FORMER NHS CHIEF HOSPITAL CLOSURES COMMENTS: RIGHT IDEA, WRONG ORDER SAYS SAGA.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

September 1, 2011.

FORMER NHS CHIEF HOSPITAL CLOSURES COMMENTS: RIGHT IDEA, WRONG ORDER SAYS SAGA.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s organisation Saga, commenting on former NHS chief executive Lord Crisp’s view that more hospitals should close, said:

“This is the right idea, but gets things in the wrong order. In reality, the faster and more comprehensively domiciliary care is developed - backed by a robust and realistic care funding process – the sooner hospital costs and demand for beds will fall,” said Dr Altmann.

“Lord Crisp states that there is an over-capacity in hospitals. However, we feel that the priority is to ensure efficiency and effective use of hospital beds. Many people stay in hospital longer than they need to or drop into the NHS unnecessarily so a properly supported and funded home based system that would ensure those that are able to return home can do so much earlier, would release pressure on the NHS and allow for a proper assessment of any over-capacity.

“If hospitals are closed or departments contracted before the social care system – particularly domiciliary care - is developed, then matters will get worse rather than better.

“The key is the implementation of the findings of the Dilnot Commission – more money for care – and fast.”

ENDS

Further information:

Saga Press Office

01303 771529.

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

SAVOY VENTURES AMBULANCE STAFF TO GET FIRST-IN-REGION EMERGENCY CARE TRAINING

SAVOY VENTURES LTD.

NHS PATIENT TRANSPORT

PRESS RELEASE

September 2, 2011.

SAVOY VENTURES AMBULANCE STAFF TO GET FIRST-IN-REGION EMERGENCY CARE TRAINING.

Staff at Greenhithe-based Patient Transport Service provider Savoy Ventures Limited are to undergo training which will qualify them to a standard unique in the region.

Care assistants and drivers providing patient transport for people being transferred to and from South London Healthcare Trust hospitals are to undergo an Emergency Care Assistance course operated by the renowned Chesterfield College, a leader in sector training.

“What this means to patients being transferred by Savoy staff is that, for instance, drivers who have First Aid certificates will undergo training and development which will qualify them to work as frontline ambulance crew alongside paramedics – we have already signed up 48 staff to the course,” said Jonathan Smith, Savoy Training Manager.

“We believe Savoy staff will be the first in the region to undergo such training, which will also raise their qualifications to an equal footing to that of NHS staff.”

The training involves 400 hours of online components, lectures and field internship, and also involves students third-manning in ambulances with paramedics and ambulance technicians, with successful students gaining an L2 Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Health (Emergency Care Assistance).

As well as providing strong and highly qualified resource for patient transport services, Emergency Care Assistants (ECAs) are qualified to get involved in responding to emergency calls to provide care to patients, driving ambulances, assisting paramedics, using medical and life support equipment.

Savoy Ventures Limited is a private company providing patient transport and transfer services to NHS Trusts in the South East of England. Established in 2006, Savoy makes more than 240,000 patient transfer journeys a year. Savoy Ventures Limited is engaged by a number of NHS Trusts to carry out blue-light transfers, specialist wheelchair, incubator, bariatric chair or stretcher transport, notes/X-ray transfer, and movement of tissue between hospitals. Many staff are trained and qualified to Ambulance Technician level.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.savoyventures.com

TREASURY COMMITTEE CALLS FOR CONSUMERS TO BE PROPERLY CONSIDERED BY THE BIG BANKS

DR ROS ALTMANN 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA 
PRESS RELEASE 
  
August 24, 2011.

ABOUT TIME TOO - 
TREASURY COMMITTEE CALLS FOR CONSUMERS TO BE PROPERLY CONSIDERED BY THE BIG BANKS
 
 

• Payments council told to review decision to withdraw cheque guarantee cards and cheque abolition by stealth!

 
 

Saga, the over 50s organisation which has campaigned for the retention of cheques, welcomes recommendations for their future protection.  

The Treasury Select Committee has just released the full report of its inquiry into the decision of the UK Payments Council to abolish cheques by 2018. "The report is a damning indictment of how banks have tried to ride roughshod over the needs of ordinary citizens, especially older people, who simply cannot manage their money without using cheques – and underpins the view that the banks are simply out of touch," said Dr Ros Altmann, director general of the Saga Group. 
 
Saga research shows that more than 70% of over-65s disagreed with the abolition of cheques, and 18% of over-75s did not know how they would manage or definitely would not be able to pay all their bills without cheques.  They will all be delighted that a committee of MPs is standing up strongly for them.

Those who are housebound, disabled or who worry about carrying around large amounts of cash, rely on cheques to pay their bills and many of them have written to Saga pleading for a reversal of this decision. Older people often do not trust electronic cards and pin numbers and would be at risk if they have to give these to someone else to make payments. They manage their finances by the use of cheque books, to keep a record of their account balances and reconcile them regularly, something they’d be unable to do without a written payment record.

Small traders and charities often rely on cheques for payment of their bills or receiving donations. Grandparents send cheques for birthday or other gifts to their grandchildren and would not be able to do this any other way.  

“It is a shame that it took the might of the Treasury Select Committee to force a change of heart. It’s now crystal clear that the UK Payments Council - made up mostly of banks – needs representation from a much wider cross-section of society: those affected by banking policy, not just those affecting banking policy. continued Dr Altmann, 
 
"Saga is delighted to see the treasury select committee flexing it's muscle to protect bank customers.  It's also delighted with the further recommendations to consider the reintroduction of cheque guarantee cards, proper regulation of the UK payments council, parliamentary oversight of decisions regarding cheques and proper consumer representation on the UK payments council itself."


ENDS

ASTRAEUS CEO FULGONI DEPARTS FOR NEW CHALLENGE

ASTRAEUS AIRLINES

COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT SOURCING AND MANAGEMENT

PRESS RELEASE

August 16, 2011.

ASTRAEUS CEO FULGONI DEPARTS FOR NEW CHALLENGE.

Mario Fulgoni, Chief Executive of Astraeus Airlines Limited Astraeus Airlines Limited, the Gatwick-based aircraft leasing and management company, is to leave the business at the end of August 2011.

“This is an entirely amicable departure, and is something which I have been considering for some time. During my stewardship, my team and I have change the Astraeus business model from charter and scheduled service operator to an aircraft sourcing and management business. This has been against the backdrop of the turbulent times for our industry, and whilst I have enjoyed the challenge immensely, I now feel I have taken the business as far as I can, and, while it sounds clichéd, I now need a new challenge,” said Mario Fulgoni.  

“I have enjoyed working closely with the Icelandic shareholders with whom I have had a good working relationship, and believe I will be leaving Astraeus well-placed in its market. 

“As a life-long aviation professional, it is likely I will be staying in the sector and will undoubtedly be maintaining contact with the business, and very likely to work with Astraeus again from time to time, in some capacity,”  said Mario.

Mario joined Astraeus Airlines Limited as a founding director in April 2002 before moving to Alpha Aviation in 2005 and returning to Astraeus to become Chief Executive in early 2008.

Pending the announcement of Mario’s successor as CEO, Astraeus Executive Chairman Skarphedinn Steinarsson will hold the post.

Astraeus Airlines operates a fleet of eleven Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft and one Airbus A320, all on contract with a number of airlines, primarily on an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) basis. During Mario’s tenure as CEO, Astraeus has achieved a worldwide Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), 180 ETOPS and is IOSA accreditation. Astraeus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eignarhaldsfelagid Fengur HF which also owns Iceland Express.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

+44 (0)7788 978800 / im@pressrelations.co.uk / www.flystar.com

Twitter @AEU_Astraeus

HOUSING UNITS’ EMPLOYEE OF A LIFETIME

HOUSING UNITS

PRESS RELEASE

July 27, 2011.

HOUSING UNITS’ EMPLOYEE OF A LIFETIME.

Marcus Huntington may have been awarded Employee of the Month for sales support at home furnishings store Housing Units, but for one man he was the employee of a lifetime – literally.

For Marcus is a qualified First Aider at Housing Units, but it was those skills – gained under training with the north Manchester-based store – that helped save the life of a man who collapsed in a shopping centre near his home in Middleton.

“I was out shopping, saw and heard a commotion, saw a little old lady trying to carry out CPR, so just stepped in and, assisted by a security guard, did what I’ve been trained to do,” said Marcus, who is a member of St John’s Ambulance.

“The shopping centre had a defibrillator – which I’m trained to use – and I managed to keep the man going until the paramedics arrived. It was a surreal experience, but it just demonstrates that not only have you only a few minutes to save somebody’s life, but the benefit of First Aid training can make a massive difference.”

Nick Fox, director of Housing Units, said: “While his support for colleagues and customers alike meant he received a lot of nominations from colleagues for the Employee of the Month award, it’s his quiet calm and life-saving skills that make Marcus truly exceptional as a person, not just an employee.”

Marcus has been with Housing Units for seven years. His St John Ambulance duties include everything from tending to injuries amongst the crowd at Premier League football matches, through to being on watch at local events such as fetes and parades.

Marcus was awarded store vouchers as part of his Employee of the Month recognition, but he has passed them on to his wife, Carol, who he considers much better able to make the best of them.

Housing Units – known for its top-hatted doormen - was established in 1947. It is a family-owned furnishings retailer based in Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9BA, next to Junction 22 of the M60. It stocks 30,000 high-quality lines across a range of departments in two buildings and a crescent of specialist shops, and prides itself on its unique style of customer service, the value of its goods and the shopping experience it provides.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

0161 929 0446/07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.housingunits.co.uk

CHEQUE SCRAPPING PLAN BOUNCED – A CREDIT TO COMMON SENSE, SAYS SAGA.

DR ROS ALTMANN
DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA
PRESS RELEASE

 July 13, 2011.

CHEQUE SCRAPPING PLAN BOUNCED – A CREDIT TO COMMON SENSE, SAYS SAGA.

Commenting on news that The Payments Council will not be scrapping cheque books, Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s group Saga, said:

"Money in the modern era is easy-come-easy-go; the ceremony of writing a cheque gives importance to a transaction, and reminds people of an era when money was a great deal more scarce, and a great deal more valued.

"This is a fantastic victory for common sense - Saga has daily contact with millions of older people, and we have led or backed every effort to ensure the powers that be know that the cheque is well short of being past it.

“There are millions of older people who have spent far more of their lives in the paper age - using cheques - than in the electronic, paperless, age. Our independent Populus research showed 67% of older people disagreed with the banks’ plans to phase out cheques. Eight per cent – around two million over-50s - said they would not manage at all to pay some of their bills if they did not have cheques.

"As well as being a practical system to which they have become accustomed, older people also feel that cheques give some comfort that there's proof their money is moving around under their control. And if, for instance, they want to send their grandchildren a birthday gift, donate some money to a small charity or pay their plumber, they will be able to continue with the convenience of cheques.

“They are bombarded with warnings about guarding their card details – and not all older people have credit or debit cards - and those warnings have, in their minds, simply underpinned their concerns about handing over card details, and steeled their determination to keep the cheque alive and kicking.

“Abolishing cheques would have made things easier for the banks, but would have made life much harder for their customers. 

 “I’m delighted that the Treasury Select Committee has flexed its muscles on this one and stood up for customers against the strength of the banking sector – it is encouraging to see the banks have backed down and seen common sense too.”

 Ends

Further information:
Dr. Ros Altmann
Director-General, Saga
ros.altmann@saga.co.uk
www.saga.co.uk
07545 504513
Twitter @SagaRosAltmann

Saga Press Office

01303 771529.

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

SOUTHERN CROSS CLOSURE: KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED - AND RING-FENCE CARE SPEND, SAGA TELLS GOVERNMENT.

DR ROS ALTMANN
DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA
PRESS RELEASE

July 11, 2011.

SOUTHERN CROSS CLOSURE: KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED - AND RING-FENCE CARE SPEND, SAGA TELLS GOVERNMENT.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of over-50s group Saga, says the Southern Cross care homes closure maintains the pressure on Government to ring-fence spending on care provision, to keep residents and their families well informed of developments in a bid to drive certainty and reassurance – and to drive plans to enable people to benefit from receiving care in their own homes.

“This has become a fast-changing news story, so communication with those most affected – residents and their families – must be clear, consistent and frequent to avoid the uncertainty that plagued those affected in the early phases of the demise of Southern Cross,” said Dr Altmann.

“In June everybody involved resolved to deliver a decisive way forward for Southern Cross and its residents by the autumn of this year. There was a degree of certainty in that – although not enough, of course – and while we are pleased there is now some progress towards resolution, of paramount importance is that residents, their families and the staff need reassurance about the future level of care provided in the care homes being transferred to new owners or operators.

“The fundamental problem remains that Government has historically not put enough money into care; we say that a priority must be to enable more people to receive care in their own home. But local authority budgets are being cut, and they are not willing to pay enough to cover the costs of providing care of a quality that ensures dignity and decency to care home residents – or those wanting to stay in their own home - so in the case of care homes, individuals or families end up subsidising state-funded residents which is obviously not a sustainable situation.

“The £2billion that Government has supposedly given to local authorities for additional care funding is not ring-fenced for care, so it is not being spent on care - and councils are still cutting care budgets, not increasing them despite the growing demand and need for care. This is a problem across the whole care sector and needs to be addressed urgently.

“We have been looking at just one example, Worcestershire, where the local authority is willing to pay just £70 a day to cover full board, meals, accommodation and staff to look after residents. It doesn’t take a financial expert to appreciate this is simply not enough to cover costs, particularly as inflation has reached such high levels.

“The Southern Cross situation stresses the importance of driving through Andrew Dilnot’s recommendations – whether in current form or modified – which will help capacity and funding alleviate pressures throughout care provision.”

Ends

Further information:
Dr. Ros Altmann
Director-General, Saga
ros.altmann@saga.co.uk
www.saga.co.uk
07545 504513
Twitter @SagaRosAltmann

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800