The Government has recently launched two consultations that may be of interest to residents of Totnes and South Devon.
The Health and Disability Green Paper
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has published a consultation on changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) wants to create a welfare system that is fair and compassionate; that provides value for the taxpayer and best supports disabled people and people with long-term health conditions to live full and independent lives. Additional costs arising from a disability or health condition – to which the award of PIP is intended to contribute – can vary significantly and are unique to individuals’ circumstances.
Some people on PIP may have relatively small one-off or ongoing additional costs related to their disability or health condition that are fully covered by their award while others may find the current system does not provide enough support to meet their needs. However, PIP operates a one size fits all model and does not channel people towards bespoke support tailored to an individual’s needs. The DWP therefore wants to understand whether there are other forms of support that may be more suitable for everyone, including people with mental health conditions.
They are proposing to consult on the following options:
1. Exploring the option of an alternative assessment model focused more on a person’s condition.
2. Considering options for amending PIP eligibility within the current functional assessment framework.
3. Looking at different models that could be used to meet the extra costs disabled people and people with health conditions face.
4. Exploring greater alignment of the support offered by PIP with existing NHS and social care services.
The consultation will be open until Monday 22 July.
The consultation document is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-support-for-ind…
The NHS Constitution: 10 year review
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has launched a consultation to update the NHS Constitution.
The NHS Constitution sets out rights to which patients, staff and the public in England are entitled; the pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve; and all of our responsibilities. It is renewed at least every 10 years to ensure that the principles and values which underpin the NHS are fit for the next decade and beyond.
Proposed changes include:
1. Empowering patients to request that intimate care is carried out by someone of the same biological sex.
2. Making it clear that you should be accommodated on wards with people of the same biological sex.
3. Embedding the commitment for patients and their family members to initiate a rapid review of their care from outside their initial care team.
4. Setting out how the health system uses the best data available to understand the range of healthcare needs within local communities.
5. Strengthening responsibilities on patients to cancel or reschedule appointments when they cannot attend
6. Making clear that patients should always expect that their physical and mental health care is person-centred, coordinated, and tailored to their needs.
This consultation will run for 8 weeks and available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-constitution-10-year-re…