We know that aids and adaptations can greatly enhance the quality of life of people with arthritis, in addition to supporting them to be as independent as possible in their own homes. The \u2018Room to Manoeuvre\u2019 report highlights their importance and identifies areas for improvement.<\/p>
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The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) supports older and disabled people, including those with arthritis, on low-incomes to adapt their homes to make them safe and suitable for their needs. Funding for the DFG had already more than doubled from £220 million in 2015-16 to £468 million in 2018-19. Autumn Budget 2018 announced an additional £55 million for 2018-19.<\/p>
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An independent review of the DFG - which assesses how the Grant is currently working and makes evidence-based recommendations on how it could change in the future \u2013 was published in December 2018. Together with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government we are carefully considering the review\u2019s findings.<\/p>
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The Government will also be publishing a Green Paper at the earliest opportunity to bring forward proposals to improve the social care system, and the role of housing will be a crucial part of considerations.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-06T16:28:06.427Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Arthritis"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report entitled Room to Manoeuvre, published by Arthritis Research, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations made in that report.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4663", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Bradley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mansfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Bradley"} ], "uin" : "214115"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1050083", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1050083/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The NHS Long Term Plan set out a range of actions to improve health outcomes for disabled children and young people.<\/p>
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Over the next three years, autism diagnosis will be included alongside work with children\u2019s mental health services to test and implement the most effective ways to reduce waiting times for specialist services.<\/p>
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By 2023/24 children and young people with a learning disability or autism, with the most complex needs will have a designated keyworker.<\/p>
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NHS England will work with partners to allow hearing, sight and dental checks for children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both in special residential schools.<\/p>
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Over the next five years, we will see the national learning disability improvement standards implemented across all services funded by the National Health Service, and by 2023/24, a digital flag in electronic patient records will ensure staff know the reasonable adjustments needed by a person with a learning disability or autism.<\/p>
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In 2019/20, we will continue to fund sports and activity prostheses for children who have suffered limb loss or who have a limb deficiency.<\/p>
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The Department continue to work with the Department for Education to ensure health services and social care services work together locally to deliver the best outcomes for children with a disability.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-05T17:13:11.107Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Disability: Children"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve the quality of health and social care services for disabled children.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4663", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Bradley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mansfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Bradley"} ], "uin" : "213463"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1050084", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1050084/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are committed to helping elderly people acquire basic digital skills as part of our broader strategy to reduce digital exclusion. The Government\u2019s Digital Strategy, published in March last 2017, sets out the Government\u2019s approach to tackling digital exclusion. It recognises that for the UK to be a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone, it is crucial that everyone has the digital skills they need to fully participate in society.<\/p>
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In September 2018 DCMS launched a £400,000 Innovation Fund to tackle the digital exclusion of older and disabled people. Three pilot projects will address the digital exclusion of these groups with a view to replicating and scaling successful interventions in future.<\/p>
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DCMS are also supporting the development of Local Digital Skills Partnerships to encourage collaboration between key regional stakeholders to design and deliver innovative digital skills provision locally. Working closely with regional LEPs and Combined Authorities, three regions - Lancashire, Heart of the South West and the West Midlands have already launched with a further three regions - South East, Cheshire and Warrington and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly coming on stream over the coming months.<\/p>
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On 18th September 2018, we published plans to improve adult basic digital skills.<\/p>
We will introduce an entitlement to full funding for basic digital courses from 2020, similar to the entitlements already in place for maths and English. This will provide adults of any age the opportunity to undertake improved qualifications based on new national standards free of charge.<\/p>
<\/p>
We understand that it is sometimes difficult for elderly people to access services digitally. Through around 3000 libraries across England we provide a trusted network of accessible locations with trained staff and volunteers, free Wi-Fi, computers, and other technology as well as Assisted Digital access to a wide range of digital public services where individuals are unable to access these services independently. There are numerous library device loan schemes across the country, many of which have a high take-up by older people.<\/p>
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Government is also tackling digital exclusion via the \u2018Future Digital Inclusion\u2019 programme funded by DfE, managed by the Good Things Foundation and delivered through the 5,000 strong national Online Centres network based out of libraries and other community spaces. There is provision across the East Midlands. To date, this programme has supported 1 million adult learners to develop their basic digital skills, many adults aged over 65 have benefited from \u201cFuture Digital Inclusion\u201d programme (approx. 170,000). Further, the NHS Digital \u2018Widening Digital Participation\u2019 programme develops projects that enable people in England to improve their digital health skills and to increase their access to digital services and tools that support their health and care. A large percentage of those who have benefited from this service are elderly people.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-04T17:24:08.113Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Digital Technology: Older People"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to help elderly people learn digital skills in (a) the East Midlands and (b) England.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4663", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Bradley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mansfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Bradley"} ], "uin" : "213464"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1047737", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1047737/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "