Health

Disabled woman to take DWP to court over ‘immoral’ automatic benefit deductions

A disabled woman is to challenge the Department for Work and Pensions in court over what she calls its “immoral” policy of allowing landlords and utilities companies to automatically make deductions from monthly benefits payments without the claimant’s consent.

Helen Timson, 50, of Leicester said the third party deductions scheme, which allows up to 25% of people’s monthly means-tested benefits to be diverted at source to pay off arrears, was unlawful and could leave many people without enough money to buy food and pay rent.

At least 200,000 UK households face deductions from their benefits as a result of water, gas and electricity firms arranging with the DWP to have customers’ arrears paid automatically – and there are fears that rising energy prices will lead to more families becoming subjected to the scheme.

Under current practice, the DWP does not seek consent from the claimant for these deductions if they amount to less than a threshold of 25%. Nor does it conduct means tests, or attempt to agree realistic payment plans with creditors.

Timson said she had twice had deductions made without her agreement. These happened once when her water supplier had tried to charge her £2,200 because of a faulty meter; and again when an energy firm deducted £80 a month, even though she was not a customer and had no arrears.

As a result of the deductions she was pushed into near destitution and unable to pay her rent. On one occasion she had to cancel an appointment for an NHS cancer scan because she did not have enough money to pay for a taxi.

“Paying arrears should not leave benefits claimants destitute and unable to pay for basic necessities,” said Timson, who is currently in receipt of disability unemployment benefits. “There must be a viable way for third parties to arrange a realistic repayment schedule with the debtor’s consent, rather than allowing utilities firms and landlords to help themselves to a quarter of people’s benefits – including for errors where no money is owed.

She said: “It is immoral and indefensible that utilities firms plunge people even further into poverty, leaving them without enough money for rent or food, while earning interest on money paid to them in error.”

The case is expected to be heard in the next few months.

A DWP spokesperson said: “Safeguards are in place to ensure deductions are manageable for customers and they are encouraged to contact DWP if they believe a deduction from their benefit should not be made.”

Health

Kwara approves 100% consolidated health salary structure for nurses

The Kwara State government has approved and implemented a 100% Consolidated Health Salary Structure, (CONHESS) for nurses in the state.

Also, the state government has recruited about 63 nurses to fill the vacuum created by the brain drain in the country to improve the quality and standard of nursing care in line with the global best practices.

The Chairman and Secretary of the Kwara State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Aminu Shehu and Markus Luka respectively, disclosed this in a statement in Ilorin made available to journalists.

The association appreciated the Executive Secretary of the state Hospital Management Bureau for playing a vital role in the struggle towards ensuring that its demands were met by the government.

The body also commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for the approval and implementation of the 100% CONHESS and the recruitment of more nurses to boost healthcare delivery in the state.

Health

More than 400 consultant anesthetists left Nigeria in 2yrs – Society

More than 400 consultant anesthetists left the shores of Nigeria for greener pastures in the last two years, President of the Nigerian Society of Anesthetists, Dr Olubusola Alagbe-Briggs said in Gombe on Wednesday.

Alagbe-Briggs told newsmen on the side-line of the society’s 31st annual scientific conference that the immigrant anesthetists left Nigeria in search of better practice environment.

She said anesthetists were the most sought-after specialists in foreign lands because of the peculiarity of their services.

“There is a global shortage of anesthetists because of the nature of the job which is intensive, acute and focused.

“We had about 1,200 members in the past, but today we have only 800 members.

“Those countries that are short of anesthetists are pulling those here in Nigeria to their countries.

“Nigerian professionals are the best. They are highly sought-after by other countries.

“Medical practitioners and other professionals will continue to emigrate until their welfare and available equipment are improved upon,’’ she said.

Alagbe-Briggs stressed that availability appropriate equipment and improved welfare were essential to improve medical practice and services.

She said the conference itself sought to ensure continuous enhancement of the knowledge of the society’s members to help to improve their services.

“We are looking at how we can help to improve on cancer care; we are involved in the operational stage, pain relief, emergency care and intensive care.

“We are in Gombe to brainstorm on how to improve our specialty in line with the theme of the conference, learn from one another and share research outcomes,’’ Alagbe-Briggs said.

The conference has: “Anesthesia and the pre-operative care of patients with cancers’’ as its theme.

Health

WHO Demands Fresh Data from China amid Outbreak of Pneumonia in Children

The World Health Organization (WHO) is requesting more data from China amid an outbreak of pneumonia in children.

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, said the agency was ‘following up with China’ as hospitals across the country continue to be overwhelmed.

Face masks and social distancing are again being recommended in the country.

The country is said to be grappling with a spike in pneumonia, dubbed ‘white lung syndrome’ because of the way lung damage shows up on scans, among children that has been attributed to a rebound in respiratory illnesses rather than an entirely new virus.

China had one of the most brutal and longest lockdowns of any country in the world which the WHO says robbed children of vital immunity against seasonal illnesses.

Dr Van Kerkhove told the conference today: ‘Yes, we are seeing an increase in respiratory infections around the world.

‘We’re in autumn and entering winter months, so we are expecting to see rises in respiratory infections regardless.

We are following up with China. They are seeing an increase due a number of different infections

We are following up with our clinical network and following up with clinicians in China.

‘In terms of acute respiratory infections, we are looking at the burden on healthcare systems and looking at the healthcare capacities of systems.’

It comes after Chinese Health Ministry spokesman Mi Feng urged people in the country to again consider wearing face masks and distancing.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, he said: ‘Efforts should be made to increase the opening of relevant clinics and treatment areas, extend service hours and increase the supply of medicines.

‘It is necessary to do a good job in epidemic prevention and control in key crowded places.

‘[This includes] in schools, childcare institutions and nursing homes, and to reduce the flow of people and visits.’