Laura Sharman
Five firms fined £33m over prepaid cards cartel
Five firms that provided councils with prepaid cards for vulnerable people have been fined more than £33m by the UK regulator for ‘cartel behaviour’.
Minister ‘minded’ to intervene at Sandwell Council
The Government is considering sending in commissions into Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council due to its failure to ‘resolve a variety of governance issues.’
Half of councils forced to ration care, survey reveals
Staff shortages have forced more than half of councils in England to ration social care and support, a new survey has revealed.
MPs call for voter ID plans to be halted
The Government's voter ID plans should be paused to determine if the measures are 'fit-for-purpose,' MPs have warned.
HMJ: People report ‘poor’ experience of using mental health services
People’s experience of mental health care is at their lowest point in eight years, a new survey has revealed.
HMJ: Domestic abuse to be treated as seriously as knife crime
A change to the Serious Violence Duty will ensure a public health approach is taken to tackling domestic abuse and sexual offences, the Government has announced.
HMJ: Smoking could kill two million more people by 2041
Two million people could die over the next 20 years unless there is radical action to reduce smoking rates, according to new research.
HMJ: Hospital investments welcomed
Healthcare leaders have welcomed the £700m investment for 187 hospital trusts but warned ‘proper’ investment is also needed in social care.
HMJ: Care home deaths up
The number of deaths of care home residents in 2020 increased by 18.5% in England compared to 2019, according to official figures.
HMJ: Home care services facing ‘invisible crisis’
A think tank has warned that as many as 110,000 people could lose out on home care by April 2022 due to staff shortages.
HMJ: Action plan to end new HIV infections by 2030
The Government has been urged to provide extra funding and more support services for all people living with HIV following the publication of its new HIV action plan.
HMJ: Council chosen to pilot anti-obesity app
A new app that rewards people for healthy behaviour will be piloted by Wolverhampton City Council.
HMJ: Health visitors highlight unsafe and unmanageable caseloads
More than four in 10 health visitors have warned in a new survey they are unable to safeguard vulnerable babies and young children as services are so over-stretched.
HMJ: ‘Systemic’ issues holding back digital innovation
A lack of targeted funding and national backing are holding back the digital transformation of community health services, a new report has found.
'Crumbling' fostering system failing vulnerable children
Urgent action is needed to fix the 'crumbling and failing' fostering system, a charity has warned.
Social care services 'rapidly deteriorating,' directors warn
Social care services are failing to help hundreds of thousands of older and disabled people, a new survey has warned today.
Scottish councils need extra £1bn to 'survive'
Councils in Scotland need more than an extra £1bn a year just to survive, a new briefing has warned.
Care staff should receive £1,000 winter bonus, directors argue
Social care workers in England should receive a £1,000 winter bonus to protect struggling services, directors have said.
Birmingham could face new equal pay claims
Birmingham City Council is facing an equal pay ‘crisis,’ a trade union has warned.
LEP warning over funding uncertainty
The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has warned it has reached 'crisis point' after only receiving half the funds promised from the Government so far this year.
