DR UK were one of several disability charities that took part from October 2016 in discussions with the DWP on how it should ensure that disabled people with severe, lifelong conditions were not compelled to attend unnecessary repeat WCAs.

View the new guidance

Speaking on the new guidance, Ken Butler Disability Rights UK's Welfare Rights Adviser said: "The WCA causes stress, fear and anxiety to many disabled people and any effective reform to reduce this must be welcome. The previous longest gap between WCAs that those who will be included in the new policy was just 3 years. But it is an indictment of the DWP that it has taken a year for the new policy to be finalised and after nine years of the WCA being in operation.

Have you heard about the Disabled Children's Partnership? It was launched over the summer by a large group of charities, including Mencap, Contact and The Children's Trust. The network now links more than fifty organisations who support children with a range of conditions, from the Fragile X Society and the Down's Syndrome Association to Young Lives with Cancer CLIC Sargent and the Myotonic Dystrophy Support Group.

Reacting to today's (Thursday 28 September) announcement to defer decision on funding of sleep-in overnight care for a further month, pending more in-depth analysis of liabilities, Royal Mencap Society Chairman, Derek Lewis said:

"It is deeply disappointing that, after many months of review and consideration, the Government is still not able to announce any decision on the provision of support for care providers faced with a £400 million back pay liability as a result of changes in Government guidance on payments for sleep-ins. The further delay will mean that people with a learning disability, their families and carers are subjected to yet more uncertainty and anxiety, while providers will be forced to delay essential investment, and local authorities will struggle to persuade providers to take on new contracts.

Previously HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued a statement, in July 2017, which suspended enforcement activity concerning payment of "sleep-in" shifts by social care providers, until 2 October 2017.

The Government has now made a further announcement which suspends enforcement activity for a further month.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news that Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has withdrawn its plans to remove overnight mental health psychiatrists.

The MP had expressed his concerns over the plans, which were due to come into action this Sunday, saying they were "dangerous" and "inhumane". But the Trust have now back-tracked and have announced they will be delaying the plans until January.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has pressed the Scottish Government to respond to his call for a national falls strategy after a new survey published today revealed that nearly a quarter of over-65s don't do any strength exercises.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapist research found that there is little awareness of how strengthening exercises can prevent falls and injuries, ultimately leading to a better quality of life and fewer older patients in hospital.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news that from today (Friday 29^th September), people with chronic illnesses who claim Employment and Support Allowance will no longer be re-tested. Tim raised the issue earlier this month, after a number of constituents had contacted him to say they'd been dragged to medical assessments despite having a long-term illness.

We often associate social care with looking after the elderly, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. A greater emphasis needs also to be placed on caring for those disabilities and specific vulnerabilities, alongside existing elderly care.The onus is currently on families to look after those who have a disability or vulnerability, and this often comes with vast expense, particularly for poorer households.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called for the government to pause the roll out of Universal Credit. According to the Government's own published figures, currently 1 in 4 people on Universal Credit are being left without income for over 6 weeks. Analysis from South Lakes Citizens Advice suggests 6000 families in Westmorland and Lonsdale will be receiving Universal Credit by 2022.

Another motion, which was successful in the emergency motion ballot, will be debated on Monday, was on the chaos around the Implementation of Universal Credit.

The motion reads as follows:-

Conference notes that Liberal Democrats support the principles behind Universal Credit, namely its aims of simplifying the social security system, improving work incentives, increasing take up, tackling poverty and reducing fraud and error.