What's New in Social Care and Healthcare this Week? (18/12/23)
With a week to go before Christmas, there are still plenty of healthcare and social care news items worthy of your attention, and that's precisely why we curate this weekly roundup for you.
So, put the kettle on, grab a bourbon or custard cream (or two), and read some of the most noteworthy recent news stories.
1. Wait Times for Autism Diagnoses Increase
The wait time to receive an autism diagnosis has increased, according to new data released by the NHS. The now-300-day wait time far exceeds the NICE guidelines for diagnosis, which is under 100 days.
A spokesperson from the government has stated that £4.2 million has been allocated this year towards helping children and young people with autism.
2. Adult Social Workers in Brighton Strike Once More
Adult social workers in Brighton took to the picket line once again last week on a two-day strike, protesting the lack of pay parity with their family and children's social worker colleagues.
The SWs are calling for a 12.5% pay increase, with representatives of the Brighton and Hove UNISON branch saying that an escalation of the dispute was the "only way to protect jobs and services".
3. Delays in Child Sexual Abuse Trials Have Worsened
According to the NSPCC, via a FoI request to the Ministry of Justice, the length of time taken for a criminal trial to commence following a defendant being charged with child sexual abuse offences has increased over the past five years.
Between 2017 and 2018, the average length of time was 273 days; between 2022 and 2023, that wait time had increased to 423 days. The NSPCC has warned of the impact that these delays can have on abused children, saying that:
"For a child who is already experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a consequence of sexual abuse, the drawn-out process of waiting for a trial to start let alone come to completion can be extremely distressing."
4. New Research Shows the Number of Children Moving Care Home/Coming into Care Homes Over Christmas
A recently published report by the charity for children in care, Become, found that between 18 December 2022 and 3 January 2023, at least 1,241 children already in care moved homes, and at least 898 children came into care.
It also revealed that, according to data from certain local authorities, some children were moved more than once during the period. The comprehensive report made several recommendations, including creating a national strategy for children's residential care.
5. Average Funding Growth for NHS Could Fall Significantly Below Long-Term Average
Analysis carried out by The Health Foundation found that, on the government's current spending trajectory, in which 2023/24 and 2024/25 plans are – to quote the body, "far less generous" than its spending so far, average funding growth for the parliament as a whole (from 2019/20 to 2024/25) could fall well beneath the long-term average of 3.8%.
Final Thoughts
There's always plenty of news to go around when it comes to healthcare and social care, no matter the time of year – Christmas or otherwise.
We hope you've found the above informative and interesting. If you want to learn more about the health and social care roles we offer - whether that's a mental health nursing position, an adult social worker, an occupational therapist or anything else, then get in touch!
