Protesters from care sector demand help with new costs
A care provider from Wiltshire has described the financial situation faced by the UK care sector as "really worrying", at a rally in Westminster.Stephen Trowbridge, managing director of Swindon-based First City Nursing, argued recent increases in employer national insurance (NI) contributions, and the resulting wages rises, were compromising the future of social care.More than 3,000 people are believed to have attended the rally to call for NI exemptions for care providers similar to those granted for the NHS.The Department of Health and Social Care said it had "inherited significant challenges facing social care" but it was "committed" to tackling them.
'Really worried'
Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire, Mr Trowbridge said the sector was at breaking point."Honestly, I'm really worried. This year, the government has doubled down with the national insurance costs."The councils, and this is the worry, they're all on our side, but they haven't got the money, and they're not putting it into their budgets, because they can't afford to. Social care are on their own with this one."And it's not just our sector, the charities, the hospices, if we're not around come April, which there's a big chance that would be the case . I don't know what's going to happen."
Mr Trowbridge was one of 53 marchers who made the journey from Swindon on Tuesday morning.The group was marching on behalf of Providers Unite, a national grassroots organisation he says was set up by those across the sector "who had just had enough" of the situation.He explained that after years of broken promises to reform the healthcare sector, he felt the group had to march as "no-one's strong enough or brave enough to fix" the problem.But in a note of optimism, he noted a number of those taking part "had managed to get meetings with MPs to start talking about the issue".
The Department of Health and Social Care said it had to be "honest about the scale of these challenges", adding it was "committed to tackling these head on".It said "the Casey Commission, due to start in April, will publish its first report next year on the first steps towards building a National Care Service."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Just 20 posts for newly qualified physiotherapists as 3,000 qualify
Recruitment freezes appear to be impacting the number of newly qualified physiotherapists trying to get their first NHS job, the CSP said as it called on Government officials to act. This year 3,000 physiotherapy graduates will be finishing their studies and looking for work, the CSP said. NHS Jobs, the health service recruitment website for jobs in England, has just 20 entry level jobs currently on offer, according to CSP analysis. And a poll of 1,800 physiotherapists found 22% said that recruitment of clinical staff is partially paused in their organisation and 11% reported a total pause. Concerns have been raised that UK-trained physiotherapists are seeking work abroad due to 'how hard it is to break into the NHS'. The professional body highlighted how 300,000 people are waiting for musculoskeletal treatment in England alone. Newly qualified physiotherapists can help bring down this waiting list it said, as well as bring down waits for respiratory problems, neurological conditions, and provide post-surgical rehab. The CSP has written to the Department of Health and Social Care, calling for all newly qualified clinicians to be offered an NHS role. Ash James, director of practice and development at the CSP, said: 'It is absurd that with public concern about waiting lists, hundreds of capable and committed graduates are being locked out of the NHS. 'These are professionals who could be seeing up to 15 patients a day for musculoskeletal issues, immediately easing pressure on overstretched services and reducing delays. 'If every graduate had a job, we could begin to cut waiting times now.' Sarah-Jane Ryan, head of practice, learning and development at the School of Education, Sport and Health at the University of Brighton, said: 'This year, most of my students don't have roles lined up which is something we haven't seen for a long time. 'Even first and second year students are now talking about working abroad, because they're hearing how hard it is to break into the NHS. 'We're at risk of losing a whole generation of physios at a time when we urgently need them.' She said these students 'now face the reality of being shut out of the system they were inspired to work in,' adding: 'It's not just a workforce issue – it's a moral one. 'They've made sacrifices and trained for a profession they believe in. 'Placement teams have invested in them, and we know there is a rehab need.' The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Charity slams Gaza aid distribution 'horror show' as children killed or injured
Gaza's nightmare aid distribution has turned into 'dystopian horror show' by shooting incidents which are killing or injuring children at the rate of more than half of the deadly incidents Children have been killed or injured in over half of the 'dystopian horror show' fatal attacks at food distribution sites since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation took over. Horrifying statistics emerged after UK-based Save the Children analysed reports from the Gaza Media Office and the UN on casualties at GHF aid points since May 27. They found that in 19 deadly incidents children were among the casualties in ten of them, representing more than half of all of the shootings at GHF centres. Another 33 Palestinians died yesterday (June 25) whilst waiting at food sites near Netzarim Junction, in Central Gaza, although it is not known if they were GHF sites. Palestinians are dying in Gaza at the rate of between 50 and 100 a-day It comes as it has emerged more than 56,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during the war triggered by Hamas' attack on southern Israel, on October 7 2023. Now, Save the Children says. Families are so desperate or lacking a healthy adult that they send children to collect food at aid points, exposing them to being shot by troops. Since May 27 over 500 Palestinians have been killed and at least 3,000 injured by Israeli forces either at or en route to GHF distribution points - , or while approaching the few other aid convoys delivered by the UN or Charities. The October 7 attacks killed 1,195 people, including 736 Israeli civilians, 36 of which were children. This week seven soldiers in the Israeli Defence Force were killed by Hamas. Save the Children staff member Mohamed, who has changed his name for his own security, said his neighbour, a father of four, had no choice but to go to a distribution as his family had run out of food and money. In Rafah and was shot and killed. Mohamad is now trying to help his neighbour's widow; he says she is now destitute and traumatised – her children crying all the time. Another staffer, Abdallah, also not his real name, said that a member of his extended family went to a distribution site this month and witnessed a man shot and left bleeding on the ground. He said people were running over the injured man, trying to get to the food, with no one able to stop and help. Save the Children's Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, Ahmad Alhendawi, said: 'No-one wants to get aid from these distribution points and who can blame them – it's a death sentence. People are terrified of being killed. 'One colleague told us today that even though his family is down to eating one meal a day, he won't go to a GHF distribution, because he believes his life is worth more than a bag of flour. 'And to add to the dystopian horror show, children are also being killed and injured trying to reach aid – aid they have a right to. 'Other families tell us they are now too weak to compete to pick up food. What is happening here is nothing short of abhorrent. No child should be killed searching for food. This is not a humanitarian operation – it's a death trap. 'Forcing civilians into fenced-in zones only for them to be gunned down is the opposite of humanitarian – it's inhumane. And it is not the only option. There is an established humanitarian aid system which must be allowed to function.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Just 20 posts for newly qualified physiotherapists as 3,000 qualify
Recruitment freezes appear to be impacting the number of newly qualified physiotherapists trying to get their first NHS job, the CSP said as it called on Government officials to act. This year 3,000 physiotherapy graduates will be finishing their studies and looking for work, the CSP said. NHS Jobs, the health service recruitment website for jobs in England, has just 20 entry level jobs currently on offer, according to CSP analysis. And a poll of 1,800 physiotherapists found 22% said that recruitment of clinical staff is partially paused in their organisation and 11% reported a total pause. Concerns have been raised that UK-trained physiotherapists are seeking work abroad due to 'how hard it is to break into the NHS'. The professional body highlighted how 300,000 people are waiting for musculoskeletal treatment in England alone. Newly qualified physiotherapists can help bring down this waiting list it said, as well as bring down waits for respiratory problems, neurological conditions, and provide post-surgical rehab. The CSP has written to the Department of Health and Social Care, calling for all newly qualified clinicians to be offered an NHS role. Ash James, director of practice and development at the CSP, said: 'It is absurd that with public concern about waiting lists, hundreds of capable and committed graduates are being locked out of the NHS. 'These are professionals who could be seeing up to 15 patients a day for musculoskeletal issues, immediately easing pressure on overstretched services and reducing delays. 'If every graduate had a job, we could begin to cut waiting times now.' Sarah-Jane Ryan, head of practice, learning and development at the School of Education, Sport and Health at the University of Brighton, said: 'This year, most of my students don't have roles lined up which is something we haven't seen for a long time. 'Even first and second year students are now talking about working abroad, because they're hearing how hard it is to break into the NHS. 'We're at risk of losing a whole generation of physios at a time when we urgently need them.' She said these students 'now face the reality of being shut out of the system they were inspired to work in,' adding: 'It's not just a workforce issue – it's a moral one. 'They've made sacrifices and trained for a profession they believe in. 'Placement teams have invested in them, and we know there is a rehab need.' The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.
