Daddy Daycare TV show gets fathers working in the nursery

Posted on February 21, 2012 by bunburyadmin

A new documentary TV series that follows nine fathers as they swap their day jobs for work in a nursery starts on Wednesday. The three-part series ‘Daddy Daycare’ on Channel 4 sees how nine fathers cope looking after children at three London nurseries under the watch of staff. All of … Continue reading →

Good Care Guide launch prompts concerns

Posted on February 19, 2012 by bunburyadmin

Concerns have been raised about a new website that lets people post their thoughts on care providers in England. The Good Care Guide aims to give relatives a place to go to share their views on the service they have received from care homes and nurseries. Government watchdogs helped develop … Continue reading →

Genetic Parkinson’s disease brain cells made in lab

Posted on February 13, 2012 by bunburyadmin

Scientists in the US have successfully made human brain cells in the lab that are an exact replica of genetically caused Parkinson’s disease. The breakthrough means they can now see exactly how mutations in the parkin gene cause the disease in an estimated one in 10 patients with Parkinson’s. And … Continue reading →

Alzheimer’s brain plaques ‘rapidly cleared’ in mice

Posted on February 9, 2012 by bunburyadmin

Destructive plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients have been rapidly cleared by researchers testing a cancer drug on mice. The US study, published in the journal Science, reported the plaques were broken down at “unprecedented” speed. Tests also showed an improvement in some brain function. Specialists said the … Continue reading →

Older people urged to keep houses warm in February

Posted on February 6, 2012 by bunburyadmin

Keeping your home warm while it is cold outside could potentially save your life. An extra 8,000 people die in England for every 1C the temperature drops below the winter average, according to figures from the Department of Health, many of whom are older people. Last winter, 200 additional deaths … Continue reading →

Manchester’s children’s centres to stay open, but council daycare to go

Posted on February 6, 2012 by bunburyadmin

Manchester city council has confirmed that it will keep all its 39 children’s centres open but will phase out daycare in centres. The council says that there is enough good quality and affordable childcare run by the private, voluntary and independent sector. The plans will be put before the children … Continue reading →

Elderly ‘suffer as social care spending cut’

Posted on January 30, 2012 by bunburyadmin

Spending on social care for the elderly in England is falling this year – despite the assurances of ministers, an analysis by campaigners suggests. The Age UK report said £7.3bn was being budgeted this year – the same as in 2011 – but it represented a drop of 4.5% once … Continue reading →

Autism: Brainwaves ‘show risk from age of six months’

Posted on January 28, 2012 by bunburyadmin

It may be possible to detect autism at a much earlier age than previously thought, according to an international team of researchers. A study published in Current Biologyidentified differences in infants’ brainwaves from as early as six months. Behavioural symptoms of autism typically develop between a child’s first and second birthdays. … Continue reading →

Carers ‘missing out on support’, says charity

Posted on January 28, 2012 by bunburyadmin

People looking after someone with cancer are missing out on “vital support and benefits”, a charity has warned. An Ipsos MORI survey of 386 carers for Macmillan Cancer Support suggests 49% have no support of any kind. Just 5% have had a carers’ assessment by their local authority to see … Continue reading →

First national guidelines for early years nutrition launched

Posted on January 17, 2012 by bunburyadmin

The first ever nutritional guidelines to support early years settings in providing healthy meals for children under five have been launched today by the School Food Trust. The new guidance, The Voluntary Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years Settings, is the first to offer a nationally recognised source of information … Continue reading →