New Equality Act and Equality Diversity System

The health organisations in Worcestershire (NHS Worcestershire, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust) are working together to fulfil their duties under the Equalities Act by developing an Equality Delivery System (EDS) which aims to improve equality performance for patients, communities and staff, whatever their background.

More information: At the bottom of the page there are several ways you can feedback your thoughts to us, by writing, emailing or following the link to the online survey. Please note the deadline of 6th May.

New Winterbourne campaign

The footage of people being abused at Winterbourne View shocked everyone who saw it. Seeing such horrific levels of abuse on our TV screens brought national attention to the way people with a learning disability and people with behaviour that challenges are too often left isolated and at risk of abuse in assessment and treatment units that are not fit for purpose.

Take action

Please email your MP today and ask them to call on the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley MP, to set out plans to ensure people with a learning disability are protected from abuse and supported to live in their local community, near their family and support networks.

More Information

New Smoking and sight loss in the EU

Excellent News from the RNIB
Thanks to the RNIB campaign, "smoking increases the risk of blindness" will be printed on tobacco products across the EU.

The RNIB has been campaigning for the health warning to be included on tobacco packets since 2006, working behind the scenes to convince the European Commission and EU governments of the necessity to introduce this new warning. Campaigns about the link between smoking and blindness in Australia and New Zealand have shown how effective these warnings are in convincing people to give up smoking. Surveys also showed that awareness of the link between smoking and sight loss is significantly higher in Australia (77%) than in any of the other countries surveyed.

For several years, RNIB has been warning the public about the link between smoking and sight loss but many people still fail to understand the risks, so we are really pleased with the European Commission decision to listen to our concerns

Find out more

New Healthwatch Bulletin Mar 12 Government Amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill on local Healthwatch

The Government tabled its amendment about the organisational form of local
Healthwatch yesterday. It was clear from the discussions we had at the
Board meeting on Wednesday that there is still some confusion about what
the amendment will mean in practice ....

More information

New Healthwatch Bulletin BULLETIN NO. 7

This is the regular bulletin from the Healthwatch advisory group. It contains up
to date, authoritative information on Healthwatch developments.

More information

New Safeguarding Adults in Worcestershire

Who is a vulnerable adult?
Someone over 18 years of age who might be unable to protect themselves from significant
harm or serious exploitation because of a physical or mental disability, age or illness.

More information (PDF)

New County Homelessness Strategy - now out for consultation

The Worcestershire Draft Homelessness Strategy for 2012 - 2017 is now out for consultation and we are seeking your comments and opinions on the document.

To read the Draft Strategy and accompanying Review Document please ‘visit the consultation webpage’ and to have your say, please visit the survey page by Friday 6th July 2012.

New “Fulfilling Potential” Worcestershire’s Responses to the Office for Disability Issues Consultation

This report contains a series of contributions from groups of people with diverse disabilities from across the County. There have been eight gatherings of various sizes; some conditions based and some by geographical locations. Participants have been from the spectrum of circumstances and have included
some Black and Minority Ethnic individuals although no discrete BAME events were organised

More information

Safeguarding Adults Keeping People Safe in Worcestershire Easy Read Summary

This booklet tells you information about adult abuse issues in Worcestershire. It
gives you information about:
• Who is a vulnerable adult
• What is abuse
• Who might abuse you
• Where might this happen
• Who can you tell
• What happens next
• How to get in touch.
When we say “we” or “us” in this booklet we mean Worcestershire County Council.
You might want someone to help you when you look at this booklet.

View Booklet here (PDF)

Let us know your ideas - new online suggestion scheme from the County Council

The County Council is also inviting Viewpoint members to go online and use the new suggestions page www.worcestershire.gov.uk/suggestions to feedback ideas for making improvements to council services and the way they are delivered. This is the latest method of consulting with residents as part of the council's BOLD (Better Outcomes, Lean Delivery) programme in response to the financial challenges it is facing over the next few years when it expects to have to make at least £70 million of savings.

The Worcester Snoezelen Project - Multi-Sensory ConceptsTraining

This course is aimed at anyone who wants to know more about the concept of Snoezelen therapy. We will offer ideas about how to effectively use the multi-sensory environment and increase sensory interaction within the home.

more information (PDF)

The Hive will be opening on Monday 2nd July 2012

The first fully integrated Public and University Library and so much more – all under one amazing roof.

more information

Donate your empty inkjets and old mobile phones to raise money for WASU.

Inkjet Cartridge = £1 donated, Laser Cartridge = £5, Mobile phone = up to £30 donated

For a full list of wanted inkjets visit http://www.recycle4charity.co.uk/

Please contact z.collins@worc.ac.uk or sbarnes.uloworcester@gmail.com to have a recycle bag sent to you.