Your monthly round up of all the important disability news stories

Here we are once again bringing you a quick look at the month’s most important news stories affecting the healthcare and disability world. We aim to keep you up to date with what’s going on. So, here’s what’s been happening.

 

Sport England launch Get Yourself Active

This new project supported by Sport England aims to improve access to sport and physical activity. To do so they’re asking us to tell them what is our PB? Now PB can mean different things to different people. It could be personal best or even personal budget. Whatever it means to you, get yourself to the Get Yourself Active Website and find out more about the project.

 

Prescription charge rises to hit patients

The Prescription Charges Coalition (PCC), a group of 40 charities that represent those with long term health conditions living on prescriptions, have condemned the latest rise in charges from £8.05 to £8.20 from 1 April. It may not seem like a lot but spread out across the year it all adds up. The PCC has found that one in three people with a long term condition such as asthma or Crohn’s disease do not pick up prescriptions because of cost. The further increase in charges is likely to make the situation worse.

 

Campaigners call for government to ‘cease firing’ on welfare reform

A cross party group, consisting of Plaid Cymru, The Green Party and the Scottish National Party have backed a campaign for the government to have an emergency ‘ceasefire’ on parts of the their Fitness for Work regime. The campaigners say it is unfair to continue to threaten sick and disabled people, and that there should be adequate time and space for a debate before making any further reforms.

 

Access to work for disabled people

Disability Rights UK is calling on all members to demand an extension of the Access to Work programme. They’re calling on the government to double the numbers using the programme in the next three years. Lots of disabled people are keen to get into the workforce and yet find it very difficult. Legislation has provided for disabled workers in all environments, including access and safety provisions (including fire procedures and evac chairs). But many still feel the doors to employment are closed to them. With 3.3 million disabled people of working age, there is huge potential here to be tapped into.