On Tuesday the 13th January, Peter Tulloch together with Eddie Woodhead and Karen Colligan, attended the Westminster Health Forum. As a delegate he was entitled to submit an article for publication with the transcript. This he has done and his article can be read below. The transcript was made available to all the delegates and speakers `as well as parliamentarians and central government officials with an interest in the subject matter who could not be there on the day, and a wider audience of relevant organisations, businesses, academic groups and individuals. Here is Peter Tulloch`s article:
An unforgiving pathway
Introduction
Two years ago Baroness Knight wrote to me about the "Medical Mafia" and their determination "to keep their current practice of killing off elderly patients who are ‘blocking’ a bed." In the past few years there has been a widespread public outcry against deaths on the LCP, and Professor Mark Glaser characterised the LCP as being the "Most corrupt practice in British Medicine" (Daily Mail, 5 November, 2012). Glaser said that he personally has rescued "dozens" of people from certain death on the LCP. The day before the forum there was a report in the Health Service Journal (12 January, 2015) that there is a ‘sustained’ fall in the life expectancy of older people in some areas. The report suggests that this may be due to cuts in social care. I consider a contributory factor may also be the ‘Medical Mafia’ and their continued use of the LCP.
LCP confusion
The high mortality rate at Mid‐Staffs has been linked to the LCP and according to Anthony Wrigley in the Nursing Times (1 October, 2014), he is "aware that certain institutions have gone back to relying on it." And that there is a reluctance to admit this "due to its tarnished reputation." More worrying is his claim that the continued use of the LCP is due to "confusion" about the best approach to end of life care. All of this was swept under the carpet at Tuesday’s forum and I came away with the impression that, despite all their backslapping, confusion and chaos remain integral to palliative care.
The status quo
The LCP was introduced into hospitals by Palliative Medicine but the conclusion of the Neuberger Review that the LCP should be scrapped is evidence that their presence makes things worse. The only evidence‐based study on the effectiveness of the LCP was made by Constantini et al as reported in the Lancet (16 October, 2013) and the accompanying editorial concludes:
"that the benefits generated by the systematic implementation of the pathway are, at best, slight. In view of the little or no clinical benefit compared with standard care, any harms to individuals exposed to LCP, including premature death, are unacceptable."
This research paper showed that there was no advantage to palliative care over best medical practice. I suggest that there would be better patient outcomes if Palliative care teams were removed from general hospitals.
Parliament misled
In Hansard of 18 July 2014, Baroness Neuberger, speaking to the House of Lords of her review into the LCP, stated "It is important that we found no evidence that it had been used to hasten people’s deaths…" This is simply not the case. Her review panel had evidence from
me concerning my mother and this was acknowledged by them in a letter to me dated 7 March 2013:
"I would like to assure you that your account of your mother’s care will form part of the evidence to the review of use and experience of the Liverpool Care Pathway…"
My account is not necessarily proof, but it is evidence. I have obtained information that had been previously withheld from me and my account is now much more robust; and supported by clinical evidence. In any case, it was not the remit of the Neuberger review to investigate allegations of wrongdoing, and this of course they never did.
On Tuesday I said to Baroness Neuberger that I was "puzzled" why she thought it was "important" that they had not found evidence that the LCP had been used to shorten people’s lives. She replied that I had "misinterpreted" her. How? I only said that I was puzzled by her statement to the house.
Conclusion
If we really want to see ‘compassionate’ end of life care, I have a suggestion: instruct the police to conduct a thorough investigation into all allegations of misuse of the LCP. If criminal proceedings were brought against those who have misused the LCP, vulnerable patients would be given best medical practice care until the last moment of their natural lifespan.
Information about Health Forum below:
http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/forums/index.php?fid=westminster_health_forum
Sunday, 1 February 2015
Brother shops sister over reign of terror
Reign of terror: Siobhan Koralewski
"Police told the court Siobhan was "a Darth Vader-type character who created an atmosphere of intimidation and fear around her".
"Jeremy, 28, and Jennifer Price gave evidence at her trial."
"But Jeremy says there was no hint of the horror to come when his parents, Margaret, 67, and Raymond, 56, took over the seaside home in 2004."
"They thought it was a great opportunity," he says. "I quit Npower and worked as a chef and Siobhan had qualifications in care."
"The home housed 12 dementia patients and promised "specialist treatment". But the treatment meted out by Siobhan was very different."
"Jeremy noticed a change in his sister’s behaviour a few years into the takeover."
"He says: "She used to call herself the "dementia champion" which I found a bit odd. She’d always had a temper but usually managed to keep it in control."
"Now, little things sent her over the edge, shouting at patients. We had rows about it but she never listened."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/brother-reveals-shopped-sister-over-4761746
Grandmother abducted and son arrested
"It is believed that Peter Hofschroer has been set up with false charges, to stop him carrying on with his private criminal court case against his mothers abductors, and to draw attention from the real criminals who abducted his mother and who are intertwined with those who frustrated justice by hiding Jimmy Savile and Peter Jaconellis crimes."
"Peter Hofschroer is supported by people who have a long history of anti child abuse campaigning and childrens rights campaigning, and do not believe the fabricated charges against him are in any way true."
"North Yorkshire Police refused for 3 days to even confirm if Peter was alive or dead. He has been kept out of contact with everyone, it has now been found that Peter was charged on Wednesday Dec 3, with 18 charges relating to 6,969 indecent images of children on different dates over a ten-year period between 1999 and 2009. Magistrates decided the case was too serious for them to deal with and he has been remanded in custody to appear at York Crown Court where he will appear on December 15."
"The arrest is a very sinister development in a long saga of action against Peter and his mother. It is believed that the abductors of Peter`s mother (Grandma Barbara), and the attempted theft of her house, some of whom are members of Peter`s family, had links to Jimmy Saviles network. "
cathyfox.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/peter-hofschroers-arrest-by-north-yorkshire-police/comment-page-1/#comment-1098
See blog for further information.
https://grandmabarbara.wordpress.com/
"Peter Hofschroer is supported by people who have a long history of anti child abuse campaigning and childrens rights campaigning, and do not believe the fabricated charges against him are in any way true."
"North Yorkshire Police refused for 3 days to even confirm if Peter was alive or dead. He has been kept out of contact with everyone, it has now been found that Peter was charged on Wednesday Dec 3, with 18 charges relating to 6,969 indecent images of children on different dates over a ten-year period between 1999 and 2009. Magistrates decided the case was too serious for them to deal with and he has been remanded in custody to appear at York Crown Court where he will appear on December 15."
"The arrest is a very sinister development in a long saga of action against Peter and his mother. It is believed that the abductors of Peter`s mother (Grandma Barbara), and the attempted theft of her house, some of whom are members of Peter`s family, had links to Jimmy Saviles network. "
cathyfox.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/peter-hofschroers-arrest-by-north-yorkshire-police/comment-page-1/#comment-1098
See blog for further information.
https://grandmabarbara.wordpress.com/
Reward elderly for assisted suicide
"They claim that it is proof of the possible dangers of any change in the suicide laws such as the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill which is due to return to Parliament for detailed scrutiny on Friday. The bill would allow terminally ill patients judged to have no more than six months to live and a "settled intention" to end their lives to be prescribed a lethal dose of drugs if two doctors agree.""One in 10 British people believe elderly people should be offered a "reward" if they opt for assisted suicide, new polling suggests. Anti-euthanasia campaigners said the finding was "chilling" evidence of deep-seated prejudice towards older people from a small but significant minority of the population."
"Members of the House of Lords are due to consider 175 separate possible amendments to the bill, which was debated by peers in July, aimed at tightening up possible safeguards. The polling, by ComRes, was commissioned by the disability campaign group "Not Dead Yet" and the anti-assisted suicide alliance, Care Not Killing."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/assisted-dying/11213869/Elderly-should-be-rewarded-for-choosing-assisted-suicide-say-one-in-10-Britons.html?fb
Acknowledgement for employers who support carers
"This January at their Stockbridge offices, LifeCare Edinburgh was presented with an award certificate of the recently launched Scottish government ‘Carer Positive’ kitemark at the ‘engaged’ level. The Carer Positive kitemark is awarded to employers in Scotland who have a working environment where their staff, who are also carers for family members, are valued and supported. This might be through flexible working policies or with simple practical measures which can make a big difference to carers."
"When asked what this recognition means to the organisation, Care Services Manager Margaret Stewart remarked:"
"This award is proof that we do what we say we do. LifeCare is set apart from other organisations by how we look after our staff as employees and in their caring role." "We are very proud to be one of 16 organisations across Scotland to be recognised for this award."
"A carer is someone who looks after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner. In Scotland it is estimated that around 1 in 7 people in the workforce are juggling work and caring, with the number of carers across the UK forecast to increase by around 50% over the next 20 years. By supporting our staff in caring for their loved ones, we will ensure that we help them care for the carers. 90% of working carers are over the age of 30, with the ‘peak’ age between 45 and 64, when considerable skills and experience have been built up."
http://www.evoc.org.uk/noticeboard/notices/lifecare-recognised-national-award-commitment-supporting-staff/
"When asked what this recognition means to the organisation, Care Services Manager Margaret Stewart remarked:"
"This award is proof that we do what we say we do. LifeCare is set apart from other organisations by how we look after our staff as employees and in their caring role." "We are very proud to be one of 16 organisations across Scotland to be recognised for this award."
"A carer is someone who looks after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner. In Scotland it is estimated that around 1 in 7 people in the workforce are juggling work and caring, with the number of carers across the UK forecast to increase by around 50% over the next 20 years. By supporting our staff in caring for their loved ones, we will ensure that we help them care for the carers. 90% of working carers are over the age of 30, with the ‘peak’ age between 45 and 64, when considerable skills and experience have been built up."
http://www.evoc.org.uk/noticeboard/notices/lifecare-recognised-national-award-commitment-supporting-staff/
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Edinburgh hospital put man on controversial Liverpool Care Pathway
A widow has claimed doctors put her terminally ill husband on an 'end of life pathway' without telling her, denying her the chance to share his final days with him. Liz Watson, whose husband George was admitted to a Marie Curie Hospice for respite care, hit out at doctors after his condition deteriorated rapidly.
She says Mr Watson was the 'love of her life' and 'didn't deserve to die like he did' on the pathway, which sometimes involves depriving patients of food and water. Mr Watson was diagnosed with a brain tumour 17 months before he was admitted to the hospice. from which he never came home.
His family said the 64-year-old from Liberton in Edinburgh was going shopping and 'eating three-course meals' before he rapidly declined in the centre in Fairmilehead.Mrs Watson said she only realised George was on the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway - which involves withdrawal of medication, food and fluids - when her mother recognised the signs.
A later inspection by Healthcare Improvement Scotland upheld several complaints about care standards, including poor communication about his worsening condition, and made a list of recommendations...But following a recent unannounced inspection last month, it was found many improvements had still not been carried out. The watchdog made five requirements and 11 recommendations that must be addressed 'as a matter of priority'
A spokeswoman for NHS Lothian said: 'Like every health board in Scotland, NHS Lothian is following Scottish Government guidance on the Liverpool Care Pathway and phasing it out.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2785401/Widow-claims-husband-s-days-stolen-doctors-banned-Liverpool-Care-Pathway-without-knowledge.html#ixzz3GtTPggfU
`Phasing it out` means it is still going on.
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Doctors and nurses still using LCP
Some doctors and nurses are still using the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) for dying patients, an expert has claimed, despite an NHS decision to scrap the controversial care plan.
A major review recommended last year that the LCP should be phased out, following widespread criticism from the media and some patients.
The care plan, which gives doctors and nurses guidance on the management of terminally ill patients, was dubbed a "death pathway" amid allegations that patients were being placed on it without their families being told.
The Neuberger review said it should be abolished after finding many examples of poor implementation of the LCP’s guidance.
However, Dr Anthony Wrigley, a senior lecturer and specialist in medical ethics and palliative care at Keele University, said he was aware "certain institutions have gone back to relying on it"...
In June a group of leading nursing and end-of-life care organisations – the Leadership Alliance for Care of the Dying – proposed new guidelines, which placed greater emphasis on individual care plans.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/controversial-care-plan-still-in-use-despite-nhs-decision-to-scrap-it-expert-claims-9768095.html
While the NHS is being dismantled and run down this type of abuse will continue.
A major review recommended last year that the LCP should be phased out, following widespread criticism from the media and some patients.
The care plan, which gives doctors and nurses guidance on the management of terminally ill patients, was dubbed a "death pathway" amid allegations that patients were being placed on it without their families being told.
The Neuberger review said it should be abolished after finding many examples of poor implementation of the LCP’s guidance.
However, Dr Anthony Wrigley, a senior lecturer and specialist in medical ethics and palliative care at Keele University, said he was aware "certain institutions have gone back to relying on it"...
In June a group of leading nursing and end-of-life care organisations – the Leadership Alliance for Care of the Dying – proposed new guidelines, which placed greater emphasis on individual care plans.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/controversial-care-plan-still-in-use-despite-nhs-decision-to-scrap-it-expert-claims-9768095.html
While the NHS is being dismantled and run down this type of abuse will continue.
The NHS is under threat
The National Health Service has provided world class care, free at the point of use, to the British people for 66 years. It was recently rated as the most effective and most efficient healthcare system in the developed world, outperforming 10 of the world’s richest countries, despite the UK spending only 9.6 per cent of GDP on health – much less than most of those countries.
Under the Coalition government, the health budget has been maintained in an era of unprecedented austerity. However, historic annual increases in the health budget, designed to keep pace with a growing and ageing population, have been severely reduced – meaning that our NHS has just been through the longest, and most damaging budget squeeze in its history.
Thousands of patients are facing longer and even unacceptable waits to find out whether or not they have cancer, because services are under extreme pressure and referral targets are being missed. In mental health, patients in need of emergency support are being moved to hospitals hundreds of miles away because there simply are not enough beds in their area.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-nhs-timebomb-nhs-and-social-care-services-areat-breaking-point-it-cannot-go-on-9775928.html
Under the Coalition government, the health budget has been maintained in an era of unprecedented austerity. However, historic annual increases in the health budget, designed to keep pace with a growing and ageing population, have been severely reduced – meaning that our NHS has just been through the longest, and most damaging budget squeeze in its history.
Thousands of patients are facing longer and even unacceptable waits to find out whether or not they have cancer, because services are under extreme pressure and referral targets are being missed. In mental health, patients in need of emergency support are being moved to hospitals hundreds of miles away because there simply are not enough beds in their area.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-nhs-timebomb-nhs-and-social-care-services-areat-breaking-point-it-cannot-go-on-9775928.html
Sunday, 5 October 2014
More than 100 elderly a week are forced to give up their house
More than 100 homes a week are being seized from elderly people by councils to pay for their care home fees.
Families have been forced to hand over properties because local authorities are refusing to pay for the care.
The scale of the confiscations – revealed yesterday by a Freedom of Information request – will pile pressure on the Government to help the thousands of families forced to pay ruinous care fees.
The Coalition promised a cap on care costs by 2016, but this will only apply to bills of £72,000 or more.
Up to that point, all those with assets of more than £23,250 are expected to pay their own way – even if that means selling the family home or agreeing to surrender it when their relative dies.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2770156/More-100-elderly-week-having-properties-seized-pay-care-home-fees.html#ixzz3FJvUflT5
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2770156/More-100-elderly-week-having-properties-seized-pay-care-home-fees.html#ixzz3FJvUflT5
Silver Line
The staggering volume of calls to 24-hour service The Silver Line reveals how a helpless army of the elderly has been suffering in silence. Now celebrity campaigner Esther Rantzen is demanding the shocking statistics act as a "wake-up call".
The veteran TV host, who set up the free and confidential line, has been stunned at the numbers phoning in, with roughly one pensioner every three minutes seeking someone to speak to.
Esther, 73, said: "This has to be a wake-up call because this is, and will continue to be, a huge ongoing issue. "I have unearthed a huge problem.
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/retirement/478400/100-000-pensioners-flood-Esther-Rantzen-s-helpline-for-the-elderly
Childline has been accused of filtering out children making sexual abuse complaints against well known people. If that happens the children are ignored.
Those telephoning Silver Line for a chat had better take care. This phone-line could have been set up to gain access to vulnerable and solitary elderly people who might then have social workers knocking on their door, especially if they are living in their own home. Local authorities can always arrange a diagnosis of dementia and then ship an old person off to a care home. The house will be sold off to pay for their care.
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