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Masterworks I
Tickets: $10, $15, $20
SAT SEP 22, 2018, 7:30pm | Kirkland Fine Arts Center
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
MICHAEL DAVIDMAN, piano
Michael Davidman appearance is generously underwritten by The David and Norma Fathauer Symphonic Music Fund, and by special arrangement with Curtis on Tour, the Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music.
Respighi: Pines of Rome
The MDSO will sweep audiences off their feet on the musical winds of Respighi's Pines of Rome, and astonish them with vivid rhapsodies by Rachmaninov and Gershwin. Featured piano virtuoso Michael Davidman will perform the iconic "Rhapsody in Blue." Davidman has extended his residence to perform a solo piano recital at Kirkland Fine Arts Center on Thursday, September 20, at 2pm, to showcase the new Steinway grand piano generously donated by David and Norma Fathauer.
Tickets will be available for purchase through the Kirkland Ticket Office beginning September 10th.


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I'm having fibroid surgery on Friday. It's been a year-and-a-half coming, and I've had it scheduled for 6 months, but I've taken every day of those months to ignore it, and now it's the week of.
Y'all, I'm internally freaking out. The one and only time I've ever been under anesthesia, I was in elementary school. I'm a horrible patient. I freak out, I cry, I get super stressed out. As much as I want this surgery, I am terrified.
Any advice from those who have had any types of surgery?

subset: commoncrawl


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One of the most immediate benefits of microfinance is that it helps clients increase their income. But Dia Vikas' microfinance partners also provide many additional benefits to clients to ensure a more holistic impact.
One example is Dia Vikas' partner Adhikar, who identified the importance of clean drinking water and its impact on health.
Adhikar hopes to address the health problems arising due to unavailability of clean drinking water in the most marginalized communities. Our pilot project in Haathbaredi village, Khordha district of Odisha can provide Reverse Osmosis (RO) treated water to about 1000 families.
Despite the obvious advantages of consuming affordable treated water, like reduction in waterborne diseases, and time saved in collecting water, Adhikar faced a lot of challenges in getting the community to buy treated water. Following intensive training and awareness sessions, people have slowly begun to buy treated water.
Adhikar has been encouraging the villagers to not just buy treated water but also store them in clean vessels. For this they have promoted 20 litre water jars as villagers come to buy water. The jars are washed regularly at the plant.
The water plant has brought smiles to the faces of the villagers in Haathbaredi as they have clean and affordable drinking water!


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Road Wild 1997 was a WCW pay-per-view took place on August 9, 1997 from the Sturgis Rally And Race in Sturgis, South Dakota.
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) defeated Vicious and Delicious(Buff Bagwell & Scott Norton) (w/ Vincent) (10:20)
- Konnan defeated Rey Misterio Jr. in a Mexican Death Match (10:20)
- Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael defeat Dean Malenko & Jeff Jarrett (w/ Queen Debra) in an Elimination Tag Team Match (9:36)
- Steve McMichael eliminated Jeff Jarrett (7:11)
- Steve McMichael eliminated Dean Malenko (9:36)
- Alex Wright (c) defeated Chris Jericho to retain the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship (13:03)
- Ric Flair defeated Syxx (11:06)
- Curt Hennig defeated Diamond Dallas Page (w/ Kimberly) (9:41)
- The Giant defeated Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) (6:05)
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner) (w/ Ted DiBiase) defeated The Outsiders (Kevin Nash & Scott Hall) (c) by DQ in a WCW World Tag Team Championship Match (15:29)
- Hollywood Hogan defeated Lex Luger (c) to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship (16:15)
External links
|Hog Wild
|Road Wild
|1997 • 1998 • 1999
|1997 World Championship Wrestling pay-per-views
|Souled Out • SuperBrawl VII • Uncensored • Spring Stampede • Slamboree • The Great American Bash • Bash at the Beach • Road Wild • Fall Brawl • Halloween Havoc • World War 3 • Starrcade
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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The question of who will win the 2012 World Darts Championship could well be a very open, with a long list of answers. Really, though, it comes down to just two – either Phil Taylor is playing well, or he isn't.
At times, the 15-time World Champion and winner of various other events has been off the boil and losing a little too easily. Even when he was making the finals of events, he couldn't quite close things out, particularly on multiple occasions in the Players Championship events throughout the second half of the year. But after winning the Cash Converters Players Championship Finals a fortnight ago in such style, it's hard to argue against someone with such form.
Having won that, the Premier League title and the World Matchplay, he has had as good a year as anyone when it comes down to it and I feel he'll be ready to swat aside any of the strong challengers on the Tour this year. Take his semi-final clash with Simon Whitlock of Australia, for instance. Such a strong competitor, but an 11-2 loss to Taylor just goes to show how ready he is. Winning seven straight legs in a row in the final was the final cherry on a very big cake.
Someone who will be hoping Taylor brings his 2011 WC form, where he went out in the second round, is double world champion Adrian Lewis. There are plenty out there who think he shouldn't have won in 2011, barely scraping past the first round and getting lucky again in the semi-final against James Wade. It's been an up an down year for him and an angry Players Championship was followed by the birth of his child, but there won't be many who think he can jump into the record books with an unprecedented third trophy in a row.
Who else, then, can claim the trophy if Taylor doesn't bring his 'A' game to "Ally Pally"? Unfortunately for us, most of the opposition is from overseas in a sport that's renowned for being Britain-centric. The man that people may fear the most after the year he's had is Dutchman Michael van Gerwen. "Mighty Mike", the youngest player to ever win a televised tournament, has being reaching the final stages of a whole host of events in 2012 and this could be the major event he needs to start becoming one of the sport's greats. Simon Whitlock, Australia's best player, is also a strong adversary, although he will be hoping his semi-final loss to Taylor isn't still playing on his mind. Don't count old dog Raymond van Barneveld, victor in the Grand Slam of Darts, or Kim Huybrechts, who more than matched Taylor for a period.
There's little in the way of home threat, although Andy Hamilton was just one leg away from thumping (metaphorically, of course) Taylor in the Players Championship. Gary Anderson, Wes Newton and James Wade all have a chance but they need to arrest some alarming form in which only Anderson has reached the quarter-finals of any recent events.
All this is irrelevant if Phil Taylor is up for the challenge. He'll be keen to end a two year wait to claim the trophy, but the overall standard in the field is higher than ever. The winner could come from anyone out of 8-10 top players and I wouldn't be too surprised if there's a new champion this time around.


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In the week that 91-year-old music and film retailer HMV entered administration, there was better news for a Scottish printing firm which entered liquidation last week.
Montgomery Litho Limited, marking its 30th anniversary in January 2013, called in the liquidators on Friday January 11th. However, in a swiftly arranged deal with the management of the company, much of the old the firm will now trade under the name McAllister Litho Glasgow.
Whilst 148 printing and book binding jobs were lost, the buyout saves 76 other positions. It will continue to operate in the digital, litho, print finishing and reprographics sectors.
The managing director of the new company, Janette McAllister said:
"I am pleased to be able to announce the purchase of MLG Glasgow, in a move which saves 76 jobs. I am extremely grateful for the support of the staff and customers in what has been a difficult few months for the company, but remain confident the business will soon regain its momentum."
Though the news will be welcomed, there are still many challenges to face. In the present economic climate, an increasing number of Scottish firms are looking at how to regain momentum in their own market places.
Many are now doing this with the help of an asset finance broker. Helping to realise greater levels of income from existing clients is seen as an important strategy which, together with invoice discounting, can free up significant volumes into the cash flow.
Operations for the new McAllister Litho Group firm will be managed from former Montgomery Litho headquarters in Finnieston, Glasgow.


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Every week TWIG brings you a variety show full of segments ranging from news, reviews, interviews, and everything in-between to satisfy your geeky appetite! This week in geek: 2018 Year In Review Special Show Notes: Libris Arcana: https://www.librisarcana.com/ Your Geekmasters: Mike "The Birdman" Dodd – @BirdmanDodd Xbox: BirdmanTWIG PSN: BirdmanDodd Tristan "Mr. Tristifer" …
January, 2019
8 January
TWIG – 2018 Year In Review Spectacular!
December, 2018
10 December
TWIG – Star Trek – Bethesda – Mill Creek VHS – Tumblr Porn – Scientist – 7 Days
Every week TWIG brings you a variety show full of segments ranging from news, reviews, interviews, and everything in-between to satisfy your geeky appetite! This week in geek: Star Trek Discovery Season 1 (Blu-ray Review) News (Bethesda Suppert Madness & No More Tumblr Porn) Mill Creek Retro VHS Inspired Blu-ray Releases (Blu-ray Reviews) Weird …
3 December
TWIG – Spyro – Fallout 76 – Hockey Puck – Power Rangers Book – Persona Dancing
Every week TWIG brings you a variety show full of segments ranging from news, reviews, interviews, and everything in-between to satisfy your geeky appetite! This week in geek: Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Review) News (Fallout 76 Catastrophe/Lawsuits & Netflix Cancels Daredevil) Power Rangers Ultimate Visual History (Book Review) Weird News (Hockey Puck …
August, 2018
29 August
Power Rangers 25th, Toy Collections And Create-A-Film
On "Altered Geek," Steve is joined with Mike the Birdman Dodd to discuss their thoughts on Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel "Dimensions in Danger," and the 25th Anniversary of the show. Following that the guys discuss some of their toy collections and we tried a new segment on create a film. We …
July, 2018
28 July
TurdOrTreasure – Xtro – Deathrow Gameshow – Haunted – Xbox – Awesomes – Shining
Turd Or Treasure is ThisWeekInGeek's dedicated review show covering everything from games to movies to tv to electronics and everything between. This Episode: Xtro – Bluray Deathrow Gameshow – Bluray Haunted TV Show – Bluray Jack Frost – Bluray PowerA Enhanced Xbox One Wired Controller Ice Cream Man – Bluray The …
June, 2018
29 June
Exploring The DC Universe Service, Goodbye Toys R Us & Summer Viewing
On "Altered Geek," Steve is joined by TFG1Mike to discuss multitude of topics from Toys R Us and Geoffrey the Giraffe Being Gone Forever, DC Universe' Service & App, Mike finally sees "The Last Jedi," Our Summer TV Thoughts, Patrick Stewart and Star Trek Return situation, and what we've been up …
26 June
Star Trek's New Series Possibilities, Building PC's, OG Podcast Woes & Feedback
On "Altered Geek," Steve is solo to discuss multitude of topics from his situation lately, new Star Trek Series Announcements, Struggles of Building a New PC, Being an OG Podcaster and the Conflict of RSS Feeds as well as other associated website post feedback. All this and more on Altered Geek!
May, 2018
15 May
Projects We're Working On: What Drives Us, What Ideas We Have And What Are We Planning?
On "Altered Geek," Steve and Birdman Dodd discuss their concepts, what they're working on and what plans they have in their podcasts and various hobbies therein.
11 May
Hasbro's Power Rangers Possibilities and the NEW T-Mobile Thoughts
On "Altered Geek," Steve and Birdman Dodd discuss their thoughts on the latest series of mergers, among them being Hasbro purchasing the Power Rangers and what that means. Also we discuss the possibilities of the Sprint and T-Mobile merger. Tune in and here our thoughts and sound off with yours.
4 May
Avengers: Infinity War – Initial Thoughts and Spoilers
On "Altered Geek," Steve and TFG1Mike discuss their thoughts and spoilers on the new Marvel film, "Avengers: Infinity War." They give their likes, dislikes and thoughts about it's future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.


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This report discusses program and market progress toward increasing the penetration of Super GOOD CENTS (SGC) manufactured housing and accomplishing the general goals of the SGC Manufactured Housing Venture (Venture), an initiative funded by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (Alliance). The primary focus of the report is on market indicators and program accomplishments that will help assess and measure program success, which includes the development of a market-based, self-supporting program to support energy efficient construction and installation of manufactured housing in the Alliance region.
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Many people who are battling to obtain NHS Continuing Healthcare funding for an elderly relative in full-time care will find useful ammunition by exploring two of the well-known test cases – the Coughlan case and the Grogan case. We've pulled out some key arguments for you to make it easier.
The Coughlan case
The landmark Coughlan case was brought by Pamela Coughlan, who had been seriously disabled in a road accident. When her care funding was taken away, she brought a legal challenge against North & East Devon Health Authority. In 1999 she took her case all the way to the Court of Appeal – and succeeded in having her Continuing Care funding reinstated.
The Grogan case
In 2006 Maureen Grogan successfully challenged Bexley NHS Trust in the High Court about their decision not to provide her with fully-funded NHS care (Continuing Care). Mrs Grogan was severely disabled by multiple sclerosis and was chronically ill. The High Court ruled that the NHS's decision not to provide care was "fatally flawed" and that the NHS had wrongly moved the goalposts in defining her needs.
- Remember that every Continuing Care assessment should be 'Coughlan compliant'. This means that the assessment must be lawful and adhere to the principles in the Coughlan case. Pamela Coughlan received full-funded NHS Continuing Healthcare funding for her needs. It is therefore logical (as the judge states) that anyone whose needs are the same as or greater than Pamela Coughlan's will also meet the criteria for full Continuing Care funding.
- If you hear NHS assessors making comments that your relative is unlikely to be successful, ask them if the assessment has been properly carried out in the light of the Coughlan case. Some assessors state that they have never heard of the Coughlan case – and this is a good point at which to explain it to them. If they have already heard of it – AND they realise you have too – you are in a better position, although many families report that assessors do not necessarily follow its principles.
- Similarly, if the assessors or the Decision Making Panel say that your relative has social care needs, not health care needs, and that you will need to pay for care, remind them of the mistakes made originally in both test cases where care needs were improperly defined.
- Say that you will have no hesitation in taking your case as far as possible through the courts. Whether you ultimately do that or not is your choice. But your statement will let the NHS know how seriously you take the assessment process and that you will not accept anything less than a fully legal approach to Continuing Care funding.
- If you feel that an assessment is not being conducted properly, or you disagree with the verbal recommendations being made, ask the assessors how familiar they are with actual healthcare law (not the Dept of Health guidelines, but the law). Very often they won't be familiar with case law – the legal framework in which they themselves actually operate. At this point you can remind them of the Coughlan and Grogan cases, and state that your position would be upheld in a court of law.
- If the assessors say that they are following the Continuing Care guidelines and that's what counts, remind them that the guidelines do not override the law.
- If the assessors seem particularly obstructive, they could be in breach of the Theft Act 1968.
- If you're told that your relative is 'stable' and that their needs are 'predictable', and for that reason they are ineligible for fully funded NHS care, remind the assessors of the judgment in the Coughlan case; the case stated that the needs of people with 'stable yet chronic conditions' (not just acute conditions) should be reviewed in a Continuing Care assessment, and that the NHS may have a duty to fund care for those needs.
- If your relative is in a nursing home – or in a residential home and receiving what is effectively nursing care – and yet you are struggling to get funding, remind the assessors of their duty to apply a 'primary health need approach'. This came from the judgment in the Coughlan case – and the judge commented that the 'vast majority' of people in nursing homes should have their care fees funded by the NHS, and that only if someone's health care needs are just 'incidental' to their overall care needs should the responsibility be passed to Social Services for means testing.
So take courage from Pamela Coughlan and Maureen Grogan, who fought before – and won.
Read more about the Coughlan case.
Read more about the Grogan case.
111 Comments
Hi, thanks for writing this article, it's really useful. My Father in Law has been in a care home for 2 years (Parkinsons, dementia), and was only supposed to be while he recovered but has been told he can no longer leave due to his care needs. However, when they assessed him in Jan 2019 they said he wasn't eligible for CC as he didn't score highly enough, even though he needs round the clock care, can no longer stand/walk, needs a hoist and 2 nurses to move him, and cannot feed himself properly. He is also aggressive, abusive and has hallucinations as well as being on a cocktail of drugs. A couple of months after the assessment a doctor recorded that he is now probably entering palliative care.
We appealed the decision and have a hearing next week. Do you have any advice for us please? They have said that as we are appealing the decision made in Jan 2019, we cannot reference anything after that date. This doesn't seem right to me as his needs have become greater and was even sectioned under the mental health act at one point after the initial assessment.
Since the 2019 assessment he has deteriorated rapidly and had another assessment last week, but we've been told we cannot use that as evidence in this appeal.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, I'm currently trying to get my mom into a nursing home. Mom has progressive MS and is now unable to move from the neck down apart from very occasional limited use of her hands/thumbs. She has lived with us for the past 15 years and has carers in 4 times a day for her needs. Unfortunately this is now not enough as she needs constant attention and preventative care. Mom has problems with her sodium levels, regulating temperature, the usual water infections and skin breakdown. Her care has been very good so most of these issues are controlled well. I have tried to get her into a new nursing care home which is very close to us, this would help with the upheaval she will undoubtably have to deal with having to move from the family home. The district nurses have assessed her and said that she doesn't need nursing care and residential is all she needs. I am appealing this and having read the information on this site I have asked for her to have the Coughlan assessment.
I am wondering if you could give any more advice or experience on whether I could successfully reverse this decision?
Thank you in advance
Hi Toni
Just to clarify, Coughlan is not an assessment, it's a successful court case brought by Pam Coughlan that established a legal benchmark against which other assessment decisions can be compared. Assessors have a duty to take the Coughlan case into account to ensure that the authorities they represent do not act illegally.
At the time of case Pam Coughlan was disabled physically, but her mental capacity was unaffected and she did not require medication. She was tetraplegic, with limited use of her arms and hands and was able to use an electric wheelchair. She was incontinent and required assisted bathing, feeding and position-changing.
Based on what you describe, your mom's needs sound quite similar to and possibly exceed those of Miss Coughlan.
How you choose to appeal depends on whether you consider your mom's needs have been understated in the primary assessment, or whether the resulting decision has failed to draw a proper comparison to the Coughlan case.
Good luck!
Thank you Steve, I don't think that the Coughlan law has been taken into consideration at all while they have been assessing Mom. I have been in touch with my social worker and asked them to reassess her taking into account Coughlan's Case.
I am a Manager of a nursing home who received a gentleman via Fast Track Continuing Healthcare (CHC) in November 2017 he was given six weeks to live because of his poor health, but 10 weeks later he is still alive. A few days ago he had another NHS CHC assessment and the assessors said the likelihood is that his funding will be taken away. Both me and his family were horrified as his condition has deteriorated since the fast track assessment but the assessors have said that because his condition seems stable he is not eligible for any more CHC funding.
Can funding be removed even though the person is more frail than when the fast track funding was awarded?
Entitlement to funding is supposed to be based on need, not care. A managed need is still a need. Unfortunately the assessment process tends to focus on care.
If the gentleman's needs are equal to or greater than those of Ms Coughlan he should continue to be eligible for full funding.
If you haven't got one already, you (or the family) should request a full copy of the assessment. Firstly, check that it properly represents the gentleman's needs and secondly check whether those needs are sufficient to exceed the Coughlan minimum. Wait for their decision (it might be favourable), but then if you disagree in any way, write to the NHS Continuing Healthcare team and request an urgent review.
Could you explain please as to how obstruction can be breach of theft act? We are finding that the Multidisciplinary Team co-ordinator/assessor is being particularly obstructive. Thank you
They could be trying to defraud you out of something you are legally entitled to. Simple as that.
Many thanks Angela. We are now filing our own claim against the council. I will keep you updated on the progress. Thanks again for all your effort to get this information out there. It is invaluable.
Thank you for all of the information. I have been trying to put a case together for my husband's mother, who was being cared for in my husband's home (before I met him). She was disabled and when her esophagus split, she was admitted to hospital. She was subsequently admitted to a nursing home for temporary rehabilitation. There was never an intention to be in permanent care and she was in and out of hospital and the home for the next two years. Both my husband and his mother were desperate to have her return home so he could care for her. The council found numerous reasons for her not to be released from the nursing home (my husband's house was unsuitable for a stair lift (he had made a room for her upstairs), then he said he would build an extension for her and halfway through they informed him they would not be funding it). Long story short, he built the extension so she had a room with en-suite and a social worker friend told him she can discharge herself if she wants to. She did and came home. My husband was caring for her and she was eligible for CHC. Unfortunately, she died at home 6 weeks later. Now the local authority is claiming £60,000 for her nursing home fees from my husband because she had a property, which she allegedly sold to him for £110,000. He had never paid that money to her. The property was severely dilapidated and my husband and his mother had created an express trust for him to receive the property. He refurbished it from top to bottom and rented it out and the money was to be used to help with the bills while she was living in his house….There was no intention of her ever going into a care home and for two years she begged them to let her go home. The injustice of it is just sickening. Had they known that she could simply discharge herself she would have done but they didn't. She was never means tested and had no money and she was never in permanent care. It was always for rehabilitation purposes… I will look closely at the Coughlan case. I wrote a long letter rebutting every point the council made (e.g. they stated that she died in the care home, they "presumed" that my husband and his mother were trying to defraud the council etc.) and the only reply we had was that they would look at the case. A year later and still no response – last week we got the same letter that we got 2 years ago saying that they are taking us to court for the money if we don't pay. Now they have even lied to our mortgage company saying that my husband gave his consent for them to look at his mortgage arrangement. Sorry for the ramble…I just feel so helpless in all of this…
Thank you for such a brilliant informative site. Some of our severely disabled young adults are at this time being rejected from Continuing Health care and being transferred to Adult Social care. These young people have Quadraplegic Cerebral Palsy, are non ambulant have Epilepsy with multiple complex needs. Their situation hasn't changed but the new assessment has downgraded some of their domains in The Decision Support Tool. We view this as a cynical attempt to deny funding and are appealing. So thank you so much once again for all the help this site has given us.
Hi Ann Ling,
Your name rings a bell from many years ago but I am not sure if its you, we have a daughter called Becky who also has Quadraplegic Cerebral Palsy she has also been taken out of Continuing Healthcare (CHC) and has now been placed in Adult Social Services. We are in the process of an appeal as these young adults do not fit into there boxes because of the vast array of there complex needs. I have been in touch with the local MP but they just do the sending of emails from me to them and them to me to the local authorities not much help really. This has been going on for nearly 15 months now. I was wondering if you had any ideas which may help us.
It has been very interesting reading the comments and your replies. My mom has Parkinson's with moderate to sever dementia. She is unable to administer her own medication and cannot walk unaided. Her recent assessment for Continuing Healthcare (CHC) has been refused stating her healthcare needs can be met without clinical assessment or intervention. I agree with this but only because mom is paying for a care agency carer to sit with her 11 hours a day and she has the support of family. If we took away that care mom would be unable to feed herself dress herself or go to the toilet. I feel mom has been penalised because we are managing the situation. Would we have geounds to appeal?
Just an update on my own situation. As a result of my letter of appeal the Continuing Healthcare (CHC) team decided that there may have been problems with the original assessment and that they would carry out another one. The social worker got quite defensive when I asked her if she was familiar with the Decision Support Tool (DST) levels recommended by ADASS as the normal limits of social care. [Ed: ADASS = Association of Directors of Adult Social Services]
Anyway, they did the assessment and uprated dad's needs in a couple of domains. Then they decided that he qualifies for full funding. So although I'm not entirely clear what kind of exercise this was, I'm happy with the outcome. Now I'll be pursuing a retrospective claim for the previous four years.
Thanks for all your help, Angela, and good luck to anyone fighting their own case.
Hello Steve
Can you tell me more about The Decision Support Tool you mention recommended by ADASS
Can I ask as to when a Needs Potrayal should be done please? Thank you
Hello, I have been reading the comments on this site for some months. I would like a bit of advice. I have just received my late fathers Decision Support Tool (DST) back stating he did not meet the criteria for Continuing Healthcare (CHC) even though the care home stated that they could not meet his needs, to the point when he was admitted into hospital with a UTI the care home refused to have him back. On the DST it states that a Needs Portrayal document dated 04.08.16 was produced. I never recieved this, the only thing I had was a telephone call on the 30/06/16 asking about my late fathers conditions; when I explained I had some documented evidence I was told to keep hold of it as it was not needed at this stage. On the DST It says it was completed on the 31/07/16 four days before the Needs Portrayal document. Can you advise if I should have had the Needs Portrayal document before the DST, so I could have added comments?
Thank you
Primary health need is what it's all about, but I haven't heard of a specific "test" other than a DST assessment. The CCG is likely to argue that if your dad's care did not involve the services of a registered nurse (or only minimally) then it was not a primary health need. However, the Coughlan judgment was based on Ms Coughlan's condition, not her care. So the CCG is wrong if it tries to apply different criteria.
If you can show (from his DST) that your dad's needs were equal to or greater than Pam Coughlan, then you have a good case for appeal. I would suggest that you ignore any previous representations and just send a letter of appeal, something like: "I wish to appeal my father's assessment on the grounds that it failed to take the Coughlan judgement into account as required by the NHS national framework. It is my contention that my father's needs were equal to or greater than those of Ms Coughlan and that he should have received full CHC funding for the nursing home care that his illness required."
I think the Law Society's comment (in my previous comment) is highly relevant to your dad's case as you have said that he was placed in nursing accommodation because of his illness. So that's worth quoting too.
Don't wait too long, there are time limits on appealing. Good luck.
I wish you the best of luck. I have now received a letter from my solicitor saying she is not taking the case any further. In it she has also enclosed a letter from the CCG in which they refer to the 'primary health need test'. I was not aware of an actual test – do you know what this would refer to?
I am not sure where to start now but I will attempt to as I feel very strongly that dad was entitled to 100% fully funded continuing healthcare. If my dad had not had any health needs he would have remained at home with myself and my daughter.
Hi Jane.
That's the wording used in the 1946 NHS Act and is re-iterated in subsequent legislation and the NHS framework, which embodies a set of rules that NHS are supposed to follow. The NHS framework is not law and deviates somewhat from the law, thus giving rise to some unlawful outcomes. However, where it serves your purpose it's worth quoting because assessment teams are supposed to be bound by it.
The meaning of the words is the subject of interpretation. Local authorities have a duty to provide accommodation to those unable to look after themselves through illness or disability and that's were their power of financial means-testing has its basis. You can't claim to need accommodation if you can afford to provide it yourself. Health care on the other hand was made free to all by the NHS Act.
So the question hinges on how much health-related care can a LA provide in addition to the provision of accommodation.
That's where the words "incidental and ancillary" come into play. "Incidental" (according to the Oxford Dictionary) is defined as:
1. Happening as a minor accompaniment to something else.
2. Happening as a result of (an activity).
"Ancillary" is defined as:
1. Providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, system, etc.
2. In addition to something else, but not as important.
So both words refer to something that is less than the main item or arises from it. In this case it's pretty clear that the legislators intended to cover the situation where there may be a minor health need, but that need is substantially less than the need for accommodation.
The NHS tends to take the view that the health need is minor if it doesn't require the services of registered nurses, but I don't think that was the intention of the legislation and it's a view that hasn't been upheld by the courts. Surely if that was the intended meaning the legislators would have chosen words that better embody such intention.
"The judgment in Coughlan clearly established that where a person's primary need is for health care, and that is why they are placed in nursing home accommodation, the NHS is responsible for the full cost of the package." (from the summary of the Law Society's Evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee Inquiry into NHS Continuing Care).
In the case of my dad's appeal I am arguing on three fronts. Firstly that the assessment was flawed because of the negligence of the team conducting the assessment. Secondly, the DST result clearly indicates that dad has needs equal to or exceeding those of Pam Coughlan, which the courts and the NHS framework say should qualify him for funding. Thirdly, he had no need of LA accommodation; his need was for 24 hour health care, which could only be properly administered in a residential situation, so his primary need was a health need. If he miraculously recovered from his illness he would have no further need of such accommodation.
Hi Steve,
Can I ask you how did you know that the Decision Support Tool (DST) result clearly indicated that your dad has needs equal to or exceeding those of Pam Coughlan, I can't tell from my daughters DST. I am in the process of appealing it has been very long and drawn out and now she is in Adult Social Care she has Quadraplegic Cerebral Palsy with very complex needs and I don't think the DST boxes fit the information for my daughters needs as they seem to change the goal posts she has been in Continuing Healthcare (CHC) for 6 years. her condition will never get better it just gets worse. I have written to the local MP but they don't seem to do much. If you don't mind telling me how it may make more sense and hopefully help if I have ammo to fire back. Many thanks Steve.
Hi Kevin,
Have you seen a description of Pam Coughlan's care needs (find it on http://www.nhscare.info)? AFAIK no actual DST scores are available, but from Pam's own account, she would not score particularly highly in many of the domains. In fact someone with identical needs would most likely be refused funding, which makes a mockery of claiming to be Coughlan compliant.
Apart from my dad's comparative scores the argument I used at my his appeal was that the NHS is liable in law for the provision of health care. That law also permits local authorities to provide care, but *only* if it is of a nature that they can be reasonably expected to provide *and* that it is incidental or ancillary to the provision of accommodation. In other words if accommodation is a person's primary need and their care is of a more minor nature then it might be allowable for social services to provide it and the patient can be charged for it. All other cases must be funded by the NHS by law.
The other thing worth looking at is the recommendations of ADASS to social workers (https://www.adass.org.uk/adassmedia/stories/Publications/Guidance/commentary_oct07.pdf). See section 5h. The social worker at my appeal, whilst being aware of the document was not familiar with its content. Don't be afraid to hold the social worker to account. He/she is on the MDT to represent the LA and should ensure that they do not act illegally by accepting responsibility for care that is not within their remit, even though social workers may be unaware of their legal obligations.
Good luck, Steve
Thanks Steve for the info.
Kind regards Keith
Hi Steve, Thank you so much for your help. Can you just confirm to me please what exactly 'merely incidental and ancillary to the provision of accommodation' means please?
Hi Jane
No, although it might be a worthwhile resource to consider. I meant just familiarise yourself with as much of the information on this website as you can.
There are two persistent myths in care for the elderly, both of which are false, yet are upheld as true by a high proportion of people throughout the health care system and in the general population and both of which your solicitor seems to have bought into as well:
1. If you have funds you have to pay for your own health care – WRONG.
2. Need is determined by the nature of the care – WRONG.
To deal with Myth 1, you need to be familiar with Ms Coughlan's case in particular because it has become a benchmark against which all other cases can be judged. You should also be familiar with the applicable clauses of the law and the NHS National Framework. These are:
1. The 1946 NHS Act requires the NHS to provide health care that is free at the point of need to all British subjects regardless of their ability to pay.
2. Social Services may provide care, but only if it is "merely incidental and ancillary to the provision of accommodation" and "Of a nature, which it can be expected that an authority whose primary responsibility is to provide social services can be expected to provide."
3. The NHS framework requires all assessments for CHC funding to be Coughlan compliant. This means that any person who has health needs equal to or greater than those of Ms Coughlan should receive CHC funding.
All decision making revolves around determining whether the patient has a primary health need.
The NHS cannot legally "decide" whether it provides funding or not. The law requires it to fund all heath care unless it falls within the remit of Social Services, who in turn must accept that responsibility. They can only do that legally if they comply with item 2 above. They are not permitted to determine the financial situation of the patient before they have satisfied the responsibility requirement.
Myth 2 is what the DST is all about. It tries to assess need based on the degree of care required and the NHS often tries to argue that only care by a health professional counts as health care. However, the courts have consistently disagreed with this view. In his summing up of the Coughlan case, Lord Woolfe stated "It's all nursing – caring for the sick." Furthermore if a DST was applied to Ms Coughlan she would almost certainly fail to reach the NHS qualifying levels, yet the courts awarded her funding.
I suggest that you go through your dad's DST and compare his needs in each domain with those of Ms Coughlan (use the links provided by Angela Sherman earlier in this discussion). If you find that your dad's needs are comparable or greater than hers then you would have a strong case for appealing the decision on the grounds that it failed the required NHS framework Coughlan compliancy.
Even if your dad's needs are lower, I think you may have a good case to argue that the decision to remove your dad from home care and place him in residential care depended to a far greater extent on his health needs than on a need for accommodation and therefore the council has acted in direct contravention of what the law allows.
Thanks Steve. I think you are right. By the sound of it the solicitor is ditching my case anyway. I would love to tackle it myself but I'm not sure whether I am capable or not. I feel the solicitor I have/had is not doing her job properly. I felt that her comment about the fictitious person with a cut hand was rather sarcastic. I think that is brilliant that you won 3 legal claims contrary to solicitors advice. When you say you think armed with the information available on this website I could tackle it myself do you mean the publication that is available?
I think that your solicitor's comment is missing the point altogether. We are talking about people with chronic health need, whereas she is citing a person with an acute problem. Nevertheless the same principles apply. A person with a cut hand is not means-tested and asked to contribute or pay for the cost of their treatment, nor, if the wound was so serious that they needed to be hospitalised, would they be required to pay for accommodation.
CHC funding is just a name for the responsibility placed on the NHS by the 1946 NHS Act for the care of all patients, but specifically as it applies to chronically ill patients.
Based on your solicitor's comments I would suggest you ditch her and either engage someone who really knows the ropes, or else just do it yourself, which is not difficult if you arm yourself with the info on this web site.
In the past I have won three legal claims (contrary to the advice of solicitors) and in each case they were settled out of court at no cost to myself.
I appealed my dad's assessment with a letter pointing out that the assessment was not Coughlan compliant and I got a call from the area head of the CHC team to say that having looked at the first assessment he thinks some of the domains may have been underestimated and he'd like to do another assessment which might make a formal appeal unnecessary. Now that could just be a stalling tactic, but I think he's looking for a face-saving way to settle this. The last thing the NHS wants is anymore high-profile court cases like Coughlan and Grogan. If you give the impression that you'll go as far as it takes they're more likely to want to settle.
Hi Steve, Thank you for your comments. I e-mailed the solicitor dealing with my case and quoted this:
Your dad didn't need accommodation at all; he already had that with you. It was his health need that dictated residential care, so how can that be considered either incidental or ancillary?
The response I received was that she felt I was taking a very wide interpretation and then she put:
If a person had a cut hand that required stitching by a nurse, for example, that in itself would not entitle them to fully funded residential care despite that being a clear health need requiring the care of a Nurse.
I have to say I found that rather sarcastic.
She appears adamant that I will not get the decision changed and has said if I want to appeal the decision I can but she will not.
Any suggestions anyone?
Hi Jane. Sorry to hear about your dad and all the difficulties you've been having.
If your dad's need was a primary health need the NHS is required to pay for the whole cost of care including accommodation. Social Services are not allowed to means-test your dad unless they assume responsibility for his care and the law only allows them to do that if the health care is:
1. Merely incidental and ancillary to the provision of accommodation which a local authority is already under duty to provide.
2. Of a nature, which it can be expected that an authority whose primary responsibility is to provide social services can be expected to provide.
Both these clauses must apply otherwise the NHS remains responsible. From what you describe of your dad's condition, and that his care was beyond that which could be provided for at home, and that he was regarded as lacking mental capacity to sign a POA, it sounds to me as though Social Services has acted beyond their remit and hence illegally.
Your dad didn't need accommodation at all; he already had that with you. It was his health need that dictated residential care, so how can that be considered either incidental or ancillary?
Was your dad assessed for CHC funding before he was means-tested? If not Social Services may have been negligent. A DST is a decision support tool, not a decision making tool. There is no pass or fail, though that's often how it's applied. Ms Coughlan's scores on a DST would have been quite low in many domains, yet the courts determined she was entitled to NHS funding.
Are your solicitors experienced in this field. It's important to use someone with good knowledge of this area of the law.
Don't let Social Services intimidate you. This process is an uphill battle, but it is winnable if you're prepared to go the distance.
Hi, I only came across this site yesterday but I have to say it is extremely informative. My dad moved in with me after my mum died. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was about 65 I think. As he got older he started having some TIA's and numerous falls. Dad was then diagnosed with dementia. With the dementia dads falls worsened as he would attempt to get up out of bed or the chair without using his frame. Although dad lived with me and I was his primary carer he did end up having carers come in 4 times a day as I had a daughter who was only 8 years old at the time. He was incontinent and had a catheter but got infections which was not good. Dad ended up back in hospital in December 2008. His social worker then told us that he would have to go into a nursing home as they could not put any more care in at home. As I am sure you can appreciate this was an extremely traumatic time for all of us. I was not even told about CHC funding at the time. They assessed dads finances and said that he would have to make a contribution to his care. I later was told by someone after hearing them speak on the radio that dad should not have been paying anything as his primary need was a health need. I was advised to stop making the payments which I did. I am an only child and we had not previously had a POA drawn up. I was advised to get one done which I did. However, the council were not happy and got it revoked because they said dad had lacked mental capacity to authorise it. I have had solicitors working on a no win no fee basis and they have basically said that the CHC has not been granted and have now said that If I want to appeal the DST I can. Dad passed away in December 2013. As well as the dementia, TIA's and Prostate Cancer dads health deteriorated in the nursing home and the weight dropped off him. He had zero mobility and could not feed himself and towards the end he could not swallow. I have also had letters from the council saying that I owe them the money for the fees not paid and they are taking court action. I have obviously been trying to get the fees previously paid back and obviously the others would not be applicable if I win the case. It looks as though I am going to have to try and take it on myself so just wondered if you have any ideas or suggestions? I have to say I am finding it very difficult to cope with everything as 3 months after losing her granddad my daughter suddenly lost her dad and that is another ongoing issue. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Thanks for the info. We have spoken to the CCG and they have confirmed that if client needs increase with CHC to what they already getting, the NHS will cap the extra??? Seemingly it's a policy they have!!! Just to let u know we fought the case yesterday and won. A lot of info was gathered by myself and the husband but the assessor relied heavily on the daily reports and practically ignored other info we gave esp. the 24/48 reports as advised in National Framework. Make sure all carers completing daily reports add clients behaviour/psychological/emotional needs too.
I am a carer helping my clients husband with the renewal of the CHC assessment in the morning. We have already been told that my client will now only be eligible for night care 2 nights a week ( currently 5 with carers) and that the CCG now have a cap on CHC. I understand the nhs has a limited budget but is what we are being told by the CHC assessor legal.
Thanks, Angela, those link were most helpful. I'd seen the nhscare.info site before, but found it so poorly organised that I hadn't dug into it far enough to locate the nuggets.
I posted a comment elsewhere on your site about my letter of appeal, but in view of this new information I will be revising it. My father's needs are at least equal to those of Pam Coughlan in a few domains of the DST and significantly exceed hers in all the others, so I think I have a pretty strong case.
I also think that the NHS doesn not attach enough significance to the word "AND" in their own framework. Social services can provide care, but only if that care is "of a nature that an authority whose primary responsibility is to provide social services, can be expected to provide" AND "incidental AND ancilary to the provision of accommodation". For this to be the case a patient's primary need would have to be one of accommodation. My father already had accommodation in his own home. He was placed in residential care only because of his health needs.
CHC funding is supposed to regard the Coughlan case as a benchmark, but does anyboy know the full detail of Ms Coughlan's care needs? What would she score on a DST? Is there a copy of her DST results? In the absence of a detailed comparative document how can assessors possibly ensure that their decision making is compliant as required by the NHS framework and the law?
This is a wonderful and very helpful website. We are just starting on the process but should have done this long ago. Is there any case law for severe dementia with severe physical problems? The assessor is an RGN and probably doesn't have experience of dementia.
As he does have more then £23k then my understanding is that he will have to pay – at least until it is used up! It was the assessor who called me back into the meeting room to give me the decision that dad would be given the FNC element, with no mention of needing anyone else to make the decision.
I have actually found somewhere for dad to be cared for. However the care home has raised a question over him requiring observation at night – he currently has this in hospital (enhanced obs). I can't recall this being raised as an issue/concern during the DST, so does this make the process questionable? Shouldn't the hospital have flagged this as a current requirement? Someone else has said that this may mean that he has more eligibility for full CHC funding, with a review in a couple of months to see if this is still the case once he has settled in.
Thanks – I thought that the relative instability of his diabetes would be the key factor. The fact that he needs his blood sugars regularly monitored by someone else who would then need to act on the results appropriately – high or low, as he no longer has any warning symptoms of low sugars and would not be able to give himself extra insulin for a high sugar (he does not give his routine insulin to himself) and so the control of this is the key factor that can then influence other needs within his life. He does have other issues e.g. his falls history – not always diabetes related – and his dementia, which I know will only get worse and I realise that these will be viewed as social needs. It does all get complicated!
I had read on your site about the assessors not being able to make the decision about funding at the meeting but the nurse said that dad would be eligible for the £112/wk and the social worker then asked about dad's savings.
I will check the papers when they are sent to me and will ask for a copy of the DST document if it is not there.
Firstly an echo of what so many have said, Angela, about your web site being excellent.
I have been dipping into it over the past couple of weeks as I was advised that my father, who has now been in hospital for 6 weeks (hypoglycaemia and bilateral pneumonia secondary to aspiration), had had a Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessment done and was being referred for a DST. My situation sounds very similar to that of Tony Y, who has posted very recently. My father is also a type 1 diabetic of almost 50 years, with a chronic history of poor control. He also has osteoporosis, a history of falls with resultant fractures and has Alzheimers (moderate). He is not felt to have capacity. He has also recently developed issues with urinary incontinence. I felt too that my father's diabetes would be his primary health need. Prior to this admission he was coping at home with twice daily district nurse visits and some self funded carers to ensure that he was up and about in the morning and that he had had something to eat at tea time, plus family support.
My dad's DST was today and I have been advised that for safety he needs to go into a nursing home for support with his diabetes, although it was mentioned that if he could be more stable then he could go home (I don't think that this will happen). We were told that he meets the need for nursing funding (£112/wk) but that he will have to fund his social needs (he has more than £23k). I do not feel that his diabetes needs are incidental – his sugars range between 2mmols – requiring intervention and often resulting in a fall – up to/over 30mmols – when he would need extra insulin. However the nurse present said that this could be done by anyone although she did agree that his readings whilst in hospital had been erratic (and to be fair nothing was mentioned about being well managed!)
I have asked for all the paperwork from the meeting today which I have been advised that they will send me. I was also advised that being self funding we would be able to pick the nursing home that dad can go to, whereas if he were to get full funding then those places would be more restrictive in geographical terms. I was also advised that if I feel that there are changes to his situation then I can request a reassessment.
Again any advice you can offer would be gratefully received, as it is my plan to appeal. Or have I done well to get some funding and should count my chickens!
Thank you for getting back Angela. Regarding the assessment I've been invited to attend I emailed the social worker involved to ask what this assessment was. She has told me that this will be the full DST as the checklist had already been carried out (unknown to me). It seems my mother scored a 'A' on the drug therapy section.
Having purchased your book I'm now preparing for this assessment. As yet I've not been told who will be there, something that I intend to ask next week. I have made a list of my mother's numerous health conditions to take with me. Perhaps I'm viewing this too simply but if my mother didn't have diabetes complicated by vascular dementia and high falls risk (possibly because of TIAs) she wouldn't need any social care having managed perfectly well up until February of this year.
One thing I can confirm is that all those whose opinion I have sought (Nurse Consultant, Social Worker and the Lead Nurse from a possible nursing home) have Said that the chances of success are vanishingly small. If this site and your book did not exist I think the whole thing would have already been decided – and not in my mother's favour.
To be fair to those involved I don't want to prejudge the assessment but I certainly need to be well prepared. I let everyone know the outcome.
First of all thank you for such an excellent site. My mother is currently in an NHS ward but in the process of finding a nursing home. She is 87 years old and has been type 1 diabetic for 65 years. She is also partially sighted and registered blind (although she does have partial sight in one eye). I believe she is also incontinent. This is all complicated by the fact that she is suffering from either vascular dementia, delirium or both. Her diabetes is still unstable despite being in hospital since February. She's no longer able to look after her diabetes herself. She has had a number of falls in the past and now has to use a zimmer frame. To me her diabetes is a 'primary health need'.
An assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare has been arranged in a week and I've been invited to attend. The social worker seemed to think the chances of success are slim however from my own reading of your information I would have thought she stood quite a good chance but maybe I'm just cherry picking the criteria because that's (obviously) my preference.
I would really be grateful for any advice.
My mother has Alzheimers and is profoundly deaf. Until a few weeks ago, she was receiving 24 hour care in her own home. I have power of attorney. She was receiving a contribution from the local County Council but we met the larger part of the costs. She has now been placed in respite care for the initial month and thereafter long term care in the same home. All payments to us have ceased.
Due to her complex needs I have asked for an assessment in order to reapply for CHC. (An assessment was done about a year ago and turned down.) After a recent meeting where it seemed to be agreed that this would go forward for consideration, I have today received an email saying that with accumulated evidence they're not sure it will go forward and we need another meeting as we are not in agreement, to review the Decision support tool.
They are stating that my mother has now settled well in the home and staff have responded to the SENSE report to aid communication. My son and I visit often and know categorically that this is untrue. I have responded accordingly and agreed to attend the meeting in a couple of weeks.
Apart from the fact that the home is not meeting her needs and do not have the skill sets necessary, (she is invariably left alone with no communication as they state they are too busy to talk to her; she is totally isolated, agitated, distressed or withdrawn), there is no money left. As the decision has been delayed I now have to sell her house in order to pay for her existing poor care, even though there is the possibility she could be awarded the appropriate funding.
I believe the application will be refused and I feel determined to fight this unjust decision (I have quoted the legal cases, made statements to support the application etc, all to little avail it appears). Can you advise me where I could go for legal advice, bearing in mind I have no money personally for expensive legal fees?
I am now beside myself with worry and distress.
Thank you so much for your help.
Erica Connor
My brother was granted CHC Funding in 2012, and on the annual review he was declined it. My brother was an MS sufferer and was bed bound with sweeped legs which meant pressure sores and groin ulcers were high. He was doubly incontinent and needed skilled nursing in a umber of areas – his communication, cognition were on the decline. After 2 years of local funding I managed to get my brother re-assessed and he was granted CHC again, and on the reassessment which followed 3 months later he was again granted it. Unfortunately the following week he passed away from septicaemia caused from the groin infection. I have been granted a retrospective review for the period from 2013-2015 for which an admin error on their side saw his Funded Nursing Care not being granted. I have a letter which states he should have had FNC. Because the error occurred he fell through their network so no follow up enquiry for CHC in 2013 happened, and local funding continued of which the top up was paid from my brother's employment support allowance, leaving him with £20 left for him. I now have to fill out the retrospective review forms and need to know I am filling these out correctly. After my brothers assessment in 2013 I was told there and then he would not receive CHC. After reading through the comments above should the assessor have put it to the clinical multi-disaplinary team? I am interested in the 2 court actioned stories you refer to. My brother was in need of skilled nursing care for the last 4 years of his life and now he has passed away I feel let down by the whole complicated process.
I have today had a meeting with my Dad's Social Worker, CPN, the Nursing Home Manager where we completed a Checklist together. My Dad scored 1A*, 6A's, 2B's and 2C's. The CPN has advised that a DST meeting will be taking place in two weeks time and I want the best possible chance of getting him the care he needs. He is under the threshold for paying for care but it is more about the level of care he requires and that the LA cannot fund what he needs. I need some expert help please.
Our local hospital has asked for a Continuing Healthcare assessment based on my grandfather's risk of falling due to cognitive issues following a stroke that has resulted in vascular dementia. He has 2 As and several Bs on the assessment done by the nursing staff on the ward he's on. They have told me that should he get the funding it would mean him going into a nursing home (even though his needs will be 24/7 personal assistant type of care rather than needing a registered nurse to provide for them). My grandfather's wife has dementia and is settled in a residential care home with dementia support. Why can't my grandfather go to live with her in this home? I feel that to move her now will be extremely upsetting to her since she's made friends and is familiar with the staff. We as a family feel that in insisting the funding goes to a nursing home even though the residential home can accommodate his needs, would have a detrimental affect on my grandmother if we were to move her to be with him or on him if we refuse to move her. Is there anything we can do?
My grandfather who has dementia spent the summer of 2014 in hospital after catching viral gastro enteritis. Two months of that stay was needless whilst the hospital made an application for CHC which was declined, had I known then what I know now I would not have applied. In the autumn he was released into my care and lives with his wife and my mother assists attend to his hygeine requirements as he is doubly incontinent and cannot walk. I am trying to get a week of respite and struggling because when we have to tend to him he is defensive of himself and carers cannot do the job as they are not trained in restraint techniques and they have legal obligations to so they just refuse to do it. Everywhere keeps referring us to social services who just push a financial assesment form at us but fail to understand we are not wishing to put him in a care home full time and just require respite. There is no facility which offers a weeks respite without a financial assesment in place and once he was in their care would they release him after – I doubt not! At some point this is going to end up in court as it feels as though you are being blackmailed into completeting a financial assesment when I have offered to privately fund his respite care but he needs to be placed in a specialist unit with restraint trained handlers.
I became a full time carer for my father when my late mother passed in 2004. By 2006 my father was doubly incontinent, in a wheelchair paraplegic due to repetitive TIA's and a few massive strokes and to top it all had behavioural issues.
My rankings: Nutrition A (food cut up like Pam) Mobility A (wheelchair) MindState A (TIA's) Behaviour A Continence A Cognition A Medication B Communication B Breathing C EmotionalBase C SkinSores C.
I have been chasing CC since 2008 (when my father was transferred to a council care home on "health grounds" that morphed into social care). My father passed in 2014. It is ten years and counting.
I now have enough paperwork and contradictions to take the matter to court.
My one piece of additional advise: Video the person in need of care.
"So take courage from Pamela Coughlan and Maureen Grogan, who fought before – and won."
If you have the strength and will.
Great site, cheers.
Not all CHC assessors are bad! There are some very fair assessors out there that do a very supportive job at a difficult time. My advice would be to keep an accurate diary of the decline you see in your relatives during their disease process, as this evidence can be used in the decision making process. What you need is evidence in the 12 care domains to enable a fair decision to be made with the family. Or ideally the patient.
Wonderful website, a wealth of shared knowledge that I have been so grateful for. One quick question, do a Multi-Disciplinary Team have to be involved in the initial checklist assessment or at least LA as well as CCG, or do they only become involved once you have scored "positive" for a full assessment? Only how the do the LA know that they are responsible (once the money has run out!) for paying for our relative's care? Presumably no one cares until such a time as the "self funder" is left penniless and the LA has to step in? Many thanks.
I can't help thinking that if the NHS spent less money on paying all these bureaucrats to deny CHC claims for years on end, there would be more money left to pay for the HEALTH care which our loved ones need. We are now into year 3 of appealing against a refusal of CHC for my mother in law, who died earlier this year. What a total waste of taxpayers' money (and everyone's time).
My 85 yr old mother who cannot walk due to ulcerated swollen legs, virtually blind, and very hard of hearing even with an hearing aid. Released from hospital after an infection, my father who was of poor general health was her primary carer, and was ill when the transport brought her home.
Sadly a week later dad taken into hospital with lymphoma which he has now been transferred into a hospice for palliative care.
This issue I have is that mom has been deemed fit to stay at home, even though she cannot get out of her chair where she stays 24/7, cannot see to do anything, cannot answer the phone as she cannot hear it.
Today by chance I learn that her care has been outsourced to a local company, but the question of who buys food etc came up.
I am not prepared to support her, as I am going through divorce, and my own future is unknown. Bills are in dads name, so when he passes I have no idea of what will happen. Mom is being very awkward, and horrible to carers, nursing staff, social workers.
Where , what will happen I do not know
Dear Angela, I have been reading about all the good work you did for your own parents. My cousin and I have been struggling for two and a half years to get funded primary healthcare for my late aunt. We first submitted a claim in Sept 2012 and submitted full details and narrative by 24 Jan 2013 – they did nothing at the time and had a period of over 12 months in which to carry out a full healthcare assessment on my aunt whilst she was still alive. She unfortunately died on 19 Dec 2013 and since then they have been trying to obtain medical and health records for my aunt in three different homes. As at today's date they have still not obtained records from the last home where she died mainly due to their incompetence and inefficiency. We have written complaint letters to the CEO of the CCG, who I have to say is completely ignorant and incompetent. He wrote a reply last week to say we would get the Needs Portrayal document by 15 April and an outcome by 30 April. His sidekick has just sent a progress report stating they do not have all the documents and are therefore unable to give a timescale – I have now asked what has changed in 6 days !!! My wife is an SRN specialising in dementia and frailty care and she completed the Application Form with the full details. If they fail to obatoin the records can they not resort to the information in the application form prepared by a senior nurse. WE have commenced copying all our correspondence to the local MPs to demonstrate what a bunch of idiots we appear to be dealing with. She had extremely bad dementia and other chronic conditions She was in Homes with nursing care from 2005 until 2013 when she died.
You say that the NHS pay ALL fees for continuing healthcare but it is not open ended there is a limit but I can't find out what that is.
Continuing Healthcare covers all assessed care needs and there is no limit and, for that reason, it cannot be topped up either. It should not need to be. There are people in some of the most expensive care homes receiving 100% funding, as they should be. Some CCGs tell people there's a cap or a limit, but this is incorrect. Any fixed or capped rate applies only to local authority care rates, not NHS.
"If nursing care is just 'incidental or ancillary' to the provision of accommodation" what does that statement mean exactly?
It's vague, isn't it – and it's a good question. One of my local authority contacts confirms that it really means an add-on or occasional care, but where the main reason they are in care is the accommodation. There must be thousands of people in full time care whose nursing care needs are more than just occasional or an add-on, and yet who are paying everything.
Hi – my dad has been diagnosed with inoperable Bowel Cancer and has been given 6 months – Is he eligible for CHC as I keep getting both doctors and district nurses trying to push me on to SS – would be grateful for your help
The only way to know if a person is eligible for CHC is for them to be assessed – no one can say whether they will or won't be eligible until this has been done. Sadly, many people are coerced into paying for care, and told they have social care needs, when in fact the NHS may have a duty to pay. Be sure to get the assessment process started: http://caretobedifferent.co.uk/what-are-the-different-stages-of-nhs-continuing-care-assessment-and-appeal/
Pull together as much evidence as you can about the risks of being at home and send this to everyone you can think of who is involved, including the Head of Adult Social Care at the local authority. Stress that if your concerns are not addressed you will raise a serious safeguarding issue. Insist on a Best Interests meeting as well. You may also need to explore whether a Mental Capacity Assessment is needed: http://www.woodfines.co.uk/sites/default/files/library/Mental-Capacity-Legal-Advice.pdf
My two sisters and I have our mother currently in respite residential care – placed by Leeds LA social services after our mother was discharged from hospital prior to Christmas. My mother originally advised that she wanted to remain in her home but since having received care in hospital and 24 hour care the residential home has now conceded that she is unable to live independently. My mother has diabetes and memory problems. Social Services are now pushing for her to return home for a 4-6 weeks assessment – advising that they will be able to effectively 'meet her needs' despite us contesting that my mother will have no cover during the night and despite our mother's doctor backing our decision. The Social Services have not listened to our mother, us, her doctor or indeed the concerns of the residential care home staff in regard to our mothers' needs. She has only now 2 weeks left of LA paid funding and obviously our mother is extremely distressed at the thought of having to return home. Can you give us any help or advise to aid our continuing battle with the Social Services?
Thanks so much for putting this website together following all the work you undertook with your parents. Both my parents went into care homes towards the ends of their lives and it is possible that the FNC could have been extended to CHC if I had been aware of the information provided here. I now have an aunt in a nursing home and has been for nearly four years and her condition has progressivley deteriorated. She is in receipt of FNC but otherwise is self funding She is bed bound, suffering from Lewy's Body which I understand is a form of dementia.
I have asked for a CHC assessment as I know that some other residents/patients in the home are receiving this. I am also aware that there is a possibility of backdating CHC ( with a deadline of 31st March 2015 ) I want to call the CCG to chase up the assessment and make them aware I know enough about CHC such that I will not be fobbed off so will review this site in detail first. Any other suggestions?
Thanks for your kind words, Paul. If your aunt has been given FNC and yet has never been assessed for CHC, this is a major flaw in the whole funding process. It's good to let the people at the CCG know you're not prepared to be fobbed off and that you're well informed. Be sure to ask for copies of any/all previous NHS funding assessment notes and/or correspondence that led to your aunt being given FNC. Ideally you will be sent copies of CHC assessments, although I wouldn't be surprised if those were never done. The question to ask at that point is why – and to reclaim. This page talks about this issue (scroll a little way down) and how in many cases the health and social care authorities have failed in their professional – and often legal – duty: http://caretobedifferent.co.uk/nhs-continuing-healthcare-faqs/
My husband got CHC in January. He has early onset dementia. They are now taking it away even though he has had to move from a resedential home to a nursing home. They say his needs have changed. The only thing that has changed is that he no longer is mobile, and either sits or lays. He is 54 years old.He is doubly incontinent, and cant feed himself.
Hi Caroline, I have so much sympathy. Recently, it seems to be more and more the case that once a patient is settled in a nursing home the CCG usually via their hit squad the local CSU, will attempt to remove the funding. This is happening in hospital discharge cases too. They push the patient out to free up a very expensive bed. Then they pay for a while…. knowing that soon they will stop the payments altogether…. often without real cause.
If you have the strength to, appeal against everything. Personally I don't pay the council for two patients in our family that had funding withdrawn. The money is there but I will spend it on lawyers when the council takes my loved ones to a court, before simply paying it out. I wish you well.
This is sadly very typical Caroline, and many families report the same thing. If they are taking it away without having gone through a thorough reassessment process, this is flawed. And if they did do a proper reassessment and decided to remove the funding as a result, you can appeal. If he is now in a nursing home, it sounds as though he should – at the very least – be receiving the weekly Funded Nursing Care (FNC) payment, but this is of course no substitute for a proper reassessment process.
I am sitting typing this waiting for my husband coming home from the hospice who have kindly giving me one weeks respite. I have been refused C.H.C twice he cannot stand, walk, feed himself is doubly incontinent suffers hallucinations some that are frightening to him and is totally confused so therefore is in a hospital bed in our living room 24 hours a day. It totally bewilders me that both doctors and nurses who pay home visits say he is an extreme example of someone who should be receiving C.H.C. but assessors say they can see no justification as to why he should get it I spend a lot of time caring for my husband so find it an ordeal going through the process but it is medical staff and a lot of them that have encouraged me to see it through .
Rightly or wrongly sometimes I think this country is crazy.
Wishing you well, Sue. Remember that, just because a person appears 'stable' doesn't mean they are necessarily ineligible for funding. Assessors must look at the underlying needs, as if no care were in place – not the needs as they appear when being managed.
My Dad has been in a nursing home for 5 years. his fees are almost £3000 a month. He was turned down for Continuing Health Care in June this year on the grounds that he is stable and compliant. He is no longer able to do anything for himself, is in bed most of the time and no longer recognises me. I'm off to an appeal meeting today but don't hold out much hope of getting anywhere. Wish me luck
Hi, I have been reading all information and comments with great interest as my father has to fund his care in a residential home although he is blind, suffering from terminal cancer, sometimes incontinent and confused(not sure if it is dementia). However, we reside in Northern Ireland and I fear we can't apply the same law cases.Can you advise further?
KIND REGARDS, Aileen.
Hi Alieen – Northern Ireland is not well served by national guidance unfortunately, and I believe each individual health board sets its own criteria for Continuing Healthcare decisions. Also, as far as I'm aware, the Coughlan and Grogan cases don't apply in Northern Ireland. It's not a good situation for families where you are.
Just wondering Angela, in point 5 above, you state that one should ask the assessors how familiar they are with the law. Can you outline precisely the acts with which they need to be compliant. Thank you.
NHS assessors are governed by the statutory NHS Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012. In these Regulation (I think it's section 6) there is a requirement for the National Framework guidelines to be followed in Continuing Healthcare assessments. As many of us know, these guidelines are broken in so many cases. Regarding the Coughlan case, many assessors quote what seems to be the NHS line that the Coughlan case is 'old' and therefore not relevant. It is very relevant – and it informed the National Framework guidelines: If nursing care is just 'incidental or ancillary' to the provision of accommodation, then a local authority can provide this care, but if the care needed goes beyond this, it is by definition an NHS responsibility, and the local authority will be acting illegally if it takes responsibility for it, means tests, asks for top-ups, etc.
Cora – normally there's an initial 'screening' assessment (the Checklist), then the full assessment (using the DST form), then a repeat DST can be done if needed – and this is all at local level. There's often a dispute resolution meeting held at local level too. However, this is all done by the NHS, not the local county council. If you need one-to-one help and advice with this, we may be able to put you in touch with an adviser.
Very interesting. My ex husband has has a bilateral stroke.peg fed double incontinent cant speak or swallow and iimobile. Today i had a meeting with the Local cc a Fareham They re passing the case on to the Independent assessere. I thought it would be a Local resolve first as proper proceedure. Any thoughts? I would be Vry. Greatful
Hi I have been advised by a friend of mine to read through the Coughlan and the Grogan case as my mum is slowly being relieved of any money she saved throughout her life by the care system. She was diagnosed at 60 with Early onset alzheimers and due to the 24 hours care that was required she was admitted to hospital three Christmases ago, she was then released from Hospital on the condition she was placed in full time care. We did this and are currently paying £1600 per month, she is double incontinent, needs assistance with feeding and dressing although she is mobile. She cannot speak properly as the disease has affected her frontal lobe therefore her communication is sporadic. We have been informed by the home that her care is not nursing and therefore she does not qualify for NHS funding. I find it ridiculous that if we lived across the border in Scotland this would be free care. Have you any advice?
Many thanks
Thanks for your comment Alison. If you need one-to-one advice about your specific situation, we may be able to put you in touch with someone who can help. You'll also find lots of helpful articles on our blog about the funding assessment process and how to argue that your mother's care needs are nursing needs. In Scotland, 'personal' care is better funded than in England, but long term care is not free across the border. People often face the same battles unfortunately. It's a difficult situation for many familes right across the UK.
Thanks for your comment Peter. There's more information on the Theft Act in this article: http://bit.ly/13EVhst. Clients tell us that assessors actually admit that the denial of NHS funding for healthcare/nursing care is budgetary: the NHS does not have the funds (or does not want to part with them) and so deliberately renders someone 'ineligible' for the NHS care they're legally entitled to. Assessment notes contain misstatements of fact and play down health needs to 'justify' the outcome of ineligibility. Assessment scores now frequently get lowered after an assessment – to put someone below the threshold for funding – even though this should happen only in exceptional circumstances, according to the Dept of Health's own guidelines. Many assessments are not Coughlan compliant, many assessors have never heard of the Coughlan case, some assessors admit they've never read the guidelines they're supposed to be adhering to… And so it goes on. And it's all designed to deny someone the NHS care they are legally entitled to – and to strip them of their personal assets to pay for care that the NHS has a legal duty to provide. Right from the start of the process many people in health and social care persuade families that they have to pay for care, when in fact they don't have to pay at all. Where this is deliberate, it is state theft of personal assets. I don't have individual examples of prosecutions, and I suspect this is a very difficult battle for a family to pursue.
Can you back-up your claims concerning assessors being in breach of The Theft Act or personally liable to be sued? Are there cases where the police have prosecuted under The Theft Act or assessors have been sued?
Delighted it's helpful Mo. Thanks very much for your feedback. Wishing you well in the fight for your mum.
this is brilliant. what excellent work you're doing. you have given me the ammunition AND the courage to continue the fight for mum. thank you. thank you. highest regards mo callaghan


text:
False, yet disturbing headline published by Microsoft News
The anatomy of a media correction. Syndicated error calls attention to systemic failure of people working in information dissemination. Falsity remains.
| By Greg Fisher
This is about credit scores.
In January, Cameron Huddleston, a columnist for Gobankingrates wrote, "In addition, insurers, utility companies, cell phone companies, employers and even landlords use credit scores to determine your dependability."
That is not true. Employers do not use credit scores. It is the 10th anniversary of emphatic statements by the credit bureaus that they do not provide scores for employment purposes.
Microsoft published that false information.
In fact, in September, Huddleston wrote, "Employers look at job candidates' credit reports — not their credit scores."
Huddleston (an "award-winning journalist" and "personal finance expert") follows @creditscoring on Twitter. So does Gobankingrates.
False yet horrific headline
FROM: Joel Gunderson, assistant account executive, We Communications
TO: firstname.lastname@example.com [email@example.com]
CC: Microsoft Media Relations
DATE: Fri, Oct 26, 2018 at 1:46 PM
SUBJECT: Voicemail follow-up
Thank you for your phone call. I'm happy to look into this for you. Please fill out the fields below, being as specific as you can; this information will be most helpful when reaching out to my colleagues.
Phone number:
Kind regards,
Microsoft Media Relations
Now it says, "Frontier Airlines passenger opens cabin door, deploying the emergency slide" ("in flight" was removed). #1810S— Greg Fisher ?? (@creditscoring) October 26, 2018
What is the name of the person who wrote the headline? #TheHed #TheEditors #mediaerror #error #mediacorrection #correction #mediaaccuracy pic.twitter.com/264Sc9oQUp
FROM: Greg Fisher, Truth and Falsity
TO: Joel Gunderson
DATE: Fri, Oct 26, 2018 at 2:20 PM
SUBJECT: Re: Voicemail follow-up
Name: Greg Fisher
Publication: Page A2 (pagea2.com), Truth and Falsity (truthandfalsity.com)
What is the name of the person who wrote the headline, "Frontier Airlines passenger opens cabin door in flight, deploying the emergency slide"? https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/frontier-airlines-passenger-opens-cabin-door-in-flight-deploying-the-emergency-slide/ar-BBOT7OA
Who edited it to say, "Frontier Airlines passenger opens cabin door, deploying the emergency slide" (removing "in flight")?
Does a public notation of that correction exist?
What is your correction policy?
Phone number: 937-681-3224
Deadline: 2018-10-30
Greg Fisher
Truth and Falsity
The Credit Scoring Site
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio 45409-0342
mobile/text 937-681-3224
FROM: Greg Fisher, Truth and Falsity
TO: Satya Nadella, Microsoft; Joel Gunderson
DATE: Sat, Nov 3, 2018 at 11:46 AM
SUBJECT: Re: Voicemail follow-up
You published, "'The Senate will have an opportunity to undo a portion of the Republican campaign to sabotage health care,' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor Tuesday, ahead of the vote." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-democrats-look-to-turn-focus-back-to-health-care/ar-BBOcs33
That is not true. Senator Schumer has never been the majority leader. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-democrats-look-turn-focus-back-health-care-n918321
Make a correction today. I'm not filling out any form.
Greg Fisher
Truth and Falsity
The Credit Scoring Site
PO Box 342
Dayton, Ohio 45409-0342
mobile/text 937-681-3224
NBC made a correction but the error still exists in the internet domain msn.com. Rob Bennett is the editor in chief of Microsoft News.
If Microsoft can't get the fundamental history of The United States of America right, the arcane details of credit scoring don't have a chance.
Vote of no confidence. Falsity remains.
Follow the activity of Item #1810S using that hashtag.


text:
April 28, 2009
Jon Stewart on Photoshop
Regarding the low-level fly-over of NYC by an Air Force One 747 trailed by fighter jets–an act that inadvertently terrorized New Yorkers:
"Hey, you know another way you could've gotten that picture… Photoshop. Remember? We did it? [showing obviously faked picture of Joe Biden flying the plane] Remember?? Oh, but that's right, Photoshop can look so fake–when the look of terror on so many people's faces today, you can't fake that."
My wife made exactly the same suggestion upon hearing the news earlier in the day.
Update: Here's the clip:
|The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
|M – Th 11p / 10c
|Mistakes on a Plane
Well, actually, based on your previous post about the DOD dropping an American flag behind a general, apparently Photoshop modified pictures create a lot of problems for them with news agencies.
[Good point. I think it's all about being clear that an image is a photo illustration. –J.]
Yeah, I totally thought of the same thing! Take the "background" photo from a helicopter and then Photoshop in the Air Force One plane.
Wasn't there a viral ad last year that showed such a 747 being done over in grafiti?
(Small technicality, it's not Air Force 1 unless the President is onboard, even if it's in the Presidential livery)
Everyone here I know was busily using Photoshop as a verb saying that's how it should have been done, too (Google don't like being used as a verb, what's Adobe think about that?)
Give the White House a break. The flight cost only $328,000. (Okay, the second part of the photo shoot, over Washington, would have added another hundred thousand or so.) It put only lebenty-leben tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But it was in a good cause. They needed the new pictures for souvenir cards to give out to folks who ride on Air Force One, and the existing cards are just so last Administration!
Apparently Photoshopping AF1 into various places is now a popular hobby.


text:
Cost cutters: Free shaves surprise dads in Ventura
A Helpful Honda event in Ventura offered a free shave.
The Helpful Honda crew made a stop Saturday in downtown Ventura as part of a weekend event making fathers feel special for Father's Day by giving them a surprise shave. It was one of several weekend pop-up events in Southern California.
Read or Share this story: https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2017/06/18/cost-cutters-free-shaves-surprise-dads-ventura/398597001/


text:
The first of this year's vintage club models arrived yesterday.
They are both beautiful and I just love the boxes with their little handles. I don't feel I can throw it away (yes I do throw them away...), but not sure I can really store four boxes just because I think they are pretty!
Anyway here they are in their pretty rugs:
And this is CRS Perri aka Blossom
And CRS Old Yeller aka Belle


text:
The Group is pleased to announce its appointment to a Framework with Aberdeenshire Council from which annual call off contracts will be issued, up to the value of £44m over its four year duration. The project, which will be delivered through Everwarm, will be mobilised during the first half of 2018 and will run until late 2021.
The Group will provide services covering every facet of housing improvement upgrades in Aberdeenshire, including external upgrades, internal refurbishments, domestic heating programmes and renewable energy installations.
Back to all press releases


text:
Fred Perry X Arktis Mens Green Camouflage Hughes Low Trainer
Sorry, this item is unavailable to buy.
Fred Perry X Arktis Camoflage Hughes Low Trainer in Iris Tundra Camo. Designed in collaboration with kings of camo Arktis, the Hughes Low Trainer is a classic utility styling that features caps to the toes and heel and a chunky lace. Covered with a camo pattern that perfects street wear and finished with Fred Perry's iconic laurel wreath logo.
- Fred Perry X Arktis Camoflage Hughes Low Trainer
- Canvas Upper
- Toe & Heel Piece Details
- Embroidered Laurel Wreath Logo
- Ribbed Side Sole
- Tongue Branding
Info & Care
- Upper: Canvas
- Outsole: Rubber
- Wipe Clean
We aim to dispatch all orders placed before 15:30 on the same day, Monday – Friday. Orders placed after 15:30 or placed at weekends/bank holidays will be dispatched on the next working day (working days are classed as Mon-Fri).
Please see the Delivery page for further information.
Masdings offer 7 delivery options across the UK, Europe and Rest of the world, for more details check the delivery page.
Please return the item(s) to us in their original condition complete with labels* within 14 days of receipt in a protective postage bag/box.
For more information please see the Shipping & Returns page.


text:
- Scheduled Maintenance (4)
- Service Updates (6)
- Tips and Announcements (7)
- Unplanned Outages (35)
Monthly Archives: March 2019
Inbound email and voicemail failure (solved)
A network issue at our Nevada City office over the weekend took our Barracuda spam filtering server offline. Symptoms of the problem were that Spiral customers could log in to their mailboxes, but could not receive any new e-mail. This … Continue reading
Posted in Unplanned Outages Comments Off on Inbound email and voicemail failure (solved)


text:
I have been holding off with the pumpkins because I wanted to save them for later in October, but now I couldn't control myself any longer. I love pumpkins! I love pumpkin carving, pumpkin fields, even the giant boxes of pumpkins in the supermarkets… Pumpkins are simply what sums up the beauty of autumn for me. The natural vibrant colors that reminds us of the season we are changing into. So of Inktober 9, I made a little pumpkin house, because what would be cooler than living in one :p
Inktober 9. 2016 – A little pumpkin House