LAW AND BENEFIT REVIEW
[part of the 'Disability Matters' & 'Law and Benefit Review' Group]
'for all disability issues’
disability.matters@yahoo.co.uk
www.lawandbenefitreview.co.uk
[01285-861752]
REVIEWS, ARTICLES, COMMENT, UPDATES, LEGISLATION, BENEFITS, PENSIONS, CARING, NHS, BILLS WATCH, ETC.
March 2009
[edition 34]
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You are all, as usual, very welcome to this edition of the LBR. As usual, much information is appearing on our data bases concerning disability issues which is not normally sufficiently enough drawn to the publics attention, if at all, and it is our continuing aim to do so. With lots of news for you, lets go.
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NEW PROPOSED EU WORKING HOURS
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This article could be the most important piece of journalism we have written so far. PLEASE read it carefully if you are receiving care of any kind.
This ill-thought out, and ludicrously proposed European Parliamentary Directive is well on its way to restricting the working week of all UK, and all EU citizens to a maximum of 48 hours or 8 hours a day for 6 days with no chance of any overtime 24/7.
If approved, this could have very serious implications for those elderly and disabled people who receive twenty-four hour residential home care from residential personal assistants/carers in their own homes as it will mean that no person may work for reward over 48 hours. People receiving Independent Living Funding/Social Services funding normally employ carers/P.A.s’ in the form of a contract on a hourly or daily rate. Not only will the residential employees ‘suffer’ concerning matters of accommodation for instance, the primary carer/P.A. will also suffer financially as his/her working hours will be cut to the 48 hour legal limit.
The proposed legislation has ‘highlighted’ hospital doctors and fire-fighters whose working hours often far exceed the 48 hour week, but nothing has been referred to or mentioned of the caring profession, which we would suggest may well work equal hours as any doctor or a fire-fighter may do. Like these professionals, as employed residential carers are on call 24/7, but do not necessary work those hours, but never the less will work in excess of the 48 minimum weekly hourly rate proposed.
This is a night-mare scenario, because it means that an elderly or disabled person employing a residential carer/personal assistant, may, if the proposals are made EU law, have to employ a second residential carer/personal assistant, house, feed them etc. in the same manner as the primary carer/personal assistant. Who on earth will be able to do this?, The second primary residential carer/P.A. would cover the next eight hours or the remaining period of assessed time under the maximum working hourly rate, including ‘over-night’ coverage in a work rota system. i.e. one carer/PA works ‘days’ one week and then ‘nights’ the next and then visa versa, but whatever, the primary carer/P.A. will lose out financially due to the ‘restrictive‘ hours. The employer will find she/he has a small bed and breakfast operating in their home apart from the important caring side of the operation, this is the last involvement that seriously disabled people would wish to face. In cases where care has been assessed as ‘twenty-four’ hours - constant care for 24 each and every day 24/7, it could well mean employing a further carer/PA to cover the remaining 48 hours.
It could be said in such cases that the ‘patient’ should be in a care home. Yes and No. Where would the ‘patient’ receive such individual and personal care outside their own home. The receipt of state benefits and funding will on their own exclude such a ‘patient’ from a private or local authority nursing home as the ILF and Adult Care Directive funding would be stopped, so that would mean the ‘patient’ being found a place in a local authority home as the ‘patient’ could not afford the fees of a private care/nursing home and part income of state benefits used to pay for the care. Savings of £22.500 would be ignored. The local authority will also contribute to the cost of the local authority care home.
It may have been noticed that even with three carers/PA’s each working their maximum of eight hours @ day for six days making their maximum working capacity for one week of 48 hours, this still leaves the seventh day with no care coverage. What happens now, well nothing less than employing another carer/PA to work the hours on the seventh day until one of the other carers can take over again, but there could be problems with this if the fourth carer/PA works during the week, and then his/her maximum working hours could be compromised, what then, another carer/PA? WHO EVER THOUGHT THESE PROPOSALS UP IN THE FIRST PLACE?
The European Union Council of Ministers and the European Commission have taken a sensible approach, suggesting that ‘on-call’ time in live in situations be classed as ‘free time’ and therefore would not be counted as work. That’s all very well, but it will still mean ’residential’ staff will still work in excess of the 48 maximum proposed rate in many thousands of caring needs - assessed need. In December 2008, the European Parliament, bless them, decided to take an alternative view of the situation.
This ludicrous proposed Directive is currently being negotiated between the Council of Ministers, the European Commission and the European Parliament, who need to know what an impact these proposal will have on elderly and disabled people who employ residential staff. How on earth elderly and seriously disabled people will manage without the care they have been assessed as requiring is total beyond us. Infact the whole idea is beyond any comprehension of what effect these proposals could have.
What needs to be done NOW, and URGENTLY, is for everybody reading this article in the United Kingdom who could be affected by these proposals, to contact their local Member of the European Parliament [MEP] and object strongly to the proposals and stating the implications of such to them personally. PLEASE DO IT BEFORE ITS TO0 LATE. Use this article unchanged if you wish and add your names and address to it with a brief description of your own personal concerns.
Your MEP may be found at www.europarl.org.uk. Each region has between three and ten MEPs and each MEP in a region represents each person living there. Once on the website, ‘click’ on your area and up will come the names of the MEPs that represent you. Then ‘click’ on their names to reveal the email and office addresses in both the UK and Brussels. We suggest you write to the UK address [to save on postage] where the staff will pass on your correspondence. ALSO, send a copy of your letter to your local UK Member of Parliament who may be found by logging onto www.parliament.uk. Insert your post code in the appropriate search box and up will come your MP’s details or just write to him/her C/O House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A OAA
YOU MUST ACT NOW AS NEGOTIATIONS ARE PENDING - THE MORE OBJECTIONS RECEIVED TO THESE PROPOSALS THE BETTER. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ACTION - NOW
At the same time as all this is going on, the UK Government are already making trial runs at the new ‘Personal Budgets’ schemes which, if adopted, will presumably replace the current Independent Living Fund/Local Authority funding used now. No mention anywhere as far as we can see in the ‘Personal Budgets’ scheme of restrictions on the number of hours being worked!
We have written to the European Commission, eight South West Members of the European Parliament, The European Council of Members and local Members of Parliament with a copy of this article. The best thing that could happen is to withdraw the proposals altogether - now.
ENERGY FIRMS FACE PRICE CUT LEGISLATION
The Labour Government is prepared to issue legislation to force energy companies to reduce the costs of their products. Ms Harman MP made the comment as she was standing in for Gordon Brown at prime minister's questions. Her words are the starkest warning yet that the government will legislate if it is not satisfied with the energy giants' response.
The cost of wholesale gas is linked to the price of oil, which has slumped in recent weeks. Some of the "big six" suppliers have already suggested prices could fall early in the new year but householders have faced two price increases for gas and electricity bills during 2008, with the average dual fuel bill going up by more than £300 over the year. The energy firms have come under constant pressure from the Government to cut prices, and indeed
some companies have already begun to reduce their prices.
SCOTTISH AND SOUTHERN CUT PRICES
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has said it will cut prices for electricity and gas customers from 30 March. It said average prices for electricity customers would fall by 9% and average gas bills would be trimmed by 4% - the first price cut since March 2007. The firm also supplies energy under the brand names Southern Electric, Swalec, Scottish Hydro Electric and Atlantic. "Dual fuel" customers would see an average annual saving of £66 per annum. E-on will reduce its electricity prices by 9% this month and Npower is returning monies to some former and existing customers due to an over-estimate in the price of gas.
BEGGING UK RECEIVES WARM CLOTHES
The UK still referred to as the third richest country in the world and who normally sends out aid to suffering countries throughout the world, has received a 20ft container filled with warm clothing which arrived in Hull after an appeal to help pensioners who cannot afford to pay their fuel bills following a radio appeal.
After the broadcast warning from Hull saying that one in 12 British pensioners could die this winter, Icelandic people donated hundreds of garments made from unique Icelandic wool. The Icelandic Wool to England appeal, said: "When we heard the broadcast of the story that UK pensioners were dying from the cold, our listeners could not believe their own ears.
This is a shocking indictment of the UK Government's complete inability to tackle properly the problem of winter deaths amongst older people. Despite the one-off increase in winter fuel payments, pensioners throughout the UK are desperate to keep warm. Should the UK Government not be thoroughly ashamed of themselves? Why is it that Governments send billions of pounds abroad for various worthy causes, whilst many of their own UK citizens such as pensioners and disabled people are suffering from some of the very causes and problems which the Government are sending money abroad for to help eliminate. Does not charity start at home? It’s a mad mad world. Shame on the Labour government and grateful thanks to the people of Iceland.
APRIL 6 2009 STATE PENSION/BENEFITS/OTHER’S
[UPDATE]
The latest figures to be released by the Dept. of Works and Pensions are as follows:
Standard basic State Pension £95.25
Dependent wife £57.05
Attendance Allowance [AA]
[Higher Rate] £70.35
[Lower Rate] £47.10
Disability Living Allowance [DLA] [Care]
Higher Rate per week £70.35
Middle Rate per week £47.10
Lower Rate per week £18.65
Disability Living Allowance [DLA] [Mobility]
Higher Rate per week £49.10
Lower Rate per week £18.85
Pension Credit
Single per week £130.00
Couple per week £198.45
All other Pension and State Benefits rates may be obtained by logging onto www.thepensionservice.gov.uk. Other useful contact numbers are DLA and AA Helpline 0845 712 3456. International Pension Service 0044 191 218 7777. Carers Allowance Unit 01253 856 123. Winter Fuel Payments helpline 0845 915 1515.
OTHER PAYMENTS
TAX RATES of 45% introduced from April 2009 on incomes over £150,000 and class 1 NI rates for both employees and employers and class 4 NI for the Self Employed increase to 9.5% from April 2011.
VOLUNTARY NATIONAL INS. CONTRIBUTIONS to increase to £12.5 from April 2009.
OTHER CHANGES
STATE PENSIONS: Forecasts are now available again even for those people who are affected by the Pensions Act 2008 which requires only 30 so-called qualifying years to obtain a full state pension. Further enquires should be addressed to 0845 3000 168.
PRIVATE TENANCIES: New domestic tenancies lettings agreements signed before October 1 2009, both private and local authority and housing authorities must now produce an Energy Performance Certificate or [EPC] which last for 10 years, that shows the energy efficiency of the property as well as how the property can be made more energy efficient.
NEW SICK PAY RIGHTS: Agency workers who have a contract or a series of contracts dated as from October 1 2008 lasting three months or less and subject to all qualifying conditions, will have the identical rights to Statutory Sick Pay as all other workers.
NURSING HOME COSTS: During the current tax year, April 2008/April 2009, the top level of NHS contributions towards nursing costs of a care home place are £103.80 per week for a standard rate and £142.80 the higher rate. The ‘standard’ rate was introduced in October 2008 so please do check that the correct amount is being deducted from your account.
C.DIFFICILE CASES FALLING
Cases of the hospital bug, Clostridium difficile, are continuing to fall in England, latest Government figures suggest. Between July and September 2008, there was a 19% drop in cases in the over 65s compared with the previous quarter - from 8,696 to 7,061 cases.
NHS trusts have a target to cut C/difficile infections by 30% by 2010/11, but these figures are already said to be seen as unobtainable. The latest quarterly figures show that rates of the infection have fallen by 35% compared with the same period in 2007. It follows an 18% drop between April and June 2008. If true, this is very good news, but not in Scotland as you may have read in previous issues.
INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS A SUCCESS
Those disabled people who receive their own individual budgets rather than funding from the likes of the Independent Living Fund find that the independence found through this new system is a success, but older people did not find it as easy to use as other groups, and did not like managing their own budgets.
It has been found by those who enjoy the new scheme that they received a better quality of care and were more satisfied with the support afforded them, as well as the choice and control they experienced. More of this at a later date.
WORRIES OVER CARE HOME COSTS
Elderly people and their carers have to search for suitable care homes "in the dark" - a charity has reported. Counsel and Care wants the government to overhaul the entire care system and make it simpler and more transparent. Of the 2,620 calls made to an advice helpline in 2008, 30% were from people worried about how to pay for care homes, and many were also concerned about how to cope with a lack of information when it came to choosing a home.
Incidentally, those with savings of in excess of £22,500 do not qualify for local authority aid with care home fees.
Council and Care says many callers were concerned about having to use their savings to pay for rising care costs and that sometimes people are forced to pick a home ‘in the dark‘, based on incomplete information and often during a time of great stress or illness. The report is very telling, showing the real struggle older people, their families and carers are currently facing when trying to pay for care, and further calls for more regulation in the industry, which it says could prevent large annual fee rises. It also urges care homes to be more transparent about their fees. The government is creating a green paper on the future of long-term care.
COMMENT: Clearly there is concern among relatives and indeed the folks themselves requiring perhaps lifetime care, in finding a suitable care home to look after them, and indeed finding such care is becoming more and more expensive, so if he person requiring this care has savings, should not this money be used to help contribute towards their care? We are not talking about property owners seeking care here, but those with just savings. If a person requiring care for the rest of their life, their savings, although a ‘nest egg’ of no more than £22,500 will not necessary be used, as their new home - care home - will provide accommodation, cleaning, meals, washing, care, nursing if appropriate, entertainment, and even trips in some cases. No utility bills -gas - electricity - water, council tax, TV licence, no property maintenance, food costs, care or personal assistants to pay, etc. - its all normally included. The cost of residence will of course be required and perhaps telephone charges for call and if the ‘resident’ drives a car, this must also be taken into account.
Residents will continue to receive their state pensions which will provide a source of income for ’personal’ use, so what do you think, should ’savings’ be used to help look after them in care homes or not?
NEW BENEFITS CLAIMS
About 2.6 million people claim incapacity benefits but ministers say most want to work and the Employment and Support Allowance should help, but campaigners fear rising unemployment will be a barrier to many. Any new claimants will have to pass a tough new test intended to identify the sort of jobs claimants may be able to do. The government hopes to reduce the number of people on sickness benefits by one million. Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said the benefits reforms would mean better support and help for disabled people and people with ill health, who have been calling for it, but campaigners claimed the new rules would leave many worse off. The Leonard Cheshire charity warned that disabled people already faced discrimination and rising unemployment would only make getting jobs more difficult.
The Disability Alliance voiced concerns that the majority of Employment and Support Allowance claimants would find the rates of payment effectively lower than current incapacity benefit rates. The need for personalised, tailored, employment support that actively assists disabled people to overcome barriers to work will be key and we at Law and Benefit Review will be closely monitoring the effectiveness of this provision.
NHS STILL FAILING ON CARE
The NHS in England and Wales is failing to ensure patient care is "as safe as it reasonably could be", the head of the Healthcare Commission has said. In its annual report, Sir Ian Kennedy said the NHS was "only just out of the starting blocks" on the issue. He warned there was a "black hole" of information on the quality and safety of general practice care, and the primary care and safety organisations said the watchdog had been looking at out-of-date data. The commission said research into general practice safety suggested incidents were far more common than actual data showed the "black hole". It said management and leadership were problems in some, while others had difficulties because of their rural settings.
There are a small number of trusts trapped at a level of performance that is unacceptably poor as safety was the priority. There is apparently a great deal to do before we can be confident that the care that patients receive is as safe as it reasonably could be."
Sir Ian continued "We are a long way from an NHS which systematically and hungrily examines its performance.
The Healthcare Commission highlighted 2003 research which suggested medical errors occur in primary care anywhere from five to 80 times per 100,000 consultations (so between 40 and 600 errors a day) - up to 20% of which are thought to cause harm, but it said that just 0.3% of incidents occurring in England and Wales in 2007/08 were from general practice, even though the vast majority of the contact a patient has with the NHS is with a GP. The National Patient Safety Agency, set up by the government, stressed the majority of incidents reported were not serious.
It said that between April 2007 and March 2008, of 855,845 incidents reported, 93% resulted in no or a low level of harm to patients, 6.9% resulted in moderate or severe harm and 0.4% led to the patient's death.
GUIDE TO EUROPE’S PENSIONS WOES
Who is going to pay for the retirement of current and future generations? Most European countries, including the UK, face the same difficulty amid ageing populations and low birth rates. Italy's budget crisis makes pension reform especially pressing for Prime Minister Romano Prodi, but France, Spain, Germany and the UK have also announced ambitious plans to overhaul their pension systems. The big stock market losses and now the recession have fuelled fears about the future value of private pensions and even Gordon Brown MP has called for an enquiry into MP‘s pensions. Recent reports say that £195 bn has been lost off the value of private pensions so far, so we have examined the challenges EU members face which includes ex-pats who have married or are partners of other EU countries citizens who qualify for a state pension in the country they were born in or have adopted to be domiciled in. Spain, France and the USA have attracted ex-pats more than any other EU country. This article will be of particular interest for those ex-pats living in Spain, as this country has attracted more residency from permanent and semi-permanent UK citizens than any other EU country. Ex-pats the world over would only receive their UK state pension, which is at its lowest level ever, 31% down on this time last year, and the GBP stands at 0.9645 as we write, the lowest ever against the Euro, it was 1.4723 in June 2008. Almost one GBP [£1] equals one EURO.
The property market problems in Western Europe, and the collapse or ’imploding’ of the housing market in Spain in particular, has lead to many problems for elderly ex-pats wishing to sell their Iberian homes to use the funds to buy back in the UK. They would receive a fraction of what the property is worth. The French economy has not faired quite so badly, so there are property ‘bargains’ to be had but UK pensions will still be low if you decide to reside there permanently.
Now, many ex-pats in Spain are trapped or are penniless following their homes massive devaluation, being bull-dozed or seized by local authorities for being illegal structures without official planning permissions. Almost unbelievably, soup kitchens have been set up each day in Alicante, Spain for elderly UK pensioners. Spain now also has 20%, unemployment rate according to February 2009 figures. The combination of these problems means , that the country’s economy is slowly weakening and although property ’bargains’’ will be found, remember that if you decide to live there, it will be on reduced UK state pensions which are the lowest they have ever been.
A weaker pound is better for the UK exporters but is bad news for British holidaymakers who planned to go abroad during the 2009 Easter and Summer seasons, and also makes imported goods more expensive due to increased Import Duty from outside the European Union, and VAT charges.
Spain has slipped into recession in the fourth quarter of 2008, and will stay there well into 2009. Spain is the second country of choice for UK immigrants move or retire to, with France in third place. Australia is the number one. We have featured both the UK and Spain in this article, where in the latter country UK pensioners are being hit the most by the current recession. Trapped in the sun so to speak.
UK: The UK is going through the biggest pension shake-up in 50 years. In response to rising life expectancy and falling levels of pension saving, the Labour government has overhauled the state pension system. As a result, the age at which Britons can claim the state pension will rise gradually from 65 to 68 over the next three decades. In return for a delayed state pension, payments will be increased in line with average earnings rather than inflation. Generally earnings rise faster than prices, so, in effect, the UK state pension will become more generous, but is the current ‘recession’ going to effect this?
In an attempt to improve the state pension prospects of women - who often take time out of work to look after children - the number of years of National Insurance Contributions (NICS) it takes to earn a full state pension will be cut from 44 to 30 years. This will mean millions more people, mainly women, will be entitled to a full state pension.
The government has also tried to tackle the issue of vanishing workplace pension provision, as firms move to cut staff pensions.
From 2012, at the earliest, workers who do not currently pay into a work pension will be automatically enrolled into a state-sponsored Personal Accounts pension scheme. There has been a surprising degree of agreement over the UK government's plans for pensions. Opposition parties have agreed with the broad thrust of the reforms. The Conservatives are happy that the reforms will not cost much extra cash; mainly because of the later state pension age.
But the pension settlement merely aims to hold things as they are. The UK has an ever increasing ageing population and it will become more and more difficult to pay for pensions and long-term care for the elderly. The current high levels of immigration may prove a saving grace, however in 2008 1.5 million Poles returned to their own country from the UK with other Eastern European countries following suit. An influx of young people which occurred when the EU boarders opened was thought to address the balance between the number of workers and the retired, but if they are returning to their home country, where does this leave the UK pension? Ultimately, this could prove a more important development than the present round of pension reforms.
SPAIN: Spain's pension system has been in a state of almost continuous reform since the transition to democracy during the late 1970s. Radical change - for example privatisation - is off the current government's agenda but reforming the existing public system is nothing new and is a hot topic. Spain is very aware of the urgent issues bearing down on Europe's pensions because these concerns are especially keenly felt here. The country has one of the most rapidly ageing populations in Europe as well as one of the lowest birth rates. moreover, Spaniards tend to live longer than most of their European counterparts. Their average state pension is around £143 per week for a single person.
A sharp rise in the number of women and immigrants in the workforce over the last 10 years is helping to pay the pensions to people who are retiring now, but there are real concerns that the public system could run out of money during the next few decades, when the number of retirees is set to shoot upwards.
Companies and employees can and do have separate private pension funds, but the government insists that these will continue to be complementary rather than an alternative to the public system. As part of a current round of reforms, the government wants to create a large reserve fund to back up any future shortfalls in money and in November 2008 the Spanish government deposited 20 billion Euro’s into their economy. Incentives - rather than rules - to encourage people to work beyond the current retirement age of 65 are also on the agenda. There are doubts, but Spaniards will be hoping that reforms like this might be enough to safeguard their future pensions.
Why oh why did not the individual governments for-ee this looming problem. They must have seen from statistics that the ’elderly’ will out number the workers and births at around this time, but as usual nothing was put into place to deal with the looming problem until they have been hit in the face with the problem of ‘pensions’. After World War Two, the UK population exploded giving birth to those who are now the ’younger’ pensioners. Consecutive governments have had 60 years to put into place a workable pension scheme or solution, but instead they have done sweet nothing until it is to late.
RURAL POVERTY IN SCOTLAND IS VERY SERIOUS
A year-long study has found that more than one in six people in south east Scotland is living in poverty. The Commission on Poverty and Social Exclusion was set up last year to investigate the scale of the problem in the Scottish Borders. It aimed to study the impact of the issue on a predominantly rural area. Among the most serious problems discovered by the commission were low pay, high housing costs and significant levels of debt. The study estimated that between 18,000 and 19,000 people in the Borders were living in poverty. Its report had been issued as a "challenge paper" to Scottish Borders Council and other agencies to address the issue. Borders Lib Dem MP Michael Moore said the findings highlighted a problem he felt was often ignored.
NEW RIGHTS FOR DISABLED PASSENGERS
The European Commission has adopted new proposals on bus and maritime passenger rights.
On the 4th of December, the European Commission adopted two proposals for regulations on the rights of bus and maritime passengers, long awaited by the European Disability Forum as passengers with disabilities of these transport modes still do not enjoy similar rights as air and rail passengers do. Both proposals include specific rights for passengers with disabilities, which is particularly welcome by the European Disability Forum.
The proposals apply in principle to all domestic and international services. Both modes of transport will raise quality standards and will offer better protection of passenger rights. Passengers will be better informed of their rights and how to enforce them in an effective way. Passengers in general and people with disabilities or reduced mobility in particular will be protected from any form of discrimination.
The proposals include requirements to provide assistance free of charge to persons with disabilities on board the bus or passenger ship as well as in ports and terminals. Transport operators cannot refuse to accept reservation, issue a ticket or board on grounds of disability or reduced mobility unless safety regulations or the size and facilities of the vehicle or ship make it physically impossible to embark these passengers.
SOCIAL SERVICES HAS A LONG WAY TO GO
A fifth of social care places purchased by councils in England were in adult care homes rated "poor" or only "adequate", a watchdog has Found. The Commission for Social Care Inspection [CSCI] said council provision was improving, but there was still "a long way to go" to transform the system. It said plans to allow people greater control were happening too slowly. Ministers said although social care was "better now than it has ever been" they wanted to press on with improvements, but Help the Aged said there were "fundamental failures" in the system. "This report shows that the government's aspirations of putting people first are far from a reality”
The CSCI oversees 18,500 adult care homes in England, as well as other support services such as meals-on-wheels. In 2007, councils purchased just over half of all registered places in care homes in England - some 36,500. The rest were provided by people paying for their own care. Looking specifically at homes for the elderly, the CSCI found that 22% of places purchased by councils were in facilities rated poor or adequate.
Care Services Minister Phil Hope said more people were being helped to live independently in their own homes, and were "in control of their own services" than before. He added that the quality of residential care had also improved, with 87% of councils rated with either two or the full three stars. And he said there were now nearly 5,000 dignity champion’s around the country - part of a campaign to encourage more respect for older people in care.
Contrary to this statement, Help the Aged said the "systemic failures" needed to be addressed. "Despite some overall improvements, this report shows there are still far too many older people forced to endure second-rate care at the hands of our failing social care system". From April, the CSCI, along with the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission, will be replaced by a single, integrated regulator, the Care Quality Commission.
EU HEALTHCARE PROPOSALS
[UPDATE]
Patients in the EU may in future choose to shop around Europe for the best and quickest medical treatment, under proposals presented by the European Commission. The proposals will be subject to lengthy discussion and probably changes before becoming law.
The Commission says there has been too much uncertainty about cross-border healthcare rights in the EU. The European Parliament and EU governments wanted clarity on this issue, the Commission says.
The new draft directive follows European Court of Justice rulings confirming the right of EU citizens to seek healthcare in other EU member states and get reimbursed at home. The first such ruling dates back to 1998. The Commission's package was originally meant to be announced in December 2007, but Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso decided more work was needed, and now it is part of a wide-ranging social rights initiative called the "renewed social agenda".
The Commission insists that patients will be reimbursed only up to the cost of equivalent treatment that could be provided in the home country. So if their treatment abroad costs more, they will have to pay the difference themselves. Moreover, treatments not covered by their home health insurance scheme will not normally be reimbursed.
The exception is when they require specialist treatment that is only available in another country. So UK citizens will not be able to claim for expensive spa therapy they received in Germany, for example. In most cases, cosmetic surgery will not be covered either. Some authorisation may be required for certain medical procedures or operations which should be available within the UK in 15 days maximum.
Increasing numbers of EU citizens are now opting to retire in another EU country - Britons in Spain and France, for example. That trend is expected to continue when the recession is over because Europe's population is ageing and life expectancy is improving.
ARE YOUR HEATERS SAFE?
During cold weather periods, old electric fires particularly are brought out to assist heating rooms. These can be and are often dangerous or in a poor condition. Heaters that burn oil, gas or even solid fuel can produce Carbon Monoxide which can be fatal, if they are not well ventilated, maintained or installed correctly. Carbon Monoxide cannot be smelt or seen but it does make people unwell with symptoms such as headaches, feeling nauseous or tired.
If using such equipment, make sure that it is tested and examined by a qualified person before using it - it could save a life.
EU TO INVESTIGATE ELECTRICITY PRICES
An investigation into electricity prices across the European Union is to be launched by the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs. This decision followed an initial report, which showed that the prices charged by some suppliers across the 27 member states may be too high. A survey revealed that less than two thirds of consumers are satisfied with their energy supplier. The UK government has already said it may legislate to lower energy prices following concerns that some energy firms were not passing on enough of the sharp falls in oil and gas wholesale prices since last summer. The cost of oil has dropped dramatically lowering to $44 a barrel, but the UK public, including the elderly and disabled on state benefits, and others just receiving a state pension continue to pay high bills. Some EU countries have no choice in suppliers of gas and electricity.
The enquiry will take 12 months. Across the EU, about 60% of consumers reported a rise in their electricity bills last year, while only 3-4% saw falls. UK energy regulator Ofgem told British energy firms in October that they had to stop charging customers different rates if they paid by direct debit or pre-payment meters.
LATE NEWS
BT’s generosity last month in reducing 0870 and 0845 prices have been counteracted by scrapping the ‘friends and family’ discount scheme which will increase calls charges by 45%. This increase includes £1 per month line charge increase and a 15% increase in day time calls. Thanks BT.
The Government have announced a £7.5 bn plan to up-date or replace twenty to thirty year old railway carriages operating on both the east and west coast intercity trains. This will create new jobs and importantly drastically increase accessibility into passenger carriages for wheelchairs and perhaps scooters which up to know have in many cases left disabled people stranded due to lack of ramps, fixings and other excuses.
Water charges are to be increased by 4.3% on March 1 2009 but do not forget that some disabled people suffering from certain illnesses and diseases can obtain a substantial discount on water charges. Contact your water company to find out more and if you qualify.
The 2009 Budget will be announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling on 22nd April 2009 in the House of Commons. We will be there.
NHS MUST DO BETTER
The NHS must do better at handling complaints, a health watchdog has said. Complaints in England are initially dealt with by the NHS trusts, but can be referred up to the Healthcare Commission and then the Ombudsman. A report by the commission found the proportion of complaints it upheld had risen by 50%. The watchdog said this suggested NHS trusts were getting worse at dealing with them, but ministers said improvements were in the pipeline -aren’t they always. The NHS receives about 135,000 complaints a year - a figure which has remained stable over recent years -with about 9,000 of these not be resolved at a local level and are referred up to the Healthcare Commission.
The way the NHS handles complaints was also the number one issue raised by complainants, with Patients getting very frustrated when they try to make a complaint. Poor communication, standards of treatment and delay or failure to diagnose were the next most common themes. In fairness, the number of complaints are relatively small compared with the millions of people that pass through the NHS system each year.
Thanks for joining us, see you in April ‘09.