Beveridge Report: From 'deserving poor' to 'scroungers'

BBC News Magazine has an extensive article on the history of the welfare state and the public's changing attitudes.

Many people today are more suspicious of those claiming benefits, viewing them as 'scroungers' rather than 'deserving poor' - although research shows that benefit fraud is very low.

You can read the full article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20431729

NHS Hospitals Told To Do More For The Homeless

NHS hospitals are being urged to do more to help homeless patients, in a report commissioned by the government.

The report acknowledges that some staff feel that patients' housing needs are beyond the remit of hospitals. But it says a more intensive approach to the homeless can cut the cost of them repeatedly turning up as emergency cases. The report, by Homeless Link and St Mungo's, quotes the example of a special team at University College Hospital (UCH) in London which has helped save £100,000.

Homeless patients are thought to cost at least five times as much as other patients, because they often have multiple health problems and repeated admissions. NHS hospitals are being told to identify homeless patients quickly, and involve housing teams or hostels in their care - rather than discharging them back onto the streets.

You can read more on this story at the BBC News site here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18210825

The full report is available here: Helping Homeless People Regain Their Health: Our Vision For A Better NHS

Creating Services & Welfare To Combat Perinatal Depression

A new report by Family Action argues that welfare cuts and poor quality housing are having a negative impact on mothers’ mental health and their ability to bond with their babies. It suggests that early intervention should mean intervening before at-risk babies are born, by providing services that support vulnerable mothers emotionally and help develop parenting skills, alongside financial support. Whilst there are services for severe maternal mental health problems there is very little for women suffering moderate to mild difficulties. The report also argues that the troubled families programme, although much needed, is not suitable for preventing problems before they cause damage.

The report is available to read here: http://www.family-action.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=19802

Globalisation and UK Poverty

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation have published three papers as part of their programme on Globalisation that is intended to promote and explore the impact of globalisation in the UK and focuses on communities and people in poverty. The reports can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

• The links between global governance, UK poverty and welfare policy
• The impact of global governance on poverty in the UK
• How globalisation is changing patterns of marginalisation and inclusion in the UK