What's New in Social Care and Healthcare this Week? (26/02/24)

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​Hello everybody! Welcome to another week's social care and healthcare news; we've compiled five of the most interesting and noteworthy news items from recent days and created an easy-to-digest, time-efficient article you can read with a quick cup of tea! Without further ado, then, let's get into it.

1. Adults in their Early Twenties Struggling with Poor Mental Health

A report has revealed a concerning trend: people in their early 20s are now more likely to be out of work due to ill health than those in their early 40s, marking a significant shift from previous patterns where older age correlated with health-related unemployment. This change is attributed to the rising poor mental health among young people, which adversely affects their educational achievements and job prospects.

Official data shows that one in 20 young individuals were economically inactive due to ill health in 2023, with young people now experiencing the worst mental health conditions compared to other age groups. The Resolution Foundation's findings stress the economic impact of poor mental health, particularly on young non-graduates, and call for improved mental health support and educational attainment to prevent a "lost generation."

2. Junior Doctors Striking

Junior doctors in England are on their tenth strike in a pay dispute with the government, leading to significant disruption in NHS services, particularly affecting hospital operations and check-ups.

The British Medical Association (BMA) demands a 35% pay rise, a claim the government deems unreasonable. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has urged the BMA to halt the strikes due to their considerable impact on the NHS, while BMA leaders argue for a credible offer to reverse over a decade of pay cuts.

The strike, involving a substantialportion of junior doctors, exacerbates tensions in the health sector, with the BMA planning to ballot for a new six-month strike mandate as negotiations remain stalled. Public support for the doctors remains mixed, with ongoing concerns about patient care and treatment delays.

3. Calls for Responsible Use of AI in Social Care

Experts and representatives from over 30 organisations convened at the University of Oxford to address the responsible use of generative AI in adult social care. Highlighting the technology's potential benefits, they also expressed concerns about its rapid development and application, emphasising the need for guidelines to ensure it respects human rights and quality care standards.

Dr Caroline Green stressed the urgency of developing knowledge and guidance on generative AI's ethical use in social care. The meeting concluded with a commitment to create practical guidelines and engage a broader community in the technology's responsible integration into social care services. Find out more here.

4. Healthcare Workers Still Awaiting Payment

Employers express significant concern as up to 20,000 health workers in England, including community nurses and physiotherapists employed by social enterprises, have not received a promised one-off payment of nearly £1,655. This payment, part of a deal agreed last May that also included a 5% pay rise, was extended in November to include these workers after initial exclusion.

Despite assurances, there's been a lack of communication and clarity from the government on when the funds will be disbursed. Social Enterprise UK, representing these employers, has highlighted the delay as a failure to fulfil the government's commitment, affecting frontline staff who have been awaiting the bonus for nearly a year.

5. Charity Furnishing Homes for Domestic Abuse Survivors

Emily Wheeler, a social worker turned interior designer, founded Furnishing Futures to combat furniture poverty among social housing tenants, particularly focusing on domestic abuse survivors. These individuals often receive empty housing with no essential items, driving some back to abusive situations due to the lack of basic living conditions.

Wheeler's charity transforms these spaces by providing furniture, white goods, and flooring, significantly impacting survivors' lives by turning empty spaces into homes. Furnishing Futures, which started in 2019, has already furnished over 80 homes and aims to expand its efforts nationally. Learn more about the story in Sky News' comprehensive article, here.

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