Students and elderly pair up to combat loneliness
A project has been launched to combat loneliness and promote the exchanging of skills in Devon.The University of Exeter said the scheme paired older people in Exmouth with international students.Dr Yuxi Heluo, assistant professor at the University of Exeter Business School, said the project aimed to get the elderly to share their "life wisdoms and experience", while the students helped them learn how to use items such as phones, tablets and laptops.She added: "This helps the older people with things like checking NHS records or buying groceries online."
The government's University Mental Health Charter found that 90% of students in the UK considered themselves lonely.This was one of the reasons Dr Heluo set up the project.But, as well as fighting loneliness, it has had bonus outcomes, such as true friendships.Sue Wright said her student Jessie regularly went to stay with her.She said: "Though we're generations apart, we have lots in common."Two of the other members of the project, Christine Chittock and Pam Hampson, found it broke the stereotypes they held about students.Ms Chittock said: "It gave us the opportunity to see that students aren't just always on their phones.""Or out drinking and partying," Ms Hampson added.
Members of the group said they had found this year to be a great success but would like to see the exchange taken further next time.Mary Latham and Natalie Leung were paired up for this academic year.Ms Latham said: "Not only could she teach me about the computer, she could have cooked me a meal as well."Ms Leung said Mary was going to cook her a Sunday roast as she as never had one.She added: "I think it is really nice to share food."
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Government can hit NHS waiting times targets despite scepticism, says Reeves
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'Waiting lists are already down by 200,000 so we are confident that we can meet our plan for change commitments because of the 3% annual increase in funding for the National Health Service. 'On top of that of course, we're investing in capital spending in the NHS, including in more scanners, but also investment in the NHS digital app to make it easier for patients to access information, to book services, to take some of the costs out of the bureaucracy, as well in running our health service.' Earlier, the 3% increase in real terms for the health service per year in the spending review was welcomed by health leaders but there were warnings it is not enough. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents all health organisations, said the NHS funding boost was welcome, 'given the precarious state of public finances and will help the NHS to cope with rising demand from an aging population, often with multiple or more complex physical and mental health conditions'. But he warned 'difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29 billion won't be enough to cover the increasing cost of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it'. He added: 'So, on its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.' Mr Taylor said NHS leaders will need continued backing from the Government to redesign services and balance budgets. 'That means getting political backing when some services are redesigned or cut, including moving hospital services into the community and closer to people's homes as part of the Government's three shifts,' he said. He added that the 'flat settlement' from the Chancellor 'continues to leave a major shortfall in capital funding, and it also fails to lift the ban on private investment that is required to boost NHS capital funding'. There is currently an almost £14 billion maintenance backlog bill to repair NHS hospitals and buildings. Mr Taylor said those issues needed to be addressed in the upcoming national infrastructure strategy and 10-year plan for the health service. Government documents accompanying the spending review show that, on average, from 2023-24 to 2028-29, the NHS in England will receive 3% real terms growth in day-to-day spending, equivalent to a £29 billion real terms increase in annual budgets. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) budget will increase by £2.3 billion in real terms by 2029-30, compared with 2023-24, 'representing a more than 20% real terms increase by the end of the spending review period', the documents said. Overall, the figures suggest DHSC spending will rise 2.8%, though this is less than the average 3.6% in recent years. Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund charity, said the 2.8% average increase in DHSC spending – or 3% for day-to-day NHS spending – 'will have been hard-fought for in the spending round negotiations, despite still being lower than the historical average the NHS has received over recent years'. She added: 'We know there are already trade-offs happening in the NHS due to tight finances. 'The Chancellor said she wants the public to have an NHS there when they need it. 'It is hard to see how all the things she mentions: faster ambulance times; more GP appointments; and adequate mental health services and more; can be met on this settlement alone. 'Particularly when large parts of this additional funding will be absorbed by existing rising costs, such as the higher cost of medicines, which are currently being negotiated, and covering staff pay deals.' According to spending review documents, the Government expects the NHS to deliver 2% productivity growth each year, 'unlocking £17 billion savings over three years' to reinvest back into the NHS to improve patient care. The Government will also invest up to £10 billion in NHS technology and digital transformation by 2028‑29, the documents showed. NHS England boss Sir Jim Mackey, speaking at the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, said the NHS has done 'really well relative to other parts of the public service'. He added: 'But we all know it's never enough because of the scale of advancement, all the ambition, all things we want to do, the day-to-day cost pressures we're trying to get on top of, etc. 'We're always going to be in a world where we want more money, but I think everyone's starting to accept and understand that we've got what the country can afford to give us. 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North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
NHS should ‘tear up the outpatient model'
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South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
NHS should ‘tear up the outpatient model'
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