Scottish
Disability Equality Forum����
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Scottish
Disability Equality Forum���� |
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SDEF News�������������������������������������������������������������������������������
April 2003
, No.9
�������������������������������������
Welcome
to this ninth edition of SDEF �OPEN DOOR��
News, available free to all members and associate members of SDEF. Our
aim with these publications is to keep you informed of all that we are doing on
your behalf. The Editorial work on this edition is being done in house by your
Board of Directors and Staff.�
This
Newsletter is available by email, on disk or in other formats if preferred.
Please contact us to let us know how you would like to receive it. Copies of all
documents mentioned in this edition are available from the office.�
Since
our AGM in October 2002 where you endorsed our Business Plan and gave us a
mandate to form a Company Limited by Guarantee your Management Committee has
been working hard to put these things in place, and are now a Board of
Directors.��
Background
on Scottish Executive Funding�
Support
from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Associations (SCVO) funded by the
Scottish Executive ceased at the end of October 2002.� Since then, due to various outside influences and hold-ups
over which SDEF had no control, we have experienced unforeseen delays in our
activities.�� This pushed back
the timescale of dealing with the initial three year Business Plan, caused by
the interaction of the independent Access Steering Group facilitated by SCVO,
and resulted in a re-submission of a Business Plan for 2002-2003. �
However,
we have overcome these problems and are delighted to report we have now received
the first instalment of our Grant.� We
had several face to face meetings with members of the Equality Unit and
Community Care Department of the Scottish Executive which proved very useful.�
However, due to slippage in the timetable, we submitted details of a work
plan which we entitled The Discovery Project.��
This provided the vehicle to allow funding to be released. Considerable
progress has been made in fulfilling much of the Discovery Project for
2002-2003, despite the fact that the Grant was not available until 1st
February 2003.� Since then we have not allowed the grass to grow under our
feet.� SDEF is now a Company Limited
by Guarantee with a Board of Directors.� An
Office Manager and Project Manager have already been appointed.�
Accessible premises have been secured in Stirling with ample parking.�
All of which now establishes SDEF on a firm footing as a pre-requisite to
fulfilling its strategic aims. The office can be reached by excellent transport
links by road, rail and bus which is in line with the Scottish Executives wish
to have organisations locate other than in Edinburgh or Glasgow.�
Throughout
we have remained loyal to the commitment we have made that the activities of
SDEF will always be guided by the wishes of our membership. �
With
the establishment of a solid infrastructure SDEF intends to embark on its first
full year of operations.
We
are now a Company Registered in Scotland Registration no. 243392
With
a Board of Directors as follows:�
Convenor������������������������
Elma Mitchell M.B.E.
Vice
Convenor����������������
Iain Parker
Secretary������������������������
Agnes Stewart
Treasurer������������������������
David Grieve�
�����������������������������������������
Jim Bryan
�����������������������������������������
Peter Ingram-Monk
�����������������������������������������
George Reid
�����������������������������������������
Ron Skinner M.B.E
�
It
is with regret that we have to announce that Gordon Shepherd tendered his
resignation from the Management Committee on 27/01/03 on health grounds. Thanks
to him for his efforts on our behalf and best wishes for the future.�
Having
Company status has enabled us to complete a lease on our Office premises in a
modern commercial development on the Springkerse Business Park in Stirling. We
are pleased that it has been possible to find premises in a good location with
good parking and access at an affordable cost.
Contact
Details :-
The
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
�
� Spingkerse Business Park
�
�
Telephone/Fax
01786 446456
Email
[email protected] Website www.sdef.org.uk
�
The
first member of staff appointed was Mrs Dianne Jackson, who started late in
January 2003 as Office Manager. Her early role was to set up the facility and
make it fully operational. This was no easy task and Dianne has done extremely
well to change an empty room into a fully serviced and effective office space.�
In
April 2003, Mr Wynn Merrells joined the staff as Project Manager. An early piece
of work for him will involve looking at transportation arrangements for people
affected by disability in the local area of Stirling and Forth Valley, to see if
there are broader lessons for communities around Scotland.�
Now
that we are on a proper footing, in terms of people and resources, we are
confident we can go on effectively. Our aims remain the same: to serve our
membership, to work effectively with others, to provide information and to
engage constructively with decision takers. We intend to ensure that the
concerns of people affected by disability are heard and acted upon and we are
dedicated to doing so in concert with our members.�
Launch
of Aberdeenshire Disability Advisory Group report by Agnes Stewart�
I
was privileged to represent the Board of Directors at the launch of the
Aberdeenshire Disability Advisory Group at Inverurie on Thursday February 27th
200.
This
project had been made possible because of a successful bid by Kincardine and
Deeside Disability Action Group, for project funding from European Year of
Disabled People.
Having
entered into a partnership with Gordon Disability Action and others around
Aberdeenshire, the aim of the group is to lead a successful campaign to provide
Access for All throughout Aberdeenshire. The project will bring people together
to share experiences and to provide the opportunity to develop and use a range
of skills.
They
are eager to learn about Access and to become involved with Access Panels
nationally.
About
50 people attended. The Steering Group Convenor Mrs Ruth Sim, gave a welcome and
outlined the work of the Steering Group. The Vice Convenor Mrs Yvonne Mc Donald,
brought greetings from interested parties including M.P.�s and M.S.P.�s and
many others who could not attend.
A
very personal perspective of disability was given by Kenny Herriot, an athlete
who became a paraplegic just two years ago. A former fitness trainer, he came to
terms with his situation by looking at new ways to continue his chosen
profession. He has in such a short time established himself as a force to be
reckoned with in Wheelchair Racing, both here and around the world. Please watch
for his name and support a Scottish hero.
A
speaker from Aberdeenshire Council then talked on the proposal to set up three
Access Panels within the County.
Discussions
took place on the proposed Constitution for the Group and this will be ratified
at the next meeting. The Steering Group was appointed as the first committee.
The
new Group was assured of SDEF�s interest and�
we wished them well in their new venture.���
MACS
� Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland�
MACS
was set up in May 2002 to advise the Scottish Executive on the needs of people
with mobility difficulties in relation to transport in Scotland. It has been a
busy first few months. Most of the committee members did not know one another,
they are all unpaid and most have other jobs.�
Committee
members were appointed by Ministers for a period of three years. They were
appointed as individuals rather than as representatives of particular
organisations or groupings of disabled people. The Regulations that set up MACS
stated that at least 50% of the members (including the Convenor) must be
disabled.�
The
work of the Committee so far has, for the most part, been in responding to a
variety of Scottish Executive consultation documents and advice requests. The
other strand of our work has been to build foundations for the work we intend to
do during 2003. We have published our work programme (it can be found on our
website www.macs-mobility.org),
which sets out in detail what we hope to achieve in the next 12 months. �
Briefly,
we have set up seven working groups to take forward our work. They are:��
�
MACS
recognises that Scotland�s transport will not become accessible overnight. We
have a long road ahead of us if we are to achieve our mission:�
����
��
We believe in a Scotland where anyone with a mobility problem, due to some
physical, mental or sensory impairment, can go when and where everyone else can
and have the information and opportunities to do so.� �
The Future of Scottish Access Panels
�A conference was
held Wednesday 26th March 2003 at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling to
consider the best way forward for Scottish Access Panels.� SDEF is pleased to have undertaken the organisation of this
for the Access Panel Steering Group and SCVO. The aim of the conference was for
representatives from around Scotland to discuss recommendations from the Access
Panel Steering Group. More than 30 panel representatives and their carers
attended.�
A presentation was
made by Andrew Jackson of SCVO, highlighting the key considerations for the
Steering Group and the direction of its thinking. Delegates were then invited to
join smaller discussion groups to reflect on four issues, namely: which areas
access panels should focus upon, besides the built environment; what support
they would require; what financial resources would be necessary; and the nature
of an umbrella body. The fourth question invited delegates to vote as to whether
such an umbrella body should be freshly created, or an existing national body,
or consortium. The voting papers were passed to Andrew with a view to informing
the Steering Group�s recommendation.
The feedback session
following highlighted the value of asking people with a practical and active
involvement. There were many positive suggestions on additional services, such
as information provision. The various groups further suggested the types of
professional and practical support, which would be required for panels to
operate efficiently. There was also strong feeling on the necessity for core
activities to be funded structurally and good suggestions on sources of
additional cash.
The afternoon took
the form of a panel session with open questioning and comment from the floor.
There were questions on the role of individuals, the representational structure
of the Steering Group and its potential role regarding funding applications and
direct support to panels.
The day was wound up
by Andrew Jackson who indicated that all contributions would be written into a
report, both for delegates and to guide the recommendations of the Steering
Group. This would of course, include the proposals for an umbrella body.
It was felt that the
day had been an excellent opportunity for people to meet, share views, influence
events and carry forward the Social Inclusion agenda.������
A New and Improved Motability in
Silver Jubilee Year
Motability, the
leading car scheme for disabled people, this week unveils a new look and
improved scheme to make getting mobile easier for Britain�s disabled people.
Currently, around
400,000 people enjoy the benefits of the Motability Scheme, and over the last 25
years, Motability has provided over 1.5millon cars and wheelchairs for disabled
people
Despite the obvious
success, there are still many disabled people who qualify for the Motability
Scheme who could benefit from it. In a move to make the Scheme more accessible
to new and existing customers alike, the charity is unveiling a new and improved
Scheme this week.
Along with a new and
refreshed brand identity there are four key enhancements to the Motability
Scheme, which have been developed to simplify and improve using the Scheme.
Commenting on the
changes, Lord Sterling, the Chairman of Motability says, � It is appropriate
that these most significant enhancements since the Scheme started are announced
in our Silver Jubilee year. They follow an 18-month internal review and take
account of customer feedback, plus the views of leading disability groups.
We shall strive
tirelessly over the next 25 years to go on meeting the needs and aspirations of
our customers.���
The four major
enhancements are as follows:
�����
���������������More
Miles
New contract
hire customers benefit from an increased mileage allowance of 45,000 (previously
36,000) over a 3year lease. This is an additional 3,000 miles a year and will be
especially welcomed by those living in rural areas some distance from medical
and other facilities. There will be additional mileage benefits for existing
customers.
��New
Fair Wear and Tear Policy
Ensures that
customers are not penalised for unavoidable damage caused by wheelchairs or
other mobility aids.
��Opportunity
to Buy
Contract hire
customers may now buy their cars at the end of the 3-year lease (subject to
certain conditions). This is particularly relevant to people with heavily
adapted vehicles.
��Competitive
Hire Purchase Options
Hire Purchase
options to buy a new or used car are now more competitive and come with
increased flexibility.
Further
details from Motability www.motability.co.uk
ACCESS TO POLITICAL WEB SITES
People
with disabilities are being prevented from accessing the web sites of Scotland's
main political parties because these fail to meet basic accessibility
guidelines, a University of Dundee study has recently revealed.
The
research, carried out by the university's Digital Media Access Group and a
commercial law firm, examined the sites of each main political party standing in
this year�s Scottish Parliament elections.
The
findings of the study sug�gest that access to on-line party manifestos was
likely to be in most cases frustratingly ineffi�cient for many disabled users,
including the visually impaired and people with dyslexia.
The
findings revealed that it would take someone unable to use a mouse nearly
The
Scottish Socialist Party's site proved the most accessible.
� Treatment of Patients and Carers
A
SHERIFF has ruled that there were no reasonable precautions whereby the death of
a Dundee man in Ninewells Hospital three years ago could have been avoided, nor
were there any defects in the system that con�tributed to his death.
But
his judgment following a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the death of a
57-year-old man, the Sheriff has recommended that hospitals should review how
they deal with the ad�mission of patients with learning difficulties or mental
illness, adding that doctors and nurses should pay attention to relatives'
concerns.
He
criticised the medical staffs� decision to put the patient, who had learn�ing
difficulties, in a side room, where he was "out of sight and out of
mind.�� He recommended that those
with disabilities should be treated in the same manner as others, in a general
ward.
At
the FAI, the deceased�s sister was criti�cal of the nursing care her brother
received in hospital, but welcomed a number of recommendations that were made by
the sheriff. If only one is carried out then it could save a life, but she was
concerned that there is no obligation on the part of the NHS to accept the
recommendations of the FAI.
If
the sheriff's recommendations are adopted, a group of very vulnerable people,
whose voice is seldom heard, could have equality in health care.
She
said that there were many doctors in�volved in her brother's treatment and she
was certain they would be reflecting on the out�come of the inquiry. She said
most doctors and nurses will take greater care when treating another patient
with learning difficulties.
Her
brother died in hospital after suf�fering from a fall there, the causes of
death being acute tra�cheobronchitis and acute bronchopneu�monia, immobility
due to cervical cord syn�drome and spinal in�jury, acute infection, peripheral
neuropa�thy, depression and malnutrition.
The
Sheriff said that no surgical inter�vention could have re�wired the damage to
his� neck, but he added it was im�possible
to say with certainty that the fall led to his death. It was a very complex, if
not unique, case with many different pathologies. It was a picture which baffled
experienced consultants in different fields. While there may have been some
things which could have been done better and lessons learned, he did not believe
there were many aspects other than some relating to nursing care which merit
particular criticism..
The sheriff�s main findings were that
doctors and nurses should pay close attention to family members and record
notes of what they had to say.
Further, a system should be devised which allowed pa�tients or relatives to
make complaints or observations regarding any aspect of treat�ment in a manner
both trans�parent and easily understood.� He
said that more care should be taken to ensure that everyone who might be
involved in a person's care should be aware of their disability or illness.
He
said that. where there were communication prob�lems, they must be promi�nently
noted, with the person given access to advocacy services.
The
Sheriff said consid�eration should be given to the feasibility of specialist
nurses being available in general hospitals to assist with patients who had
learning disabilities or mental illness. When nutri�tion was an issue, steps
should be taken to involve a dietician.
The
Sheriff also high�lighted the fact that entries in nursing and medical notes
were "quite regularly" made in the wrong place, while there was
something "approaching a culture among doctors of not looking at nursing
notes."� He said that steps
should be taken to eradicate that culture.
The
hospital involved said that there were no reasonable precautions by which the
death may have been avoided and there were no defects in any system of working
which contributed to the patient�s death. They will now take time to consider
the sherriff's recom�mendations in detail and will bring forward an action plan
to address these. A review of the local com�plaints system has been un�dertaken
and a national review is currently under way. The hospital is now im�plementing
the CRAG recom�mendations for nutritional care of patients in hospital and it
is currently devising an action plan to ad�dress the needs of patients with
learning disabilities in line with the Scottish Executive strategic documents,
"The Same as You" and "Promoting Health and Inclusion."
State
Second Pension for Some Carers and Disabled People
Some
carers who are in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance, or are entitled to it but
cannot be paid because they have another overlapping benefit, could be credited
into the new State Second Pension scheme. (Carers who are not eligible for
pension credits - because they have already reached retiral age, for example -
will be excluded).
Eligible
carers will be treated as if they have annual earnings of �10.800 providing
they have no disallowed breaks in caring during any complete tax year. If they
satisfy the conditions, carers will have �1 per week added to their state
retirement pension for each year they have qualified. For example, if a carer
has satisfied the conditions for a 10 year period, an extra � 10 per week will
be added to their state retirement pension. (These credits are over and above
the Class 1 National Insurance credits which are awarded to eligible carers at
the moment). Carers who qualify will have the State Second Pension credits
awarded automatically so there will be no need to make an application.
The
state second pension also applies to some people who are ill or disabled and
claiming benefits such as Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance. As
with carers, these credits will be added automatically to those who qualify and
so there is no need to make an application.
The
above information was taken from the `Department for Work and Pensions' leaflets
PM2 and PM9. Copies of the leaflets are available by writing to: Pension Guide,
Freepost, Bristol BS38 7WA, by telephoning 0845 7 31 32 33 (charged at local
rates), textphone 0845 604 0210, or from the website: www.pensionguide.gov.uk
� 'Get
Wheelchair Wise'
The
`Get Wheelchair Wise' pamphlet, produced by the British Healthcare Trades
Association, gives useful information about travelling on public transport with
your wheelchair. It details the different types of transport and the various
adaptations they can have. As well as advising on the best ways to get on and
off public transport, it also gives guidance on things you should consider
before travelling to make your journey easier and more pleasant.
The
leaflet includes other contact addresses which you may find useful. Single
copies of the leaflet are free; further copies can be ordered at a cost off 11
per 100.
If
you would like a copy, contact:
British
Healthcare Trades Association, 1 Webbs Court, Buckhurst Avenue, Sevenoaks, Kent,
TN13 1LZ, Telephone: 01732 458 868; Fax: 01732
459 225; email: [email protected] or on website: www.bhta.com
��
BUYING A SCOOTER� ?
�`Get Wise' also has a booklet entitled
`Highway Code for Electric Scooter and Wheelchair Users' which gives a variety
of very useful tips on what to consider before buying your vehicle and how to
use it safely after you have bought it. (Single copies of this booklet are free;
further copies can be ordered at a cost of �30 per 100.
Contact: British Healthcare Trades
Association, 1 Webbs Court, Buckhurst Avenue, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1LZ, Telephone:
01732 458 868; Fax: 01732 459 225; email:
[email protected]
or on website: www.bhta.com
Car Travel and Wheelchairs
Ricability
(research and information for consumers with disabilities) have produced 4
booklets which give advice on travelling by car with your wheelchair:
�
All
of the above guides are free (but there is a charge for postage) and give
details of where you can get further information, help and advice,
Contact: 'Ricability', 30 Angel Gate, City Road, London EC1V 2PT,
Tel:�
020 7427 2460�
`Stay In Touch'�
Ricability
has a consumer guide to help older or disabled people choose a telephone to suit
their needs. The above guide is based on research and includes information on a
mixture of fixed, cordless and mobile phones and telephone services .�
The
free, 28 page guide is available from:
Ricability,
30 Angel Gate, City Road, London EC1V 2PT, Tel:�
020 7427 2460, Minicom:� 020
7427 2469, Fax: 020 7427 2468, e-mail:
mail @ ricability.org.uk
Please enclose an A4, self addressed envelope, with a 44p stamp. This guide is available in large print, braille and on tape, if required. CENSUS
2001 REVEALS DISABILITIES�
The recent publication of the extracts
for Scotland from the 2001 Census reveal that out of the population for Scotland
of 5,062,011 there are 1,028,094 people with a limiting long-term illness �
that�s about 1 in 5 of the population.� Surprisingly
787,143 are people of working age.
Of the 1,028,094 the number that
consider the state their General Health to be :-
The Census for Scotland also reveals
that there are 481,579 people who provide unpaid care. Of these people
This means that nearly half a million
carers are providing a free Health Service and if this were costed would about
to over �4 billion pounds �the equivalent that the Scottish Parliament spends
on the Health Service.
�
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
MOBILITY ROADSHOW AT INGLISTON,
EDINBURGH on FRIDAY 9TH and SATURDAY 10TH JULY 2004.
�
The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 These
Regulations implement Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 25th May 1999 on certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and
associated guarantees, referred to below as "the Directive" (OJ No. L
171, 7.7.99, p. 12). Regulation
9 introduces a new Part 1B into the 1982 Act in order to give effect to the new
rights for consumers set out in Article 3 of the Directive. Where goods fail to
conform to the contract of sale at the time of delivery, then under Part 1B the
transferee firstly has the right to require the transferor to repair or replace
the goods within a reasonable time and without causing significant inconvenience
to the transferee. If repair or replacement is impossible or disproportionate,
or if the transferor fails to repair or replace the goods within a reasonable
time and without significant inconvenience to the transferee, then the
transferee may require the transferor to reduce the purchase price of the goods
by an appropriate amount, or rescind the contract.
�
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� Scottish Disability Equality Forum Working together for the disability movement SDEF is a recognised Scottish charity no. SC031893 end of page |