Moving and handling specialists Care & Independence has announced the launch of its own YouTube channel, hailing it as a convenient resource packed with valuable content for healthcare professionals. With over 70 videos readily available, the Care & Independence channel is designed to cater to the needs of busy healthcare professionals for whom time is often precious. The YouTube channel offers visual fitting guides, operational instructions, comprehensive product introductions, and more besides, for products across the Care & Independence portfolio of glove sling®, bathing range ..read more

Figure 5. A wheelchair does not need to look like a mobility device Client compliance has often been a challenge for many clinicians. In this month’s article we look at some of the reasons for this, with a number of case studies illustrating examples of when a solution that has been set up in the clinic with every best intention, often falls apart in the real world. How well can we put ourselves into the positions of our clients, and enhance their endorsement of the solution? Life is a real pain. Our clients do not sit in 90-90-90 text book positions, they are not symmetrical, their ‘comfortab ..read more

Theraposture, a specialist in care cots for children with disabilities, will be demonstrating two new prototype cots for visitor feedback at Kidz to Adultz South on 2 May 2024. Theraposture’s reputation for cot innovation will be highlighted at Kidz South as two new cots will be displayed for the first time. Focusing on cost optimisation and easy re-issuing, these products are aimed at maximising budgets for healthcare prescribers and equipment loan stores. The event will take place at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Hampshire from 9:30am to 4pm on Thursday 2 M ..read more

The Spinal Injuries Association has been awarded a grant of £800,000 from the Motability Foundation to help with its work in supporting disabled people travel independently and confidently. More than 700,000 disabled people receive their cars, wheelchair accessible vehicles, scooters and powered wheelchairs through the Motability scheme. The Motability Foundation funds, supports, researches, and innovates so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. The grant of £800,000 will be delivered over two-years through its Traveling with Confidence Grant Programme. Travel is regularl ..read more

In an important step towards a National Care Service in Wales, the Minister for Social Care Dawn Bowden has welcomed the launch of the new National Office for Care and Support. With a focus on innovation, improvement and transformation of adult and children’s services, the National Office for Care and Support forms a major part of the Welsh Government’s longer-term goal to strengthen social care arrangements at a national level. The launch of the national office is the first part of the phased plan to implement the National Care Service, which is a shared priority in the Co-operation Agreemen ..read more

Healthcare equipment provider Innova Care Concepts has installed a Changing Places restroom facility at the iconic heritage railway station at Ravenglass, that sits on the famous Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in West Cumbria, to enable disabled people to better access the station and museum. The new Changing Places facility is a fully accessible restroom that can be used not just by visitors to the railway and museum, but also the public. Changing Places are advanced, accessible toilet facilities designed specifically to cater to the needs of individuals who require more support and space tha ..read more

Aaron Craven demonstrates the Raiser lifting device Aaron Craven, founder of the OT4Life Occupational Therapy service, discusses the importance of developing solutions which help to reduce the knock-on effects of falls. Falls can lead to long-term consequences for the individual, causing pressure ulcers to develop and even death in some cases, while also putting pressure on the cash-strapped NHS… With over 250,000 falls recorded by the NHS every year, the pressure it puts the ambulance services, emergency responders, and other healthcare professionals under is extreme – particularly at this ti ..read more

Centaur Robotics have developed a self-balancing electric wheelchair Midlands-based wheelchair design company Centaur Robotics has secured £500,000 funding to enable the self-balancing electric wheelchair it developed to begin production. The funding was secured from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF I) through the MEIF West Midlands Equity Fund, managed by Midven, part of the Future Planet Capital Group. This comes in addition to additional funding from Seedrs and angel investors. This investment will enable the company to finish development of its innovative wheelchair ..read more

Information panels with Makaton symbols that promote walks, trails, cycle routes, nature reserves and heritage attractions have been installed at six Northern Rail train stations across Cumbria in North West England. Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people with disabilities to communicate. Northen says it is used by over 100,000 children and adults in the UK as their main method of communication or as a way to support speech. The panels have been installed at Corkickle, Dalston, Harrington, Seascale, St Bees and Wigton stations. Craig Harrop ..read more

The UK Government has launched a review into how patients and their families are kept informed when healthcare goes wrong. The new call for evidence that launched on 16 April 2024 aims to capture and consider views about how the duty of candour system is honoured, monitored and enforced in health and social care settings. Duty of candour requires health and care providers to be open and honest when things go wrong. It means that patients and families have a right to receive explanations for what happened as soon as possible and a meaningful apology. The current system has been in place for a ..read more