Policy Statements and Initiatives
DH: Health Secretary Alan Johnson has launched a five-year NHS Cancer Reform Strategy containing a package of measures to tackle cancer and improve patient care. Key elements of the strategy include focus on prevention, faster treatment, extended screening, fast-track drug approval and extended services for the increasing numbers of people surviving cancer.
Press release ~ Cancer reform strategy ~ DH - Cancer ~ Cancer Plan 2000 ~ Macmillan Cancer Support ~ Breast Cancer Screening Programme ~ NHS Bowel Screening Programme ~ Cervical cancer vaccine
CLG: More older & disabled people will benefit from 20% extra Government funding for home adaptations, such as ramps, stair lifts and easy-access showers following the announcement of increases in the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), as part of a package of measures designed at helping people live independently in their own homes for longer.
The Government also intends to strengthen Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs), the locally based not-for-profit organisations that help homeowners & tenants renting private housing repair & maintain their homes.
Press release ~ CLG - Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) ~ Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) ~ Foundations Home Improvement Agency ~ Independent Living Review ~ 'Be tter outcomes, lower costs' ~ 'The costs and benefits of independent living' ~ Welsh Care and Repair Agency ~ Supporting People Programme ~The benefits of Telecare for Local Authorities
ScotGov: A major overhaul of Scotland’s system to support children looked after by foster & kinship carers has been announced. Better financial support for carers will be on offer, with approved kinship carers now able to qualify for a weekly allowance to help them provide support & security to young people placed with them.
The new strategy - Getting it Right for Every Child in Kinship and Foster Care - is underpinned by the core principles of a child-centred approach to fostering and outlines support for:
* A minimum national allowance of between £119 and £198 per week to be paid to all carers
* Approved kinship carers of looked after children to be paid allowances on a par with foster carers
* A national protocol for dealing with complaints & allegations against foster and kinship carers
* Improved assessment & approval processes as well as better training & support for foster and kinship carers
* A specialist information service for all kinship carers giving advice on benefits & maximising financial support
A consultation on amending regulations, including barriers to same sex couples fostering, will run until 14 March 2008.
Press release ~ Getting it Right for Every Child in Kinship and Foster Care ~ Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations ~ The Fostering Network Scotland ~ COSLA ~ National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy 2006 ~ Getting it Right for Every Child ~ We Can and Must do Better
CLG: Local Government Minister John Healey has published Government grant figures for 2008/11. The government claims that more up to date ONS population projections (issued in September 2007), that improve the way that migrants are counted, have been used as the basis for individual authority allocations.