pet therapy sessions for elderly customers to help combat loneliness, following initial success throughout lockdown. Cocker spaniel Caly has been visiting customers at Bield’s Castlebrae Glebe in Craigmillar twice a week since September to provide much needed fun activities and cuddles. Development manager Sharon Tomany organised the sessions to encourage positive mental health and help individuals tackle issues that come with isolation. She said: “The pet therapy sessions have been received extremely positively by customers and staff as there is nothing better than a cuddle from a fluffy animal, especially during a period of isolation where socialising and human interaction was limited. “We made the decision to continue the sessions as customers have noticeably benefited and we’ve seen first-hand just how big an impact it has. I can tell when we have Caly in the building, our customers’ faces light up. “Some of our customers feel comfort with Caly as it brings back fond memories of when they had pets of their own. It fills me with happiness to see how much joy Caly has brought to Castlebrae Glebe, we look forward to her visits.” The 10-year-old spaniel has proved a major hit as customers get the chance to stroke and brush him for up to an hour.
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