WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

To lead a ‘full & active life’ they must be able to travel for work & leisure - The Government must work harder to improve accessibility for disabled people across the nation’s transport networks, warns the Transport Committee in a wide ranging report.

In the some 11.5m people already live with a recognised disability and more than a fifth of them experience some difficulty when using transport networks.  So it’s essential that the Department for Transport delivers an ambitious Accessibility Action Plan.
Press release & links ~ Accessibility Action Plan ~ DPTAC  ~ Transport Direct:  Door-to-door journey planner (then click on: Need to add accessible transport option?)* Options selected ~ Transport if you're disabled ~ CAB:  Advice for disabled travellers  ~ LCD: Transport woes continue for disabled people despite Paralympics ~ RNIB:  Access to transport for disabled people still unacceptable ~ TS:  Free bus travel for people aged 60+ or those with a disability ~ TS:  Travel information for people with mobility difficulties ~ NI Direct:  Public Transport - Transport Programme for People with Disabilities ~ NHS Choices:  Concessions on public transport ~ TravelineCymru:  Travellers With a Disability ~ London Councils:  Disabled transport - useful links ~ Flying with a disability  ~ DO:  Unsure about travelling by train? ~ NRE:  Information for disabled passengers ~ FCO:  Foreign travel for disabled people ~ Airport parking ~ Accessibility improvements completed at 35 Tube stations ~ Wide-aisle gates at 180 Tube stations means more independent and quicker journeys ~ TfL launches competition to create accessibility apps ~ 70% of the Capital's bus stops now fully accessible ~ Dispelling myths on Blue Badge parking rules ~ Passenger rights: unfair refusals 'still a problem' for disabled air travellers says Commission ~ DfT weighs ways to access disability advice ~ Passengers to benefit from access improvements at stations ~ Guide dogs to be allowed to use moving escalators for the first time ever

The dawn of a New (caring) Age for the NHS? - The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) new programme of hospital inspections has started with inspections in London and Yorkshire .  The inspections involve significantly larger inspection teams than CQC has used in the past.  The teams – called inspection panels - will include doctors, nurses & other experts and trained members of the public.  They will cover every site that delivers acute services and 8 key services areas: A&E; medical care (including frail elderly); surgery; intensive/critical care; maternity; paediatrics/children’s care; end of life care; outpatients.
Press release & links ~The Patients Association Backs Calls for Openness about Staffing Levels ~ Future of the NHS rests on wholesale shift to an open culture warn MPs ~ CQC demands urgent action by Lincolnshire hospital trust and NHS performance managers after finding it is still failing to meet national standards ~ CQC publishes follow up report of investigation into University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust ~ Hunt sets out tough new approach to turn around NHS hospitals ~ Major national survey prompts CQC to call for improvements in community mental health care ~ DH:  Can nursing still be called the ‘Caring Profession’?

At least some Backbench MPs appear to be working hard looking after our interests - The Public Accounts Committee has published 4 reports, including:

* Early Action landscape review
* Improving government procurement and the impact of government's ICT savings initiatives
* Civil Service reform
* Integration across government and Whole-Place Community Budget
Press release & links ~ MPs publish report on the dismantled National Programme for IT in the NHS

Why is it that ‘Never Again / We have learned lessons’ always seems to end up with ‘Here we go again’? - Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the LGA's Children & Young People Board has responded to the publication of the serious case review into the death of Daniel Pelka.
Press release & links ~ Serious Case Review: Daniel Pelka ~ DfE:  Child Protection reform ~ Child protection: Schools want and need clear statutory requirements, not freedom to do their own thing ~ Serious case review panel established ~ Lord Carlile submits review of the Edlington Case  ~  WAG:  Consultation on new Child Practice Reviews ~ Ofsted reports on the protection of vulnerable babies and young people ~ Improving child protection by shining the light on good practice: how a number of Local Safeguarding Children Boards are showing the way ~ The voice of the child: learning lessons from serious case reviews ~ Learning lessons from serious case reviews 2009-2010 ~ Peter Connelly Serious Case Review reports published

IPCC seeks the truth - The IPCC Hillsborough investigation is examining police actions following the stadium disaster.  This includes how West Midlands Police, the force appointed to accumulate evidence for Lord Justice Taylor’s inquiry and the subsequent inquests, conducted its inquiries.
Press release & links – (Update on Hillsborough witness appeal)

The ‘end of the world is nigh’ in Glasgow, Suffolk & Yorkshire - Tests to ensure that the public can receive alerts to their mobile phone in the event of an emergency will take place in selected locations throughout the country this autumn.
Press release & links

Helping prevent local public sector from having to ‘re-invent the wheel’ - A major change in the way data can be updated on the Socitm Applications Register will ensure its future as the best source of accurate information about software & services used in local public services.
Press release & links

Do you know a person or organisation that has made a difference? - People are being urged to nominate community groups & volunteers who have made a genuine difference to their local area, the Cabinet Office announced last week, in the last call for 2014 nominations for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – (closes on 30 September 2013).
Press release & links

How strong would a ‘Scottish £’ be? - How much of the existing UK public debt an independent Scotland would inherit, and how it manages its debt are central to understanding its currency choices, according to new research from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR).
Press release & links ~ Related later press release ~ Scotland, Migration & the Referendum: Data & Analysis for an Informed Debate

Is the MPS hoping that ‘Plebgate’ will eventually disappear down a rabbit hole in Wonderland never to be heard of again? – Nine Metropolitan Police officers have been or are being investigated for criminal and/or misconduct offences as part of investigation Operation Alice.  Four others, who are not police officers, have also been or are being investigated. A decision by the Crown Prosecution Service in respect of any criminal offences is awaited.  Depending on the CPS decision the IPCC and MPS will then consider misconduct charges against the officers.
Press release & links

Are you innovative enough and ready to take a dive in Cambridge ? – The UK Science & Innovation Network is looking for Bangalore ’s most innovative biotech or medtech company, who are looking to expand their business internationally.  They are also looking for an academic with Bangalore ’s best biotech business or medtech idea! (Closes on 30 October 2013)
Press release & links

 

Andy McNab Confirmed as Guest Speaker at Free Security Summit - 22nd October, London - It's no secret - beating the bad guys can seem like an impossible mission………especially when they’re targeting sensitive data and invaluable IT assets. However, implementing a secure connected strategy, protecting your datacentre, network and endpoints could mean Mission Accomplished!

Join a group of your peers, high-profile speakers and influential security experts to gain the insight necessary to transform your organisation’s security strategies.

Network with other public sector security professionals, get in-depth security updates, and learn more about today's most pressing security challenges.

All this and a guest speaker appearance Andy McNab, DCM MM, former SAS operative and soldier, author of Bravo Two Zero!

Click Here to find out more and to register as a free public sector delegate.


Please note that previously published newsletters can be accessed from the Newsletter Archive

Keynote Speaker - Andy McNab, SAS Soldier, best-selling author......register now image.
Please choose from the links below to view individual sections of interest: