Tories discuss stripping advantages claimants who refuse therapy for depression

According to the government, 46 per cent of benefit claimants receiving Employment and Assistance Allowance, the main benefit for unwell and disabled folks, have mental well being issues.

This means that the proposal to enforce treatment method could apply to an estimated 260,000 claimants, who acquire up to £101 per week each in ESA.

Estimates based mostly on government figures propose the state spends up to £1.4 billion a yr – far more than £3.5 million per day – on ESA for these claimants with psychological wellness issues.

The reforms nevertheless, would apply only to people claimants judged to be capable of some work in future.

Individuals who are judged to be incapable of operate due to the severity of their situations would not be targeted underneath the plans.

Tory ministers hope to persuade senior Liberal Democrats to back the thought of mandating treatment for advantage claimants with common mental overall health issues.

The proposal will increase ethical concerns about no matter whether the state ought to have the power to force individuals to undergo treatment method.

It could lead to a fresh row with campaigners and charities who have claimed that the coalition’s welfare reforms already target vulnerable men and women with poor mental and bodily overall health.

Conservatives could include the proposal for necessary remedies in the party manifesto subsequent yr as component of the subsequent phase of reforms to the welfare state.

A senior government source mentioned “a enormous number” of claimants on ESA who cannot perform have treatable mental wellness concerns such as “depression and anxiety”.

“We know that depression and anxiety are treatable circumstances. Cognitive behavioural therapies operate and they get people stable once again but you can’t mandate people to get that remedy,” the source stated.

“But there are loads of individuals who declare ESA who undergo no therapy whatsoever. It is bizarre. This is a actual problem since we want individuals to get far better.

“These are regions we need to have to check out. The taxpayer has committed a good deal of money but the idea was by no means to sustain them for many years and many years on benefit. We feel it’s time for a rethink.

“At some stage something has to be accomplished. Right now it is an open ended contract.”

The supply advised that profitable treatments could minimize the numbers of men and women with psychological overall health troubles claiming the positive aspects by up to 90 per cent.

Advantage claimants receiving ESA, are normally paid up to £101 per week if they are deemed potentially capable of function and are placed in the so-referred to as “work-connected exercise group” of welfare recipients.

If they fail to abide by problems this kind of attending work-focused interviews, their ESA payments can be reduced as a sanction. No circumstances are presently utilized requiring claimants to undergo treatment method for overall health problems.

One trial began last month, seeking at combining “talking therapies” with employment assistance. Four jobcentres are taking component.

The intention of the scheme is to give benefit claimants early entry to authorities who can support them put together for operate while they are acquiring treatment for psychological wellness issues.

Three additional trials being launched this summer are meant to check diverse approaches of linking psychological wellness providers with support for advantage claimants looking for function.

A single of these schemes is created to analyse effectiveness of “group work” to help build the “resilience” of people who are out of perform and suffering with bad psychological wellness.

An other trial will see no matter whether greater final results can be attained by hiring professional personal organisations outdoors the NHS and welfare program to consider handle of providing a blend of psychological and employment support to claimants.

A ultimate pilot scheme will assess the effectiveness of supplying on-line exams and therapies at improving individuals’ wellness and job prospects.

Norman Lamb, the Lib Dem well being minister, said mandating psychological health treatment for benefit claimaints would not work and was “not a sensible notion”.

“The thought that you frogmarch a person into treatment with the risk of a loss of advantages basically won’t function,” he said. “It is not a query of no matter whether hard really like is a great idea.

“You actually need an individual to go into treatment willingly.”

Tories discuss stripping advantages claimants who refuse therapy for depression

If I went back to jail, I would refuse to share a prison cell | Eric Allison

An acute shortage of secure psychological overall health beds signifies inmates are held in unsuitable prison segregation units. Photograph: Simon Value/Alamy

When I was performing time, I received on well with the vast vast majority of my fellow prisoners we had been all in the very same boat and there is power in unity. Even when forced to share a cell, I produced the best of sharing a room designed for a single with a stranger for up to 23 hours a day.

Nonetheless, in the unlikely event of my getting imprisoned yet again, I would refuse point blank to enter a shared cell.

Why? Statistically, it would be a lot more likely than not that the particular person I was being asked to share with, would have considerable mental overall health issues. In some situations, dangerously so.

In March 2000, at Feltham Younger Offenders Institution, 19-year-previous Zahid Mubarek, was murdered by his cellmate, who had a significant character disorder. Of the 18 resolved prison homicides because then, above half had been committed in shared cells, by individuals suffering serious mental well being troubles who need to not have been confined with anybody.

My thoughts has focused on this concern for the final 18 months, as I’ve been sitting on a commission set up to examine what has changed on psychological overall health in the criminal justice method (CJS) because the Bradley report five years in the past. Headed by labour peer, Keith Bradley, it found offenders with psychological wellness problems have been failed by policing, courts and prisons and manufactured 82 recommendations.

The overview of the progress made is yet again headed by Lord Bradley. It has heard proof from a wide selection of specialists doing work in the area, along with people who had been by way of the program, and made a new report. In a nutshell: there are distinct indications of improvement in some areas because 2009, with evidence of effective early interventions to prevent young children from coming into the CJS. 6 pilot programmes, aimed at diverting young people with behavioural problems away from the CJS, were efficiently completed in 2010/11 and a national working model is being embedded. There are, nevertheless, fears that the nationwide programme has an grownup bias and requirements a lot more people with an knowing of younger people’s requirements. And there is constantly the danger of funding cuts. But it is progress.

And some police forces, Leicestershire and the Met in certain, are showing important improvement in their dealing with of people with psychological overall health problems. Police minister Damian Green backed moves earlier this yr to place psychological wellness nurses in 50 police stations across the United kingdom, as portion of the liaison programme recommended by Bradley. The aim is to roll this out nationally, with the NHS taking above when contracts expire.

But in my region of knowledge, prisons, there is no such positivity. The psychological health situation in jails is worse than ever. Apart from the increase in prison murders and self-harm amid male prisoners, my intray bulges with horror stories. A snapshot: an inmate in Dovegate prison, in Staffordshire, was informed the only way to ensure being seen by a mental overall health nurse was to self-harm. So he did.

And in 2011, a prisoner in the shut supervision centre at Woodhill jail, in Buckinghamshire, sliced the two ears off in two separate incidents. The guy is nonetheless becoming held in a segregation unit, alternatively of a secure psychological wellness bed. There is an acute shortage of this kind of beds. Only three hospitals, Broadmoor, Rampton and Ashworth take higher-chance people from prison. Sufferers will not leave these locations in a hurry so dozens of prisoners with serious mental overall health difficulties are held rather in segregation units, treated as handle issues rather than the seriously sick people they are.

The prison services has to get individuals the courts send them, irrespective of their mental state. But this mistreatment of prisoners with psychological health difficulties must shame us all. Politicians and senior managers should admit the problem and deal with it.

If I went back to jail, I would refuse to share a prison cell | Eric Allison

How do you know when it is time to refuse treatment for incurable cancer?

Palliative chemotherapy is largely meant to relieve signs, such as soreness, but it can also prolong life. (posed by a model) Photograph: Alamy

A handful of months in the past, my consultant oncologist sat with me in his area and wrote on the top of a consent kind “Palliative chemotherapy with the intent of relieving signs”. This was my 2nd time facing the chemotherapy wringer for the incurable, unusual sarcoma residing in my abdomen, and a huge decision that I had produced following much deliberation and discussion.

At 31, death was hurtling towards me at an alarming fee, and although the principal determination for both my oncologist and me was to alleviate the pelvic soreness that disturbed my rest every single night, the chemotherapy regimen would also prolong my life.

But what does “palliative” really mean? In the oncology planet, there is a split between curative and palliative treatments. Curative management consists of surgical procedure to reduce out a cancer or radiotherapy to burn cancer cells both are performed with the intent of eradicating the cancer.

I see chemotherapy as sitting on the fence among curative and palliative. For some cancers, this kind of as breast, it is often offered as a treatment method alongside other therapies to improve the chance of cure. For other cancers, like some types of leukaemia, it can certainly be curative in itself. Then there is the palliative technique, where the major intent is to alleviate symptoms this kind of as soreness. However, as chemotherapy effectiveness has sophisticated above the years the lines amongst relieving signs and symptoms and prolonging existence have turn into blurred in the palliative predicament. When it comes to selection producing, this can muddy the waters, as the patient’s primary intent could be existence prolongation or, in some circumstances, misunderstandings and communication failures may lead to a patient believing their treatment is curative.

I first presented with cancer at the age of 29. It came completely out of the blue and at the time my daily life was balancing on a knife edge my kidneys had failed and my entire body was riddled with infection. The cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, liver and bones and had superior at such an alarming rate that the main tumour in my tummy had grown all the way from my pelvis up to my stomach button. Offered the extent of my illness, it was clear that no medical doctor would ever be ready to remedy me. I felt, nevertheless, that I had small decision but to give palliative chemotherapy a likelihood, as the alternative of refusing remedy was going to consequence in a quick demise, which would have been exceptionally difficult for my husband and household.

My original chemotherapy was remarkably successful and gave me virtually two many years of good top quality life. I had been the patient who exceeded everyone’s expectations and lulled these closest to me into a false sense of security. But this efficacy had come at a expense the treatment method was challenging to endure, with intractable vomiting, repeated hospitalisation for infections and numerous blood transfusions. I stopped the initial program earlier than planned due to the fact my good quality of existence was suffering so considerably.

What a lot of individuals never realise is that chemotherapy carries a very actual danger of death and other considerable complications such as heart or kidney failure, not just the effectively-recognised hair loss, vomiting and infertility. Balancing these significant hazards against the prospective benefits which includes daily life prolongation in the last phase of someone’s daily life should be a near extremely hard activity for an oncologist.

Obtaining only just survived my second battering with chemotherapy and even now suffering ongoing consequences, I think the choice to refuse more treatment in potential may be less difficult. However, when a person is offering you far more daily life on a plate it is challenging to refuse. Choosing the far more time alternative does run the risk of ruining the good quality of life throughout any remaining time, and this is an aspect I’ve had a lot of internal battles with.

I firmly believe there does come a point in a circumstance like mine in which death has to be accepted where good quality is pursued over amount in which time at property is valued rather than repeated trips to hospital. I’ve constantly said I would not want to commit my ultimate days lying in a hospital bed hooked up to a drip filled with poison. I hope I will instinctively know when that level is.

How do you know when it is time to refuse treatment for incurable cancer?

Crohn"s sufferer issues determination to refuse her funding for eggs to be frozen

A substantial court judge has heard that the judicial evaluation action brought by Elizabeth Rose is ‘exceptionally urgent’. Photograph: Leigh Day/PA

A Crohn’s ailment sufferer is tough what she claims is an “unlawful” choice to refuse her funding for her eggs to be frozen ahead of she undergoes chemotherapy.

A judge at the substantial court in London heard on Tuesday that a judicial evaluation action brought by artist Elizabeth Rose, 25, from Margate, Kent, was “exceptionally urgent”.

Her barrister advised Mr Justice Jay that Rose, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s condition at the age of 14, faces imminent bone marrow transplantation and chemotherapy – remedy she fears will render her infertile.

Clinicians at King’s School Hospital in London utilized on her behalf for funding so her eggs could be frozen prior to treatment method. But Jeremy Hyam, representing Rose, stated there was a “continuing refusal” by Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to provide NHS-funded fertility preservation therapy – the most latest refusal was on 19 March.

Rose, who was present in court, launched the legal action in a bid to overturn the refusal and keep alive her hopes of one day possessing young children. She believes she is the victim of a “postcode lottery” as the treatment method is accessible to single women in other elements of the nation.

Rose, a Central Saint Martins University of Art and Design and style fine artwork graduate, stated she is established that the rules should be altered “as this remedy is turning out to be a lot more commonplace for Crohn’s disease sufferers and I would not want any other girl to have to go by way of this ordeal”.

In written argument ahead of the judge, Hyam submits that the refusal to fund the fertility preservation treatment method, which would expense £4,050, is unlawful “because it was and continues to be defended on the basis of a policy which is unlawful and out of date”.

He advised the judge: “The anticipated consequence for her if the fertility preservation remedy is not supplied is lifelong infertility and the inability to bear her personal genetic youngster. Oocyte cryopreservation takes a number of weeks to complete and consequently there is a quick window of opportunity.”

The case is being contested by Thanet CCG, which argues that its refusal is lawful. It has mentioned in a statement: “All Kent and Medway CCGs have agreed a policy on assisted reproductive methods, including in relation to the freezing of eggs.

“The policy all Kent and Medway CCGs have adopted, right after comprehensive consultation and clinical guidance, is that this certain method will not normally be funded by the NHS in Kent and Medway on the basis that there is inadequate proof to demonstrate effectiveness.

“We are really sorry about the distress this might lead to sufferers who are facing really hard individual conditions. Even so, we must use our limited public income to fund solutions for our population as a total and so are needed to get hard decisions on prioritising remedies.”

Merry Varney, from law firm Leigh Day, who is representing Rose, mentioned in a statement: “While we and our consumer appreciate there are constrained money obtainable, Great [the Nationwide Institute for Health and Care Excellence] reviewed the clinical proof and price-effectiveness of this treatment and has advisable it must be presented. Thanet CCG gives funding for fertility preservation for males and couples, also recommended by Wonderful on related terms. It can not be right to not fund this treatment method for girls like Lizzy.”

The judge reserved his choice.

Crohn"s sufferer issues determination to refuse her funding for eggs to be frozen

Schoolboy, 11, tells of determination to refuse cancer therapy in Facebook status

He broke the latest news in a posting, final Thursday, entitled “The Beginning of the End”, creating: “As you know soon after the most current scan benefits I was sent house to rest and believe over the 2 attainable options …

“I could opt for another trial, but this would suggest travelling a great deal to the hospital and coping with the side effects, but could also hopefully lengthen my life, or …

“I could basically do practically nothing, remain at home and allow nature get its program which would lead to me loosing my existence slightly earlier than if I’d had far more remedy.”

He then stated he was taking the second option. His mom, Kay Puddington, who assists him to publish his website, stated: “The complete family members was in agreement, it would be unfair on him to continue trying to treat him.

“I had to know when ample was ample. Reece has been so great, he in no way moans really. Reece is exhausted. He favored currently being home and just got exhausted of the entire regime. So the rest of the family members took on board how he felt and we made the decision to finish his treatment.

“He would have gone onto new medicines, but they all are created of something related. The side influences are usually sickness, fatigue and nausea. He didn’t want to maintain performing it, he was fed up.”

She additional: “The choice has been a breath of fresh air for Reece, not to have to go to the hospital implies a good deal to him.”

Following his diagnosis in Could 2008, Reece underwent chemotherapy remedy at the Royal Marsden Hospital, in Sutton, Surrey. After remedy, the cancer, which had started out in a gland over his kidney, went into remission.

Nonetheless, he fell unwell yet again in August 2012 and his family were told that this time the condition would be terminal. Tests uncovered it had spread to his bone marrow, chest, the left side of his pelvis and his proper thigh bone.

Considering that then, Reece had drawn up a “bucket list”, of items he needed to do before he died. This integrated seeing his mother learn to drive so they could go out on day journeys, and also go out for a breakfast at a Wetherspoons.

Mrs Puddington, forty – who is her son’s full time carer – passed her check when she was 17, but forgot how to drive when she could not afford a auto. It meant that she and Reece were housebound in the course of the day when her husband Paul, 48, was at operate as a income assistant for Sainsbury’s.

She has now learned to drive after far more. “I’m so glad I learned to drive in that time. We haven’t been capable to go on any journeys just yet, as Reece has had a rough number of days. But we’re hoping to go on a drive along the coast,” she added.

The only excellent objects on Reece’s record are: a bedroom of his personal, to see the film, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, a vacation to Sun City, South Africa, and to meet the actor Johnny Depp, dressed as the character Captain Jack Sparrow, from the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Mrs Puddington additional: “Unfortunately Reece will not be in a position to control the holiday. He has been so extremely brave and I’m so proud of him.”

Reece mentioned: “I’ve been overwhelmed by all the help. It’s genuinely made a difference to me. All the letters and small presents folks have sent have truly assisted me by means of every little thing. I’m quite grateful.”

Right here is Reece’s “Bucket List” in total:

An Alienware Laptop …(as I can no longer get out of bed)

A bedroom of my very own.

An Xbox one particular (I am gaming mad)

To see the Hobbit – Desolation of Smaug film.

To acquire £1000 in £20 notes (I’ve presently acquired to £540!)

A cash clip to hold all the cash

A vacation to Sun City in South Africa (I have usually wanted to go given that seeing the destination on Worlds Strongest Man)

Meet Johnny Depp dressed in character as Captain Jack Sparrow (my favourite films)

A Whetherspoons(sic) breakfast with my favourite individuals

A Wikipad gaming pad (just lead to they appear very awesome)

To have a Hobbit House in my back backyard (how cool is that )

I’d enjoy to see my mum understand to drive (it is been too extended)

A black beats pill.

A blue PS4 controller.

To go to Reece’s Facebook website, click here

Schoolboy, 11, tells of determination to refuse cancer therapy in Facebook status

Schoolboy, eleven, tells of determination to refuse cancer treatement in Facebook status

He broke the latest news in a posting, final Thursday, entitled “The Beginning of the End”, writing: “As you know following the latest scan final results I was sent property to rest and consider in excess of the 2 possible alternatives …

“I could opt for an additional trial, but this would suggest travelling a whole lot to the hospital and coping with the side results, but could also hopefully extend my daily life, or …

“I could merely do absolutely nothing, keep at property and allow nature get its program which would lead to me loosing my existence somewhat earlier than if I’d had a lot more treatment.”

He then mentioned he was taking the second choice. His mom, Kay Puddington, who assists him to write his website, explained: “The total family was in agreement, it would be unfair on him to proceed striving to treat him.

“I had to know when adequate was adequate. Reece has been so very good, he never ever moans actually. Reece is exhausted. He preferred becoming residence and just received exhausted of the complete regime. So the rest of the loved ones took on board how he felt and we produced the determination to finish his treatment.

“He would have gone onto new drugs, but they all are created of one thing related. The side has an effect on are always sickness, fatigue and nausea. He didn’t want to preserve undertaking it, he was fed up.”

She added: “The determination has been a breath of fresh air for Reece, not to have to go to the hospital implies a great deal to him.”

Following his diagnosis in May 2008, Reece underwent chemotherapy remedy at the Royal Marsden Hospital, in Sutton, Surrey. Soon after treatment method, the cancer, which had commenced in a gland over his kidney, went into remission.

Nevertheless, he fell unwell once more in August 2012 and his loved ones were told that this time the issue would be terminal. Exams unveiled it had spread to his bone marrow, chest, the left side of his pelvis and his correct thigh bone.

Since then, Reece had drawn up a “bucket list”, of things he wanted to do just before he died. This included seeing his mom learn to drive so they could go out on day journeys, and also go out for a breakfast at a Wetherspoons.

Mrs Puddington, 40 – who is her son’s full time carer – passed her test when she was 17, but forgot how to drive when she could not afford a vehicle. It meant that she and Reece have been housebound during the day when her husband Paul, 48, was at function as a sales assistant for Sainsbury’s.

She has now learned to drive as soon as far more. “I’m so glad I realized to drive in that time. We haven’t been capable to go on any journeys just nevertheless, as Reece has had a rough handful of days. But we’re hoping to go on a drive along the coast,” she extra.

The only exceptional objects on Reece’s checklist are: a bedroom of his own, to see the movie, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, a vacation to Sun City, South Africa, and to meet the actor Johnny Depp, dressed as the character Captain Jack Sparrow, from the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Mrs Puddington added: “Unfortunately Reece won’t be able to control the vacation. He has been so incredibly brave and I’m so proud of him.”

Reece explained: “I’ve been overwhelmed by all the assistance. It is really produced a distinction to me. All the letters and tiny gifts folks have sent have truly aided me through every little thing. I’m really grateful.”

Right here is Reece’s “Bucket List” in full:

An Alienware Laptop …(as I can no longer get out of bed)

A bedroom of my own.

An Xbox one particular (I’m gaming mad)

To see the Hobbit – Desolation of Smaug film.

To acquire £1000 in £20 notes (I’ve already received to £540!)

A funds clip to hold all the cash

A holiday to Sun City in South Africa (I have usually desired to go considering that seeing the location on Worlds Strongest Guy)

Meet Johnny Depp dressed in character as Captain Jack Sparrow (my favourite movies)

A Whetherspoons(sic) breakfast with my favourite folks

A Wikipad gaming pad (just lead to they search really cool)

To have a Hobbit House in my back backyard (how amazing is that )

I’d enjoy to see my mum understand to drive (it is been as well lengthy)

A black beats pill.

A blue PS4 controller.

To check out Reece’s Facebook website, click here

Schoolboy, eleven, tells of determination to refuse cancer treatement in Facebook status