News Update
EquIP Cymru have designed a
standard letter which you can send out to your patients to see
whether they have any specific access needs when visiting the
surgery. Please use the link below to download the letter.
Access
letter for patients
EquIP Cymru Leaflets are available to download and
print. Please feel free to download and forward onto your
colleagues.
EquIP Cymru lealfet
outside
EquIP Cymru leaflet
inside
10 Top Tips for improving access to GP Practices for
disabled patients
Please click here to log onto the 10 top tips
page
Equality and Human Rights Commission
On 1 October 2007 the three equality commissions merged into the
new Equality and Human Rights Commission:
Commission for Racial Equality
(CRE)
Disability Rights Commission
(DRC)
Equal Opportunities Commission
(EOC)
Please click here to log onto
the website
View New Fair
For All – Disability Website
Fair For All – Disability has a new website
which provides accurate, up to date information offering an outline
of the work of FFA – Disability, information on key activities,
publications and events.
To view the fresh looking, fully accessible
website log onto: http://www.fairforalldisability.org/
Welfare Reform
Bill
Following a concerted Parliamentary lobbying
campaign a Government
announcement yesterday means that disabled people receiving
incapacity benefits can earn more and also advise public bodies on
improving their services without fearing that they will loose their
benefit income.
Incapacity Benefits
The Government announced a change in the rules governing the new
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) that will replace Incapacity
Benefit and Income Support paid on the grounds of incapacity or
disability. Currently people receiving Incapacity Benefit can earn
up to £86 a week and it does not affect their benefit. However
people receiving Income Support can only earn £5, £10 or £20
(dependent on their circumstances) before their benefit is reduced
pound for pound. From Oct 2008 when the ESA is introduced, everyone
receiving it on the grounds of incapacity will be able to earn up
to £86.
Service User Involvement
The Government has also revised the rules which mean that a person
receiving incapacity related benefits now, and the ESA from October
2008, will be more able to be involved in advising public bodies on
issues such as improving service quality without fearing that their
benefit could be reduced or removed altogether. Current benefit
rules actively prevent people receiving incapacity benefits from
giving advice. Yet such involvement has been a statutory
requirement for many health and social care public bodies since
2001 and is essential for Disability Equality Schemes.