The number of people with venous and/or lymphatic disorders who require long-term management of their condition with compression garments in a community setting is growing. Here, Professor Jackie Stephen-Haynes, professor and consultant nurse in Tissue Viability, Birmingham City University and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, outlines the problems that some patients and clinicians encounter as a result of delayed and/or inaccurate dispensing of garments, and asks if this is a problem that affects you in your practice.
Financial fraud, or scamming, is a growing problem (Financial Fraud Action UK, 2014), specifically for those who may be more at risk due to vulnerabilities, such as loneliness and mental capacity. The internet is increasing opportunities for scammers to reach a broader pool of potential victims. It is an area of growing concern for professionals involved in supporting and safeguarding vulnerable people. An estimated £5–10 billion is lost to scams annually (National Trading Standards Scams Team, 2015), and this has serious implications for victims, their families, and the wider UK economy through lost commerce and consumer confidence. A cycle of crime is created by criminal networks using proceeds from scams to fund further exploitation.
Over 51,000 carers in England are men over the age of 85 — a number which has more than doubled in the last decade (Carers UK and Age UK, 2015). The older male carer story project collaborated with a group of 11 older male carers (all over the age of 85 and living in Dorset) to learn from their experiences.
