National Pensioners Convention
NPC Bulletins
Campaigners Accuse Think-Tank Of
“Pensioner Bashing”
Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, The
National Pensioners Convention
(NPC) has accused the Social Market Foundation of “pensioner
bashing”
following the think-tank’s latest call for free bus travel to be
scrapped
and the winter fuel allowance and free TV licences to be
means-tested.
Dot Gibson, NPC general secretary said: “Once again pensioners are
being
told they must pay for the mistakes of the financial sector, by
losing their
free bus pass or winter fuel allowance. The Social Market
Foundation is
completely wrong to claim that free bus travel doesn’t contribute
anything
to the economy – when it enables older people to get out and about
and spend
money in their local area, as well as allowing them to do unpaid
voluntary
work that adds an estimated £40bn to our communities every year.
Taking the
bus pass away would inevitably lead to greater levels of social
isolation
that would end up costing more in terms of increased demand for
care and
support. The deputy Prime Minister has tried to suggest that
millionaires
should no longer receive a bus pass – but the truth is no-one can
find any
millionaires using a bus pass. This is just a smoke screen to take
away the
benefit from everyone – including the very poorest in our society.
In effect
it amounts to little more than “pensioner bashing” – trying to
blame today’s
older generation for the economic crisis they didn’t cause. Any
political
party that seeks to take away the bus pass will have one hell of a
fight on
its hands.”
New Code Established to Safeguard Older
People’s Dignity In Care
Britain’s biggest pensioner
organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) today
(Wednesday February 22) launches a high profile Dignity Code which
sets out minimum standards for the dignified treatment of older
people, whether in hospital or the community. The Code has been
widely supported by both those in the care sector and across the
political spectrum. Signatories include care minister Paul Burstow
and his opposite number Liz Kendall, along with Dame Jo Williams of
the Care Quality Commission, Dr Peter Carter of the RCN and Lord
Stewart Sutherland, chair of the Royal Commission on long-term
care.
The NPC is also calling on
the public to support the initiative by signing an online petition.
Campaigners hope to attract over 100,000 signatures to trigger a
debate in the House of Commons on the need to improve the care of
Britain’s elderly. The petition can be signed at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/27050.
Dot Gibson, NPC general
secretary said: “Every week we are struck by another headline which
reveals the neglect and ill treatment of older people either in
their own home, a care home or hospital. This has got to stop. Much
of what the Dignity Code calls for is to treat individuals as human
beings, rather than as second-class citizens who can have their
wishes and feelings ignored and overlooked. Providing someone with
personal dignity must be a basic requirement in any care setting –
and there must be no excuse for denying someone their right to be
treated with respect. The Code should be seen in every GP surgery,
social services department, hospital ward and nursing home.
Individuals and their families should have confidence that certain
practices will be unacceptable and that they can demand better
treatment. This is the first step on the long road to getting 21st
century care for Britain’s older patients.”
NPC Discussions
UK Advisory Forum on Ageing - NPC
Briefing Paper 8
This
briefing is the eighth in a series (previously entitled
Empowering Engagement). These briefings deal with the workings of
the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing, as well as looking on
occasions at issues arising from the 12 regional forums around the
country. The UK Advisory Forum had its fourth meeting under the new
Coalition government on 11 May 2011. The NPC’s representative was
Dot Gibson, General Secretary. This paper details some of the
issues arising from that meeting.
NPC Pensioner Facts & Figures
GMB in partnership with the NPC and TUC, have a great deal of
work to do to bring about significant changes to the
appalling statistics in the NPC Facts and
Figures briefing.
A Vision for Adult Social Care
On the 16th November 2010, the Coalition government unveiled a
series of documents relating to social care.The NPC has joined with
the charity Action on Elder Abuse and GMB to mount a joint campaign
to address the issues of concern which are outlined in the
briefing paper.
NPC Pensions and Income Working Party
The report from
the NPC working party on pensions and income will be presented to
the NPC Biennial delegate’s conference in Southport on the 22nd an
23rd March. We are sure it will be the centre of some lively
debate.