This survey by the Social Exclusion Unit was designed to assess how the innovative use of Information and Communication Technologies can be used to promote equality of opportunity and improve service delivery and outcomes for society’s most disadvantaged groups as well as those who live in deprived areas. It found that the majority of respondents (77%) agreed that current trends in ICT are likely to widen the digital divide and increase levels of inequality faced by socially excluded groups. Despite this view, one in five respondents felt that there are currently initiatives in place that aim to address the digital divide through, for example, providing socially excluded groups with ICT training.The main factors for the digital divide are the costs of ICT equipment, lack of access to ICT, lack of training in the use of technology and market issues such as the tendency for ICT developers to focus more on more profitable mainstream markets than disadvantaged groups.
There is a call today for a national debate on how to share the costs of long-term care between the state and private individuals to meet the growing needs of an aging population. It comes in a discussion paper commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which also says that the present system of paying for care is unfair and incoherent.The paper, written by JRF Special Adviser Donald Hirsch, says the number of over-80s is set to double in the next 30 years and people of all ages need reassurance that they will be able to get good quality care when they need it and will not have to impoverish themselves in the process.
Read more on PAPER SETS OUT NEED FOR NATIONAL DEBATE ON LONG TERM CARE COSTS…
An extensive consultation exercise has begun to give people across England a chance to let the Government know what they want from health and community services in the future. It is the first exercise of its kind and will involve a series of public events as well as an online questionnaire.”Your Health, Your Care, Your Say” began with a public meeting in Gateshead. Similar meetings will take place in Leicester, London and Plymouth and local events will be run across the country by councils, the NHS and voluntary organisations. The 8-week consultation will culminate in a Citizens’ Day in Birmingham at the end of October.