Claire Bohr, a paediatric nurse from the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, is the winner of the continence category at the Nursing Times Awards 2008.

Ms Claire Bohr introduced a bowel management programme using transanal irrigation for children experiencing faecal incontinence and soiling problems.

During her time working with the children, she found that some of the children experienced social isolation, lack of self-esteem and name calling at school due to their condition.

As a result the nurse came up with a solution that could help, she identified that transanal irrigation was used in Europe and US but not in the UK, as no specifically designed equipment was available.

Working with her medical colleagues, Claire implemented a programme using anal irrigation with very positive results for the children in her care.

Judges were impressed by Ms Bohr’s ability to look beyond the scope of her role as a stoma nurse and work with medical colleagues and industry to find solutions for her patients.

A Norwich carer has taken her fight to Westminster in an attempt to get a better deal for carers.

Mrs Maxwell took stories and comments of members of the Chill4Us carers’ website to the shadow minister Stephen O’Brien to read, about the real issues faced by carers every day.

Mrs Maxwell said: ‘We were impressed with Mr O’Brien’s ideas and he kindly gave us over an hour of his time to listen to some of the stories about the circumstances carers face daily.’

‘Our members had also posted their stories and comments on the site and he was genuinely pleased to be given a copy of these and said he would take the time to read them.’

During the meeting, Mr O’Brien set out his plans to help carers. This includes making planned and emergency respite provision a priority and promoting flexible working options for carers.

They would also like to see carers assessed at the same time as the cared-for so their needs are also taken into consideration, for example with regard to fuel poverty.

Another change Mr O’Brien proposed was for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consider the effects on carers when reviewing the cost-effectiveness of treatments or new drugs and whether these should be available for free on the NHS.

He also wants to ensure doctors spend time in care homes as part of their training and create an NHS board and health watch group to manager and monitor services.

Cambridgeshire County Council is attempting to encourage more families to foster children as part of National Adoption Week.

The number of looked-after children in Cambridgeshire has continued to rise to over 400, but the current number of foster carers in the county is unable to meet this high demand.

This week, the Fostering Service at the council wants to encourage more adopted children and their families to join support groups across Cambridgeshire.

The service is also particularly looking for foster carers who could offer placements to teenage girls and sibling groups on a permanent basis to be either permanently fostered or adopted.

Cllr Martin Curtis, council cabinet member for children said: ‘We need foster families for Cambridgeshire’s children who cannot live with their birth families.’

‘Every child is special and needs to grow up in a loving, secure family. But many have had a very difficult or chaotic start in life, and now need stability.’

Carers will be recognised by the West Midlands Care Association (WMCA), as part of a new award being launched by a Halesowen-based association.

They will present five trophies as part of the new Central England Care Awards at the Care Show at the Birmingham NEC, on Thursday 6th November.  

Trophies include carer of the year, manager of the year and best small care home.

WMCA’s chief executive officer said: ‘There are hundreds of remarkable carers and care providers in central England whose lives and passions revolve around the care of the individuals they look after.’

‘We have been looking for a way to recognise this professionalism, dedication and skill, so were delighted when the Care Show gave us the opportunity to present the awards.’

The Carers Association said today that any cuts in the carers allowance in the forthcoming Budget would be a false economy.

The National Carers Strategy, in which Carers were supposed to be getting extra financial help, is now 10 months overdue.

Ireland’s family carers are the biggest contributors to Ireland’s social economy, saving the state over €2.5 billion each year by contributing three million hours of work per week, according to the Carers Association chief executive Enda Egan.

He warned that if carers are not adequately supported in the upcoming Budget they will be forced to give-up their caring work.

‘There is no question but the most cost-effective option for the State is to support the work of family carers in the home as opposed to the state providing full-time institutional care.’

‘Therefore, it makes financial sense for Government to implement our key recommendations in budget 2009. This will allow Government adhere to its own policy of caring for people in the home for as long as possible.’

Actor Tony Robinson visited Maulden last week to help celebrate the role of carers in the Bedfordshire community. 

The Blackadder star is the voice fof Bedfordshire County Council’s new carers helpline, and was the guest speaker at a special event organised by the council with the charity Carers in Bedfordshire.

Speaking from personal experience of placing his mother in residential care Mr Robinson had this to say:

‘Carers are the unsung heroes and heroines of contemporary society, but the contribution they make is far too often ignored. Let’s work together and demand the changes we need in order to make their lives better.’

’Whether you are a carer, think you might be, or know someone who is, now is the time to celebrate caring and get information that will help you and those around you.’

Cabinet member for community services, Coun Peter Hollick added: ‘There is now extra support for carers through the Government’s national strategy which offers better health and social care, employment, education and information.’

Tory leader David Cameron says Carers are ‘unsung heroes’.

Responding to the ongoing We Care campaign, Mr Cameron paid tribute to ‘the fantastic job’ done by those in the unrewarded role.

Their tireless efforts saved the British economy £50bn a year, making them ‘some of the most valuable people’.

There are an estimated 6m carers in the UK, many of whom get no financial help.

Growth in the number of elderly and disabled people with care and support needs is expected to put huge pressure on services and the benefits system.

Speaking to the Echo at the Conservative Party conference, David Cameron said carers are: ‘unsung heroes.’

‘If carers gave up caring in the British economy it would cost us £50bn a year, so they are some of the most valuable people. They do a fantastic job and at pretty great risk to their own personal health.’

The Tory leader, whose young son cerebral palsy requiring round-the-clock care, said: ‘I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as a carer, I’m lucky I can get extra help.’

‘Ask many carers what they need most of all and many, many of them will say I just need a break from time to time, and I think we need to prioritise that.’

Earlier in the year, plans were unveiled by the Government to double the amount of respite care for people who look after relatives as part of a 10-year plan to improve the lives of carers.

But charities were disappointed that improvements to carers’ benefits in the UK have not yet been finalised.

At the Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) annual meeting, board members were asked to confirm whether the PCT’s slice of Government money would be used for respite care as intended.

Carer, Andrew Bailey, criticised the PCT for addressing issues with patients in its presentations but not their loved ones who often look after them full-time.

Chief executive of the PCT, John Parkes said: ‘It’s fair to say that, not deliberately, we have not valued to the fullest extent the work done by carers.’

But he added: ‘If we do get an allocation from the Government, and it’s for respite care, then you have my absolute commitment that we will spend that money appropriately.’

The issue of help for carers is an important one because about one in 10 adults in the UK is a carer.

It is also thought that carers save the Government up to £87 billion a year, that would otherwise have to be spent via the NHS and social services.

The PCT’s chairman, Professor William Pope, said that the trust now has problems like its inherited deficit and hospital superbugs under control and the board could look to the future.

He said: ‘We believe we are now in a position where we can start to deliver what the population of Northamptonshire really needs.’

National Continence Awareness Week is running this year from 15th to 19th September 2008.

This year the theme is ‘Dispelling the Myths’ and a new booklet with the same name has been produced to support this work.

The week will also see the official launch of the new charity, Bladder and Bowel Foundation which will replace both Incontact and the Continence Foundation.

Millions of people are affected by bladder and bowel problems and for most, the embarrassment and stigma that comes with the condition, stops them from even talking about it, let alone asking for help.

The Bladder and Bowel Foundation realise the importance of getting these subjects out in the open and let people know there is something that can be done to help them. National Continence Awareness Week was created to achieve this.

Whether it is a simple display of information in clinics and waiting rooms or an exhibition or conference on a larger scale, the important point is that we can all do something.

The support of volunteers to help get the message across to as wide an audience as possible is so important. Because it ensures patients, carers and healthcare professionals know there is help and support available and where they can get it from.

Allanda does its best to support those with incontinence by providing quality incontinence products to suit every lifestyle.

An article written by the Daily Echo has revealed that over a 1,000 elderly and disabled residents in Southampton, face the loss of their personal home carers’ in a bid to cut costs.

The council wants to take away the choice of care from elderly residents and those with disabilities, by allocating them to 1 of 5 companies depending on where they live.

Council figures obtained by Daily Echo reveal as many as 1,200 residents will face the unpleasant situation of unfamiliar new carers coming into their lives.

Brian Gouldson, who has Parkinson’s disease, receives daily home care along with his wife and mother.

He said: ‘Some people have had the same carers for years. It’s a very personal issue: cleaning, showering and undressing.’

‘You don’t want just anyone doing it. You build up a rapport and need to feel comfortable with your carer.’

A part-time carer said her colleagues were concerned at being offered less hours of work and said none had been approached about transferring jobs.

The new set up will separate the city in to into seven zones meaning carers who had rounds that took them across the city, would be unable to keep all their clients even if they transfer jobs.

The council said it was ‘unable’ to say how much money it would save from the new contracts.