Social services cuts could be 'largest factor' in biggest annual rise in deaths for almost 50 years

'I suspect the largest factor here is cuts to social services - to meals on wheels, to visits to the elderly'

Government cuts to social services could be the “largest factor” in the biggest annual rise in deaths in England and Wales for nearly half a century, according to an adviser to Public Health England.

The new preliminary figures, from the Office for National Statistics, claim that mortality rates last year rose by 5.4 per cent compared with 2014 – equivalent to almost 27,000 extra deaths. The increase is the highest since 1968 and took the total number of deaths in 2015 to 528,340.

Death rates in England and Wales have been steadily falling since the 1970s but this trend has been reversed since 2011.
Advisers to Public Health England told the Health Service Journal (HSJ) that an investigation should be launched following the new statistics. They added that the figures show the elderly, especially women, were now bearing the brunt of a growing crisis in the National Health Service and cuts to social care.

Professor Danny Dorling, from Oxford University and an adviser to Public Health England on older age life expectancy, said: “When we look at 2015, we are not just looking at one bad year. We have seen excessive mortality - especially among women - since 2012.”

He added: “I suspect the largest factor here is cuts to social services - to meals on wheels, to visits to the elderly.
"We have seen these changes during a period when the health service is in crisis, while social care services have been cut back.

"The statistics clearly show that this is the biggest rise we have seen since the 1960s. But this may well turn out to be the greatest rise since the Second World War, taking into account the sustained nature of the rise, as well as other factors, such as the trend for immigration of older people in the 1960s."

It was revealed last year that a £1.1bn cut to adult social care was leaving the country’s most vulnerable people “in jeopardy”. The warning came amid reports that councils had slashed their adult social care budgets by 21 per cent over the last five years.



Dominic Harrison, an honorary professor at Central Lancashire University and Blackburn said to the HSJ that the changes were a “strong and flashing amber warning light [that] something is making the population more vulnerable to avoidable death”.

Mr Harrison added: ‘One of the things this data may be telling us is it is just not possible… to contain costs, improve quality, reduce inequality and improve outcomes within such a rapidly diminishing resource envelope… we need to understand exactly what is happening if we are to prevent it continuing.’

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said a full investigation was needed urgently. She added: "These figures suggests something is going badly wrong…we owe it to older people to investigate why last year's statistics are so unusually high and to take firm action to address the causes, whatever they may be."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "This is provisional data and our experts monitor deaths closely. Excess winter deaths can be due to a number of causes and deaths can fluctuate from year to year. We will continue to monitor this data closely and be advised by experts on any action necessary."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/death-rate-in-england-and-wales-rising-at-fastest-pace-for-50-years-due-to-cuts-to-social-services-a6876486.html

Syl wrote:If social services are cut to the bone, especially for the elderly, it stands to reason death rates will increase because of this.

veya_victaous wrote:Victor's posts are spot on except the bit about the baking system...

Bread is not the problem
http://macadams.co.za/products/baking/

Lord Foul wrote:well we will just carry on cutting...and killing....

the tories promised to reduce the benefits bill and the largest payment on that bill is pensions.

funny how the shysters want "facts and figures" when the die is against them ...yet love hearsay when it supports teir cause...like how every benefit claimant is a scrounger
how billions are "wasted" on fraudulent claims, when the reality is its a pittance
how working is better for you...even when you lie dieing in a hospital bed from terminal cancer....

fuck your facts and figures...there is a putatative link between the cuts made and excess mortality...

it SHOULD be carefully and independantly investigated...and when I say independantly I MEAN independantly

by the WHO or some such body.....and if such a link is found those responsible should be hung from a lamp post and their remains used to decorate westminster as a reminder to future politicians to act in the PROPER interests of the people...not the rich few....

Syl wrote:If social services are cut to the bone, especially for the elderly, it stands to reason death rates will increase because of this.

Stormee wrote:When you are young and in a position to save  in pension plans then do so, then you will have a bit of dosh at hand as you grow old and not be dependant upon the state.
This will enable this scum misgovernment to give the money they would have given you FREE to bleeding forunuz, scumbagz and druggiz.

Why should outsiders get free money off the backs of our needy?

If these forunuz die whilst on our island we will have to pay for their funerals, our own people who have struggled and saved a bit in their younger years will have to pay their own.

Get what you can as MPs do.

Didge wrote:

Stormee wrote:When you are young and in a position to save  in pension plans then do so, then you will have a bit of dosh at hand as you grow old and not be dependant upon the state.
This will enable this scum misgovernment to give the money they would have given you FREE to bleeding forunuz, scumbagz and druggiz.

Why should outsiders get free money off the backs of our needy?


If these forunuz die whilst on our island we will have to pay for their funerals, our own people who have struggled and saved a bit in their younger years will have to pay their own.

Get what you can as MPs do.

Oh shut up with your inane racist drivel

Stormee wrote:

Didge wrote:


Oh shut up with your inane racist drivel

Don't be so rude.

sassy wrote:Many have no families Zack, and of those that do, many of them are struggling themselves, or still have children they are taking care of.  Studies have shown that the people who are caught in between are those in the 45 - 60 bracket.  Many have children who have returned to them through losing their homes, and yet they are also struggling to hold down jobs and take care of their parents.  I'm 70, OH is 66 and still working.  In June we are probably going to move in with my Dad to take care of him (he's 94 next week).  He's still independent and has all his marbles, but struggles physically.  Luckily, he had a stair lift and bathlift put in many years ago.  I'm lucky to be in a position to go and help, but I'm not that well.  If it was me that needed looking after, my daughter would not be able to afford to look after me, I know that.  Some people have never been in the situation to be able to put a lot of money aside, and can't afford to give up their jobs to look after parents.  On top of that, many have children who are old themselves, or ill.   Plus we have the rise in dementia.

Didge wrote:Bullshit, many do have families and to go off a small minority is the worst excuse going when again many people do have families. Its trying to excuse those who do have families doing what is essentially their responsibility
Typical left wing twat trying to excuse families doing what they should do

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Didge wrote:Bullshit, many do have families and to go off a small minority is the worst excuse going when again many people do have families. Its trying to excuse those who do have families doing what is essentially their responsibility
Typical left wing twat trying to excuse families doing what they should do

You can't blame the people for the system either.

You'd be a "twat" if you didn't take advantage of the system.

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

sassy wrote:Many have no families Zack, and of those that do, many of them are struggling themselves, or still have children they are taking care of.  Studies have shown that the people who are caught in between are those in the 45 - 60 bracket.  Many have children who have returned to them through losing their homes, and yet they are also struggling to hold down jobs and take care of their parents.  I'm 70, OH is 66 and still working.  In June we are probably going to move in with my Dad to take care of him (he's 94 next week).  He's still independent and has all his marbles, but struggles physically.  Luckily, he had a stair lift and bathlift put in many years ago.  I'm lucky to be in a position to go and help, but I'm not that well.  If it was me that needed looking after, my daughter would not be able to afford to look after me, I know that.  Some people have never been in the situation to be able to put a lot of money aside, and can't afford to give up their jobs to look after parents.  On top of that, many have children who are old themselves, or ill.   Plus we have the rise in dementia.

It's not that I lack empathy. But the situation(s) you describe above are a consequence of many things. Living longer, for a start. Unfortunately longer doesn't mean quality of life. Hence the rise in dementia.

Other reasons: the wealth gap means husband and wife both have to work, so nobody can look after the elderly. The culture of kids moving out of the family home and the parents not wanting to be a burden to their children.

But there are families our there who use inheritance tax planning, etc, who instead should be paying privately. There are middle class families who can afford a top up. Or if they want to save their inheritance (home, etc) and disposable income, look after their own.

I'm not talking about those who cannot afford or in the case of severe dementia and nursing needs, need full time, professional care.

Didge wrote:

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

You can't blame the people for the system either.

You'd be a "twat" if you didn't take advantage of the system.

Yes i can blame people when they do not support their own families you fuckwit

Only an idiot would excuse that when families can help

sassy wrote:

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

It's not that I lack empathy. But the situation(s) you describe above are a consequence of many things. Living longer, for a start. Unfortunately longer doesn't mean quality of life. Hence the rise in dementia.

Other reasons: the wealth gap means husband and wife both have to work, so nobody can look after the elderly. The culture of kids moving out of the family home and the parents not wanting to be a burden to their children.

But there are families our there who use inheritance tax planning, etc, who instead should be paying privately. There are middle class families who can afford a top up. Or if they want to save their inheritance (home, etc) and disposable income, look after their own.

I'm not talking about those who cannot afford or in the case of severe dementia and nursing needs, need full time, professional care.

Agree there.  I think there is another reasons as well.  Many families have had to travel for work and are either different sides of the country or in other countries.  The world has becomes smaller with travel, but familes are more wide spead than they used to be.  My brother lives in Newcastle, Dad in Norfolk, me in Suffolk, but I know many families who have children in Aunstralia, America, New Zealand etc.

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Didge wrote:


Yes i can blame people when they do not support their own families you fuckwit

Only an idiot would excuse that when families can help

Can you not answer without an insult?

My comment about twats was about anyone who didn't take advantage of the system. It wasn't directed at you, princess.

Didge wrote:

Stormee wrote:

Don't be so rude.

Jog the fuck on

Stormee wrote:

Didge wrote:


Jog the fuck on

You nasty littul man, stop being rude.

Didge wrote:

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Can you not answer without an insult?

My comment about twats was about anyone who didn't take advantage of the system. It wasn't directed at you, princess.

Not when dealing a racist Muslim twat

If you do not like it tough shit

And you wonder why when again you think using feminine terminology as an insult to men, showing again what a sexist twat you are.

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

Didge wrote:


Not when dealing a racist Muslim twat

If you do not like it tough shit

And you wonder why when again you think using feminine terminology as an insult to men, showing again what a sexist twat you are.

I control your emotions. And now you have admitted it.

Lord Foul wrote:you all know all too well what te problem is...its GREED

greedy pigs in corporatioons that dont pay the correct and fair taxes (and are allwed to/encouraged by the tories)

and greedy pigs who should know better but dont give a rats arse as long as "they are all right jack"

what I CANT understand is why the greedy pigs who should know better (the working class ones) are so often in favour of spending evetry-one elses money ANYWHERE but in this country on OUR needy.

You have didge here, who it seems is quite content to allow a senior to slowly wither away uncared for, "becasue their family should care"

what does he suggest...that there be some sort of compulsary way to make em pay??

what when this same family is on wrking benefits...getting tax credits becasue their wages are too low???



What DO you want eh didge...the tory wet dream of the workhouse for anyone not of sufficiently "high birth"?

back to the days of the "poor house"

perhaps we can rebuild a few monasteries to take care of our elders?

or perhaps you and those like you can stop being such tight fisted cnuts and realise that SOCIETY has an obligation to look after its weakest and most vulnerable.

round here they have cut this that and the other...yet last year they found enough to give council heads of departments a 15% rise....Thats right 15%

and guess what................. feckin labour didnt vote AGAINST it...they bastards ABSTAINED...wtf???

Lord Foul wrote:READ the O/P....and try understanding...

"I suspect"

"could"

a speculative piece which sees a causational link between loss of services and increased mortality....
which is NOT unreasonable....

IF this was a link between a disease and increased mortality...there would be a large scale investigation  (c.f. zika virus)

so since there appears to be a linlk there should be an urgent INDEPENDANT inquiry....by the WHO or other INDEPENDANT body

and if the causation is proven those responsible shoud be hung etc....
since it is within the power of a "reasonable" man to forsee that this would be the case.

In fact it is patently OBVIOUS that if you remove support services from those who need them there will be serious consequences....

but hey ho didge ...you carry on your love affair with the party of death and destruction....

Lord Foul wrote:shove your one last try..it aint even your o/p...
who do you think you are...the feckin headmaster?

it shows a possible causational link....

so it should be investigated...INDEPENDANTLY....

but you wouldnt want that would you...

becasue it would show exactly what these cretins have done

Lord Foul wrote:OH and "not being biased" is NOT my job/not a requirement....

lefty's or cons and the far right are fair game to me....

idiots and in some cases dangerous idiots comes to mind, with malice added to the cons list of foulness......

Lord Foul wrote:you all know all too well what te problem is...its GREED

greedy pigs in corporatioons that dont pay the correct and fair taxes (and are allwed to/encouraged by the tories)

and greedy pigs who should know better but dont give a rats arse as long as "they are all right jack"

what I CANT understand is why the greedy pigs who should know better (the working class ones) are so often in favour of spending evetry-one elses money ANYWHERE but in this country on OUR needy.

You have didge here, who it seems is quite content to allow a senior to slowly wither away uncared for, "becasue their family should care"

what does he suggest...that there be some sort of compulsary way to make em pay??

what when this same family is on wrking benefits...getting tax credits becasue their wages are too low???



What DO you want eh didge...the tory wet dream of the workhouse for anyone not of sufficiently "high birth"?

back to the days of the "poor house"

perhaps we can rebuild a few monasteries to take care of our elders?

or perhaps you and those like you can stop being such tight fisted cnuts and realise that SOCIETY has an obligation to look after its weakest and most vulnerable.

round here they have cut this that and the other...yet last year they found enough to give council heads of departments a 15% rise....Thats right 15%

and guess what................. feckin labour didnt vote AGAINST it...they bastards ABSTAINED...wtf???