An article examined suggestions that direct payments were effectively creating a two-tier system in social care - by being disproportionately utilized by middle-class, affluent disabled people.
Source: David Leece and Janet Leece, 'Direct payments: creating a two-tiered system in social care?', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 36 Number 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Dec
The government announced that the scheme to deliver help to assist older and disabled people with the switch to digital television would cost around £600 million, ring-fenced in the forthcoming television licence fee settlement. The help scheme would be free to older and disabled people who received income-related benefits; those who did not would pay a subsidized fee of £40.
Source: Press release 19 December 2006, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200)
Links: DCMS press release
Date: 2006-Dec
A literature review (including a survey of good practice) examined support services for disabled parents. An analysis of the policy framework relevant to parents with additional needs showed that the framework itself did not facilitate appropriate responses from those commissioning and delivering services. Parenting roles were not treated as a central issue, with the exception of the policy framework for substance abuse.
Source: Jenny Morris and Michele Wates, Supporting Disabled Parents and Parents with Additional Support Needs, Knowledge Review 11, Social Care Institute for Excellence (020 7089 6840)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Nov
The disability rights watchdog said that the social care system was creating a 'care gap' that left millions of people with no control over their lives. Many disabled people and people with long-term health conditions were without support enabling them to get out of bed, use the toilet, or eat; many could not leave their homes to visit friends or family; more than a million disabled people and people with long-term health conditions were living in unsuitable housing; 320,000 people were living in residential care homes, many against their wishes, with no right or power to fight local authority decisions placing them there; a further 9,000 young adults were inappropriately housed.
Source: Independence Day: Social care and disability rights, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Report | DRC press release
Date: 2006-Nov
A report evaluated the first two years of a pilot scheme testing a new system of social care for disabled people. People were given more choice and control over the services they received, and how those services were delivered, with support if they needed it. It concluded that the results provided strong encouragement for further action.
Source: Carl Poll, Simon Duffy, Chris Hatton, Helen Sanderson and Martin Routledge, A Report on in Control s First Phase 2003-2005, in Control (0121 708 3031)
Links: Report | Summary | CSIP press release | Mencap press release
Date: 2006-Oct
A study examined variations in the implementation of national direct payments policies in different localities across the United Kingdom, and particularly within the context of devolution in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Local variation was not attributable solely to local factors , and varied techniques of devolved governance had an impact on equity and social justice for disabled people.
Source: Sheila Riddell et al., Disabled People and Direct Payments: A UK comparative study, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Oct
A report from an ad hoc cross-party group of MPs called for action from government to improve services for disabled children. It said that there was widespread dissatisfaction with existing levels of provision, and called for additional resources, improved targets and inspection frameworks, and new entitlements to support for families.
Source: Parliamentary Hearings on Services for Disabled Children, Parliamentary Hearings on Services for Disabled Children, c/o Council for Disabled Children (020 7843 6000)
Links: Report | Summary | PHSDC press release | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Oct
A report provided an overview of the existing state of wheelchair provision; and it made recommendations on how the National Health Service, working with partners, could improve outcomes for wheelchairs users.
Source: Out and About: Wheelchairs as part of a whole systems approach to independence, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report | Summary | DH press release
Date: 2006-Oct
A report said that demand for places in residential settings for elderly and physically disabled people was projected to increase by nearly 6 per cent by 2016.
Source: Care of Elderly People: UK Market Report 2006, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: L&B press release
Date: 2006-Sep
A report by the disability rights watchdog examined the experience of people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities of primary care services in England and Wales. Such people were more likely to experience major illness, to develop serious health conditions at an earlier age, and to die of them sooner, than other people. Yet they were also less likely to receive some of the important evidence-based treatments and health checks than others with the same condition but without a mental health condition or learning disability. They also faced real barriers to accessing services.
Source: Equal Treatment: Closing the Gap - A formal investigation into physical health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Report | DRC press release | SCMH press release | Mencap press release | Rethink press release | MHF press release | Community Care report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Sep
A study examined how local authorities were dealing with disability issues. A great deal of good practice was found across the case study local authorities, and local authorities in England were committed to meeting the needs of disabled citizens.
Source: Marian Barnes, Tula Brannelly, Eileen Dunstan, Sue Wainwright and Lynne Wilson, Able Authorities: The Disability Discrimination Act, local authorities and disabled people, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Date: 2006-Jul
A watchdog report set out a series of action points for improving the lives of disabled people in Scotland.
Source: Putting Disability at the Heart of Public Policy in Scotland: Priorities for action, Disability Rights Commission (08457 622633)
Links: Report | SAMH statement
Date: 2006-Jul
A report examined the community care and mental health needs of, and current service provision for, sensory-impaired adults in Scotland.
Source: Kate Skellington Orr, Traci Leven, Ruth Bryan and Elaine Wilson, Community Care and Mental Health Services for Adults with Sensory Impairment in Scotland, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2006-Jun
The government published proposals (following consultation) to close the 'Bournewood gap'. It said that people who lacked capacity would benefit from new safeguards. The proposals were in response to the 2004 European Court of Human Rights judgment involving an autistic man who was kept at Bournewood Hospital by doctors against the wishes of his carers. (The 'Bournewood gap' arises when people who lack capacity to consent need to receive care or treatment in circumstances that amount to a deprivation of liberty. These people had previously been detained under the common law, rather than under the Mental Health Act, and so did not have sufficient legal safeguards or protection.)
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 29 June 2006, columns 17-18WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DH press release | DH briefing | Consultation responses | Mind press release
Date: 2006-Jun
A private member's Bill was introduced which would place a duty on local authorities and National Health Service bodies to co-operate between themselves and key partners (such as Jobcentre Plus) to promote independent living by, and improve outcomes for, disabled people.
Source: Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill (HL), Lord Ashley, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | DRC briefing | CSIP briefing | Carers UK press release | Scope press release
Date: 2006-Jun
A new book examined disability-related support services controlled and run by disabled people themselves, and identified the principal forces - economic, political and cultural - that influenced and inhibited their further development.
Source: Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer, Independent Futures: Creating user-led disability services in a disabling society, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-May
Researchers found that Scotland was lagging behind England in the uptake of direct payment schemes for disabled people. Those using the service also believed that both the level of funding and the support offered were inadequate.
Source: Press release 11 May 2006, Scottish Parliament Health Committee (0131 348 5000)
Links: SP press release
Date: 2006-May
The House of Lords voted to block a Bill which would have permitted assisted suicide for terminally ill people under certain conditions.
Source: Lord Joffe, Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill [HL], TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Hansard | Dignity press release | RCP press release | RSM press release | Evangelical Alliance press release | Catholic Church press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-May
The government announced a review of the Independent Living Funds (designed to help severely disabled people to live and work independently). The review was expected to report to Ministers by December 2006.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 3 May 2006, columns 61-62WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DWP press release
Date: 2006-May
The government published the results of consultation on the operation of the new Independent Mental Capacity Advocate, designed to support and represent vulnerable people who lacked capacity to make their own decisions.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 18 April 2006, columns 3-4WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | DH press release | Consultation responses | MDA press release
Date: 2006-Apr
The government began consultation on plans to allow people to make a 'living will' to determine their medical care in advance of incapacity. People would be able to give 'lasting powers of attorney' to a family member or friend.
Source: Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice: Consultation Paper, Department for Constitutional Affairs (020 7210 8500)
Links: Consultation document | Draft code | DCA press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report examined the effect of different health scenarios on the future numbers of older people with disabilities of a level to require social care. Ageing of the population alone, with no alteration in the prevalence of diseases or the age-specific rates of becoming disabled or recovering, would result in a 67 per cent increase in the numbers with disability over the next 20 years.
Source: Carol Jagger et al., Compression or Expansion of Disability?: Forecasting future disability levels under changing patterns of diseases, Leicester Nuffield Research Unit/University of Leicester (0116 2525422)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report examined issues relating to a policy (contained in the Welsh Labour Party 2003 election manifesto) of providing free home care for disabled people in Wales. Estimated costs were around 58 million in 2005, rising to 75 million by 2015.
Source: David Bell, Estimating the Cost of Free Home Care for Disabled People in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Date: 2006-Feb
The Welsh Assembly government announced that free personal care would not be provided for disabled people in Wales, despite a pledge at the 2003 Assembly election. It blamed legal issues over definitions of 'free' and 'disabled', and expressed concern over cost escalation.
Source: BBC report, 15 February 2006
Links: BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Feb
The government began consultation on lasting powers of attorney, designed to replace enduring powers of attorney as the main way of choosing a decision-maker to act in the event of a person losing mental capacity. In addition to property and financial affairs, people would be able to delegate decisions affecting their personal welfare, including healthcare.
Source: Lasting Powers of Attorney: Forms and guidance, Department for Constitutional Affairs (020 7210 8500)
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2006-Feb
A report (for an official advisory body) presented the findings of an evidence review investigating the costs, benefits, and effectiveness of independent advocacy support for disabled people. A linked report set out a proposed framework for future research on the issue.
Source: Ruth Townsley, Anna Marriott and Linda Ward, Access to Independent Advocacy: An evidence review, Office for Disability Issues (office-for-disability-issues@dwp.gsi.gov.uk) | Linda Davies, Ruth Townsley, Linda Ward and Anna Marriott, A Framework for Research on Costs and Benefits of Independent Advocacy, Office for Disability Issues
Links: Report (1) | Summary | Report (2) | DWP press release
Date: 2006-Jan
A report said that there was a mismatch between the social model of disability on which direct payments was based and the medical model of disability which often determined access to, and the administration of, those payments.
Source: Pippa Murray, Direct Payments for Families, Circles Network (01788 816671)
Links: Summary | Community Care report
Date: 2006-Jan
An article gave the results of the first United Kingdom-wide study into euthanasia. They showed the proportion of deaths in which doctors reported having assisted patients suicide, carried out euthanasia, or taken other medical decisions relating to the ending of life. There are no incidences of physician-assisted suicide. Voluntary euthanasia accounted for 0.16 per cent of total deaths.
Source: Clive Seale, 'National survey of end-of-life decisions made by UK medical practitioners', Palliative Medicine, Volume 20 Number 1
Links: Abstract | Brunel press release
Date: 2006-Jan
A new book examined issues of take-up, inclusion, and access, in relation to direct payments for different user groups.
Source: Janet Leece and Joanna Bornat (eds.), Developments in Direct Payments, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jan