Panorama's week that was - April 6 - April 12
It's been a busy week for the Panorama e-mail inbox which was inundated with hundreds of messages after last week's programme on homecare for the elderly. Britain's Homecare Scandal: A Panorama Special received a heated reaction from people who depend on homecare either as service users themselves, or as relatives with parents or grandparents who they entrust with their care.
We also heard from professionals working in the industry. Some were concerned that their hard work would be tarnished by the bad reputation of others and were keen to point out that they took pride in the work they did. Others confirmed what our found - carers desperate to care but unable to do their job thanks to time pressures and a lack of training.
The debate from the Panorama inbox is reflected on the , but is also being held in the blogosphere. is a blog run by a social worker who, like the many people who contacted us directly after the programme, was not surprised by what Panorama uncovered, having seen similar situations first hand. In particular, the drive to cut costs at the risk of jeopardising quality of care is strongly questioned, a feeling shared by many.
It is a programme that has hit a nerve. If you, or someone you know, has been affected by some of the issues raised there are organisations that can help. A list of agencies you can contact in confidence can be found on the .
A very different rallying point has been the demise of Woolworths, which closed its doors in January after 99 years of trading on the UK high street. Panorama kept in touch with five of the company's former employees and filmed them as they faced the uncertainty of unemployment for Life After Woolies.
Paul Seaton was among the 27,000 employees to lose their jobs and has since set up a website to help his former colleagues back into work. has helped as many as .
But Paul's love of Woolies does not end there. His front room is a near museum to all things Woolworths as Panorama found when we went to meet him:
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Comment number 1.
At 16th Apr 2009, WolfiePeters wrote:Most of us are guilty of a huge amount of hypocrisy concerning care for our elderly. It is something that we do not want to know about, though most of us will one day need it. However, it is atrocious to hear of the actions of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in striking off Margaret Haywood for her undercover filming. Surely, the highest priority in nursing is to care and that comes way beyond any dubious confidentiality.
Are the Nursing and Midwifery Council hypocrites or what? Bad care for any patients, elderly or sick, eventually results in unnecessary deaths. Would they conceal murderers to protect confidentiality?
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Comment number 2.
At 28th Apr 2009, Lisbreen wrote:After watching the programme and now this ridiculous decision from the Nursing & Midwifery Council, is anyone now surprised about the calls for voluntary euthanasia? Adequate care & pain relief? Not from what I saw, anyone would worry about the response to one caring nurse who actually had skill and compassion. Hospitals are now increasingly appearing sinister places for the elderly. This is wrong and it is time this issue was addressed as it is not confined to one hospital. Are the Nursing & Midwifery Council actually saying that it doesn't matter what happens as long as the public don't get to hear about it!
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