Personally, it has been a strange old week – as I have been battling with Covid first hand – it has also been somewhat busy with an EGM on Monday where we had opportunity to hear about the COSLA offer for the NCHC and to allow members to ask questions
Scottish Care comments on the recently published report from the Scottish Government on excess deaths from all causes and dementia in 2020 – 2021.
At times during this pandemic a word, phrase or concept just seems to appear from nowhere to occupy a position of dominance in debate and discourse. This last week everywhere I looked I have seen the word ‘trust’ or heard it mentioned on radio or television, in meeting or exchange.
One of the first tasks I undertook when I started in my role as CEO of Scottish Care nearly 6 years ago was to go around the country and take part in a research project which involved me interviewing a number of frontline nurses in care homes. It was an
Today is World Kindness Day. When I read this the words of my late mother come flooding back. ‘If you cannot say a kind word then it’s best to say nothing at all. If you cannot do a kind thing then it’s better to do nothing.’ Kindness seems a strangely
Tomorrow is Mental Health Day which provides us all with an opportunity to reflect on issues of mental health and ill health. On Monday last I read of the launch of a report by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) on the stress of mental health impacting on our workforce. MHF
September for some time now has been World Alzheimer’s Month and, on this Tuesday, 21st it will be World Alzheimer’s Day. This year, across the world individuals and organisations will be asked to reflect on the theme ‘Know dementia, know Alzheimer’s.’ It is an opportunity to consider the power and
Monday last saw the Prime Minister announce the unmasking of England with a bonfire of precautions as July 19th became firmly fixed in the media as Freedom Day. Reaction to these announcements has been interesting. It is hard to imagine that under the ‘cautious’ Hancock that we would have seen
In a recent video conference, I found myself gradually getting more and more uncomfortable when one of the participants continually referred to ‘vulnerable service users,’ ‘vulnerable old people’ and ‘vulnerable disabled people.’ I began to reflect on my discomfort and realised that in essence it has to do with the
The distinguished writer on bereavement, Colin Murray Parkes once wrote that ‘grief is the price we pay for love.’ It is a price which many have had to pay in deep measure in the 15 months that have passed, and which thousands are still paying. In this piece I want
An argument for opening up prescribing for care home nurses in Scotland.
Well, we now have two new ministerial appointments which relate directly to the work of Scottish Care. The first is the new Cabinet Secretary Humza Yousaf and the second the new Minister for Mental Health and Social Care, Kevin Stewart. We await first contact and meetings with both. The following
Scottish Care responds to publication of data relating to care home deaths by both the Care Inspectorate and by National Records Scotland.
Media statement on the publication of Care Inspectorate & NRS data on care home deaths.
…always look after yourself first because I have found if I’m not feeling fit and well then I can’t carry out my job as effectively when caring for those who need us most. We are delighted to present a Q & A style blog from Becca, a Health and Social
I have written many times over the years in this blog that the mark of any society or community that wants to enshrine dignity and humanity is the way in which it treats its older citizens. Events this past week showed just how poorly the governments of the world consider
Over five years ago in December 2015 the Scottish Government published “Palliative and end of life care: strategic framework for action.” Its core aspiration was that: ‘By 2021, everyone in Scotland who needs palliative care will have access to it.’ Though it did not get a lot of comment or
Pensioners at Belleville Lodge, Edinburgh, have been enjoying pet therapy sessions for more than a decade, thanks to dedicated staff and resident pup, Sophie.
A NES-led qualification design team has worked with the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) to create a new award to support the development of a skilled health and social care workforce who are confident to work and help people in today’s digital society.
