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M&S Money Finds Brits Stick To What They Know And Love

M&S Money has found in its latest survey that once trust has been earned by a service provider, whether they are a dentist through to a shop keeper, loyal Brits will keep returning time and time again. On average, Brits’ relationships with their favourite shops and people do stand the test of time, according to new research by M&S Money to mark the company’s 25th anniversary.

M&S Money Finds Brits Stick To What They Know And Love

The results of the survey showed that people have firm favourites among their shopkeepers and other professionals, with over 3.4 million having remained loyal to their favourites for 20 years or more. Six out of 10 said that good customer service is the main reason they have continued to stay loyal to a person or business and over half cite reliability and good value for money.

Colin Kersley, chief executive of M&S Money, said: “Consumers will evidently stick with businesses and people who deliver great service and look after their customers. Most people can name someone they trust completely, whether cutting their hair, managing their money, decorating their house or fixing their car.

“People clearly feel strongly about good customer service, reliability and trustworthiness as these are reasons why they stay loyal for so long. After 25 years in business, M&S Money has stood the test of time and we know how important it is to continue earning the loyalty of our customers.”

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LV Reports Holidaymakers Ignoring Vital Vaccinations

LV= has reported that holidaymakers are putting themselves at risk of serious illness by not having recommended travel vaccinations, as GPs report a rise in the cost of jabs.

According to travel insurer LV=, more than a quarter (26%) of holidaymakers travelling in the past 12 months went without the recommended vaccinations for illnesses such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Diphtheria.

The LV= report found that most of the holidaymakers who didn’t have jabs (19%) simply didn’t bother to seek medical advice and so were unaware of the health risks they could potentially face and one in fifteen (7%) actually ignored medical advice to be vaccinated.

The research found that cost is contributing to holidaymakers’ reticence to have the appropriate vaccinations, with more than one in ten (12%) who didn’t have vaccinations doing so for financial reasons. As part of the LV= report, GP practices were also questioned about their vaccination prices and close to half (43%) reported a rise in the cost of vaccinations over the past five years. The cost of Malaria tablets has increased most steeply, increasing by more than 11%.

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Boots Covers Volcanic Ash Claims

Boots Travel Insurance has announced that it is covering claims resulting from the closure of airspace due to volcanic ash. Boots Travel Insurance will not invoke any exclusion relating to “closure of airspace by the CAA” and all the conditions and exclusions in the customer’s policy will remain unchanged.

Boots Covers Volcanic Ash Claims

For those policyholders waiting to go on holiday, it means that they may be able to recover the costs of their trips or journeys that would not otherwise be recoverable from another source such as the airlines, tour operators or hotels.

The same stipulations apply for those are who are left stranded abroad. Boots Travel Insurance revealed that travellers left stranded may be reimbursed a travel delay benefit which is designed to contribute towards additional costs incurred such as accommodation, depending on the length of the delay.

Boots Travel Insurance volcanic ash assures travellers visiting locations both in Europe and worldwide that they are covered in the result of any delay. However, this is only if the flight has been delayed for 12 hours or more.

Boots offers three separate cover areas; bronze, silver and gold. The bronze cover offers £20 for the first 12 hours and £10 for each extra 12 hour period the customer is delayed while the silver cover offers reimbursement of £30 for the first 12 hours and £25 for each additional 12 hour period of delay. The gold cover offers £40 for the first 12 hours and £25 for each extra delay of 12 hours.

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M&S Insurance Scoops Industry Awards

M&S Money has been named ‘most trusted motor insurance provider’ and ‘best travel insurance provider for service’ at the 2010 Moneywise Customer Service Awards.

M&S Insurance Scoops Industry Awards

The award winners results follow the largest dedicated customer service survey held in the UK and were presented in front of 270 guests and industry leaders at a black-tie gala in the City of London. From January to March 2010 more than 10,000 responses were received via Moneywise magazine and Moneywise.co.uk which were then carefully analysed by CoreData Research. This information was used to identify those companies, which offer the best service and those, which are most trusted to provide these services, according to the British public.

M&S Money was also highly commended in the ‘most trusted travel insurance provider’ and ‘best motor insurance provider for service’ categories.

Colin Kersley, M&S Money Chief Executive, said: “All our insurance policies are designed with the M&S customer in mind, and we are delighted that M&S Car and Travel Insurance have been recognised at the Moneywise awards.”

M&S Premier Car Insurance protects the policy holder, not just their car, and includes RAC breakdown cover, motor legal protection and a hire car for up to 14 days (breakdown cover provided by RAC for M&S customers and is not available directly from RAC.co.uk).

M&S Money travel insurance offers single trip or annual multi-trip cover. The independent traveller section of the policy* helps customers who choose to travel independently and may not benefit from the protection provided via a package tour. This year M&S Money helped travel insurance customers who were affected by the volcanic ash which grounded flights.

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M&S Money Credit Card Scoops Industry Award

M&S Money has won the 2010 Moneyfacts award for Best Card Provider (Introductory Rate). The awards were announced at the Millennium Hotel, Mayfair, London in front of 300 industry professionals from leading financial institutions who had gathered for the special luncheon which was hosted by ITV News’ Economics Editor, Daisy McAndrew.

M&S Money Credit Card Scoops Industry Award

The awards were presented to those companies that have consistently offered the most competitive products, the best levels of service and shown the greatest innovation in the personal finance world during the last twelve months.

The M&S Credit Card offers:
– 0% interest on all shopping for ten months from account opening
– 0% interest for six months on balance transfers made within six months of account opening (2.9% fee, minimum £5)
– No cash advance fee & 55 days interest free when buying M&S Travel Money with the card
– M&S points earned every time the card is used, with regular bonus offers of extra points on purchases at M&S
– 15.9% APR typical variable. Actual rate received will depend on an individual assessment of circumstances.

Colin Kersley, M&S Money Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that the M&S credit card has been recognised at the Moneyfacts awards. The card not only has a competitive APR but also 10 months at 0% interest on shopping, making it one of the most attractive credit cards in the market.”

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M&S Money Warns England Fans To Take Care When Flying The Flag

M&S Car insurance has announced that according to a new survey over a fifth (22%) of England fans will add a St. George flag to the family car this month to show their support for the England team whilst they play out in South Africa for the World Cup.

M&S Money Warns England Fans To Take Care When Flying The Flag

In the period leading up to the England team, captained by Steven Gerrard and led by manager Fabio Capello, played their first match against the USA on 12th of June, the survey revealed that almost as many women as men were planning on adding the flag to their car. This was 21% of women compared to 24% of men.

As a result of the survey findings which also revealed that 56% of those who are planning on placing a flag on their car will be attaching it to the antennae and 17% will place it by the passenger side wing mirror, and only 13% will be placing the flag in the front widescreen, M&S Car Insurance is advising motorists to put safety first and think carefully about where they position the flag on their vehicle. Worryingly, only 43% of the respondents stated that they believed that flags can be a distraction depending upon where they are placed.

Andrew Ferguson, M&S Head of General Insurance, said: -“Many motorists and their families will be keen to demonstrate their support for England by placing a flag on their car. While it can be a popular way for fans to show their support, we are asking motorists to be aware of the safety issues to ensure they avoid any unnecessary accidents on the road.-“

About M&S Money:
M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc, making 2010 the company-‘s 25th anniversary.

The company is a top-ten credit card provider and the second-largest travel currencyretailer in the UK. M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including home insurance and car insurance, as well as loans, savings and investment products.

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LV= Announces Improvements To Its Protection Range

LV= has announced that it has improved its term rates for higher sums assured, re-priced its FPP Term Assurance, Family Income Benefit and Gift Inter Vivos products, as well as cut prices on its accident and sickness cover under its Mortgage & Lifestyle Protection product.

The changes to the term rates for higher sums assured, typically between £150,000 and £300,000, come soon after LV= re-priced its critical illness cover, meaning LV= is now leading the way on price for many term assurance contracts.

Mark Jones, head of protection at LV=, said: “These improvements will help us offer customers a combination of great experience, proven ability and competitive prices. We make no bones of the fact we are keen to expand our customer base for term assurance, especially at the higher sums assured end of the market.”

LV= has also improved all of its accident and sickness rates for lower risk occupations under its award winning Mortgage & Lifestyle protection product.

Mark Jones concluded: “The re-pricing of our accident and sickness rates within our Mortgage & Lifestyle Protection product for lower risk occupations is a clear demonstration of our strategy for marrying competitive pricing with market leading product innovation. We are very pleased to be able to reduce all of these premiums, as this further enhances an already top class proposition for mortgage advisers.”

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International Figures Show UK Lagging When It Comes To Child Mortality Rate, Prompting Concern From Life Insurance Comparison Site Quoteboffin.co.uk

New research has shown that the UK has the highest child mortality rate in Western Europe. With a rate of 5.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, the UK is falling behind other rich countries when it comes to cutting the number of child mortalities.

International Figures Show UK Lagging When It Comes To Child Mortality Rate, Prompting Concern From Life Insurance Comparison Site Quoteboffin.co.uk

International figures have revealed that child death in the UK, along with the USA, New Zealand and South Korea, has not reduced the number of child deaths as quickly as expected.

The figures, from a team at the University of Washington in Seattle, have prompted life insurance comparison site Quoteboffin.co.uk to speak out about its concerns. A spokesperson for the company explained:

“It is extremely concerning to see that the UK is lagging behind its counterparts. As one of the most developed countries in the world, it seems shocking to think that we are not able to quickly and significantly cut the number of child mortalities.

“To receive this information at a time when the NHS is at the focus of attention makes us hope that ensuring everyone gets the care they need is at the top of the agenda for ministers.”

The UK’s mortality rate saw the country fall from 10th in the global chart to the 33rd and the research also found that the decline in deaths in the under fives is reducing more quickly in poorer countries, according to The Lancet.

However, the BBC reports that the global child mortality rate has dropped from 11·9 million deaths in 1990 to an estimated 7·7 million deaths in 2010 in children under five. While the UK has continued to reduce mortality rates, by three quarters since 1970, a large number of other European countries have overtaken it.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health highlighted the fact that infant mortality is at the lowest rate ever in the UK, but there are still calls for the country to have a close look at neonatal and child care.

Life insurance comparison site Quoteboffin.co.uk is among those calling for increased efforts in the coming years. It said: “While the number of deaths does continue to fall, we believe is it not falling fast enough and would like to see assurances that money will continue to go towards research and medical care for threats to the health of infants.

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LV = Recruiting For Over 300 Staff

LV=, insurance and investment group, has announced it is currently recruiting for over 300 jobs. The jobs being recruited for will be based in locations around the UK including in Bournemouth, London, Huddersfield, Hitchin and Bristol.

LV = Recruiting For Over 300 Staff

LV= offers a wide range of financial products and services including life insurance, protection, home insurance, investments, car insurance, pensions and retirement solutions, pet insurance, travel insurance and commercial general insurance products.

Many of the roles will be based in the company’s general insurance division and include positions in sales, customer services, claims and technical management. Other roles currently on offer are within various head office functions including marketing, ecommerce, finance and human resources.

The company has undergone a transformation since 2007 when a new board led by CEO Mike Rogers, was appointed. As well as a new brand image, the company has opened new offices around the UK and made a number of corporate acquisitions including Highway Insurance and the former GE Life business ‘Tomorrow’.

David Smith, HR director of LV=, said: “LV= is going through a period of significant growth so it’s a very exciting time to join us. Our general insurance operation is a particular hotspot for growth and we are looking for people both with experience in this field but also for individuals who are looking to move into this sector from other careers. When many other financial companies are making cut-backs we are actually expanding so this not only means that there is the opportunity to join us but also lots of great career prospects.”

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LV= Announces Income Protection Enhancements

LV=, protection and retirement specialist, has announced that it has made enhancements to its income protection policy, resulting in another coveted Defaqto 5 Star Rating.

LV=’s income protection policy (which forms part of the protection menu, the Flexible Protection Plan) now includes Guaranteed Increase Options, which means policyholders can increase their cover without any medical or financial underwriting if they:
– Increase their mortgage
– Get married or register a civil partnership
– Have or adopt a child
– Have an increase in basic salary as a result of promotion, changing employer or gaining qualifications.

The policy now also includes Back to Work Support, meaning LV= may provide financial support and advice to help policyholders return to work with confidence.

Plus, LV= has added a Career Break Option where policyholders will be covered (for up to a maximum of £1,500 a month) if they decide to take a break from work. If they then return to the same job within 24 months they’ll be able to go back to their original amount of cover and premium without the need for any medical questions (provided they haven’t made a claim during this period).

Mark Jones, LV= head of protection, said: “These new enhancements further improve our already strong income protection proposition, and will help advisers offer greater flexibility and support to their clients.

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LV= Finds Dodgy DIY Improvements Damage House Values

New research by home insurer LV= has revealed that in the last few years as many as 4.05m homeowners have undertaken electrical jobs without professional help, 3.3m have attempted plumbing work and 1.35m have carried out structural work such as removing walls. 900,000 have undertaken major building works, such as loft conversions, and 450,000 have tackled potentially dangerous gas repairs.

According to the LV= survey, many homeowners admitted undertaking these works in an attempt to improve the resale value of their homes. However, the effects of doing these jobs badly can reduce the sale price of a property by more than 5% in some cases.

John O’Roarke, managing director of LV= home insurance, said: “With house prices falling or stagnating in some parts of the UK, it’s understandable that many homeowners should try to bump up the value of their properties through DIY home improvements.

“But although nine out of ten people in our survey (88%) recognised that jobs like gas work should only be left to the professionals, nearly 0.5m Brits are still prepared to give it a go. Not only could bungling these jobs be dangerous, and costly to put right, but if they caused a serious problem with the property it could invalidate the home insurance cover.”

The LV= report surveyed both homeowners and estate agents, and reveals a myriad of conflicting opinions when it comes to the impact of DIY improvements. 21% of home owners believe that redecorating adds the most value to a house, followed by kitchen refurbishment (14%), garden work (12%), and bathroom replacement (6%).

Meanwhile 69% of estate agents believe decorating will make no difference at all to the asking price of a property. 64% responded that garden landscaping won’t add value; whilst 22% said even a new kitchen won’t improve the price. Estate agents also believe that the sale price of a property could decrease by more than 5% in some cases, if ‘improvement’ work was done poorly.

Despite popular opinion, estate agents say that some of the most costly jobs are likely to have only a minimal impact on the asking price of a home. Those agents who believe that improvement work usually or always adds value reported that a new kitchen, if done well, can add around 2.5% to the price, while a good new bathroom or garden landscaping can each add 2.2%.

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LV= Reveals That Today’s Kids Have Less Freedom Than Previous Generation

According to new research from LV= Streetwise, a charity which educates children about safety, today’s parents don’t allow their kids the same liberties as they enjoyed when they were growing up.

24% of children aged 15 and under said they aren’t allowed to sleep over at a friend’s house, 60% are forbidden to use public transport on their own, and 43% can’t visit their closest park without a parent by their side. In contrast, just 4% of adults were banned from sleeping-over, 2% were forbidden to use public transport or go out on their own in familiar surroundings, like their local town or park.

The restriction on children’s outside activities appears to be a direct result of parents’ growing fears and anxieties. 65% of mums and 63% of dads believe the world is more dangerous now than it was when they were growing up. ‘Stranger danger’ is the biggest worry for 54% of parents, followed by bullying (47%), mugging (47%) and road danger (34%).

On average, children today can look forward to walking to school on their own by the age of 11, use public transport on their own at 12, and babysit their brother or sister by the time they’re 14, compared with the respective 9, 11 and 12 years of age of their parents generation. However many parents know they’re being tougher on their children with 36% feeling uneasy that their kids don’t get the same opportunities as they did to experience freedom as a youngster.

The new research findings mark the launch of the unique LV= Streetwise safety roadshow, which helps to educate children about safety in the home and outdoors using a converted ‘bendy bus’ featuring a life-size kitchen, lounge, and road and rail hazard simulators. The roadshow will be travelling round county fairs and other outdoor events across the UK this summer.

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UK Finance Advice Reforms Essential, Says Life Insurance Comparison Site Quoteboffin.co.uk

The complexity of the many financial services in the UK has resulted in a knowledge gap that leaves some investors and consumers unsure of where they stand, claims insurance comparison site Quoteboffin.co.uk.

The company says that the current debates over financial matters that are taking place in the run up to the elections only serves to further confuse the general public. Quoteboffin believes this increase in the knowledge gap could lead to consumers making rash decisions or choosing to listen to biased or incorrect financial advice.

Financial correspondent Matthew Vincent reported in the Financial Times that the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and independent advisors agree that financial advice in the UK must be reformed. Quoteboffin is concerned that if reforms can’t be agreed on, investors will be at risk of losing out.

“Understanding of financial investments, deals and insurance policies is crucial to ensure that people are able to make an informed choice about the contracts they are agreeing to.

“False, biased or incomplete advice means that consumers could be putting their faith in the wrong person or company, and paying a high price for it.”

The FSA is also vocally backing reforms and is insisting that no matter what the UK elections hold, the government must hold fast to promises that the payment of upfront commission to financial advisors would be banned by 2013.

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Elephant Auto Insurance Welcomes Two New Hires

Richmond, Virginia based Elephant Insurance Services (Elephant), a leading provider of auto insurance announced two important new hires today. John Carpenter has been named Operations Manager, and Greg Minkler has been named Marketing Manager.

Carpenter brings a strong track record in organizational change, operational management, personnel development and external vendor management with Fortune 200 companies. He joins Elephant from his most recent position as Site Director for Insurance Services at Bank of America. Prior to holding that position, Carpenter spent 5 years at Capital One in multiple leadership roles.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of a new organization with a forward thinking approach to providing auto insurance, and am eager to add my experience to such a well run business as it continues to grow and evolve. The operations area at Elephant has a proven ability to provide customers with multiple methods of securing high value auto insurance.”

Minkler joins Elephant from his most recent position at Affinion Loyalty Group as Director of Product Marketing. He brings a history of both B2B and B2C analytical marketing to Elephant. Before joining Elephant, Minkler also held positions with Fair Isaac, as well as Capital One. “I’m excited to help build on the analytical marketing strategy that Elephant is employing in the auto insurance industry. The ability to provide great auto insurance, multiple discounts, and a cheap alternative to high priced policies is dependent on matching the right product and message to the right customer. “

About Elephant
Elephant Insurance Services is a direct-to-consumer (web and phone) auto insurance company.

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LV=’s Annual Results For 2009 Shows Strong Growth Despite A Difficult Year

The latest figures show that LV= achieved a rise in its underlying profit across the year from £41.9m to £44.2m (2008: £2.3m) and a loss in 2006, with the general insurance business making a profit of £7.0m (2008: loss of £30.1m), meaning it went into profit one year ahead of plan.

LV='s Annual Results For 2009 Shows Strong Growth Despite A Difficult Year

Mike Rogers, LV= Group Chief Executive, said: “Despite another difficult year of continued recession and market turbulence, the turnaround of the LV= business continues according to plan. Our core mission of helping our members and customers to look after what they love has enabled us to do more business with more customers.”

LV= customer satisfaction results for 2009 increased to 96% overall compared with 2008 and the number of customers and members grew by 12% to over 3.8m (2008: 3.4m). LV=’s financial strength demonstrated across the year enabled significant holdings in long term growth assets (around 74% of the fund at the year end), should also benefit members’ returns in the longer term.

Additionally LV= policyholders with a £50 a month 25 year savings endowment with-profits policy maturing on 1 March 2010 were at least 39% better-off than equivalent policyholders with four major proprietary companies. In fact the with-profits fund investment achieved a return of 15.4%, 2% above benchmark.

Mike observed, “Our strong investment performance underpins solid returns for our with-profits policyholders, ahead of most of the market, and we also remain strongly capitalised. In 2010, trading has begun strongly, with sales in the first quarter significantly up on the same period last year.

“A strong growth in underlying profit reflects our efforts in re-shaping the business and improving our organisational fitness. Improved awareness of the LV= brand, thanks to our distinctive marketing campaigns, has helped to support a strong sales performance across our life & pensions and general insurance businesses.”

2009 also provided LV with widespread industry award recognition for product quality across life & pensions, general insurance and asset management. These include a Moneywise ‘Most Trusted’ award for home insurance, several Which? recommendations and Defaqto 5 Star awards, plus a Best Lifetime Mortgage Lender award from What Mortgage?

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Lloyds TSB Is Searching For The The Weather Photographer of the Year

A leading panel of award-winning photographers and acclaimed meteorologists launched a major amateur weather photography competition – with a top prize of £10,000.

Lloyds TSB Is Searching For The The Weather Photographer of the Year

The Lloyds TSB Insurance Weather Photographer of the Year will run for six months, culminating in a public exhibition in London where the finalists’ entries will be on show ahead of the winner being announced in November.

The winner will be chosen by an expert panel featuring acclaimed weather photographers Roger Coulam and Mark Humpage – who will be looking for images that capture our love of the weather, demonstrate originality and creativity, and chart the ever changing British climate.

In addition, the public will also have the opportunity to vote on their favourite pictures online, with £100 going to the most popular photo uploaded each week.

Entrants can upload their photos at http://www.lloydstsb.com/weathercompetition.

The Lloyds TSB Insurance Weather Photographer of the Year has been organised by the leading insurer, which is proud to sponsor the Channel 4 weather.

Paula Llewellyn, Head of Marketing Services at Lloyds TSB Insurance said: “As a proud sponsor of the Channel 4 weather, we’ve launched the Lloyds TSB Insurance Weather Photographer of the Year Competition so Brits can show us what they love about the climate, and what ‘British Weather’ means to them.”

Lloyds TSB Home Insurance provides cover for a range of weather related problems such as windstorm and lightning damage.

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Solicitors Seeing Rise In Fraudulent Personal Injury Claims

LV= has issued new research revealing that the legal profession has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people attempting to claim compensation from exaggerated or invented injuries.

Solicitors Seeing Rise In Fraudulent Personal Injury Claims

The research reveals that over half of all solicitors (57%) have noticed an increase in the number of prospective clients faking their injuries in order to make a claim in the past ten years.

Among solicitors who have encountered suspect personal injury claims, over half (52%) say the claims are most likely to involve a car accident, with whiplash the most frequently exaggerated injury (46% of all exaggerated claims). Post-traumatic stress was the next most commonly ‘made-up’ injury (21%) followed by strained muscles (10%).

The vast majority of solicitors (89%) feel that the ‘blame culture’ associated with personal injury claims has been exacerbated by the introduction of the ‘no win no fee’ arrangement, also known as the ‘Conditional Fee Agreements’ system.

The LV= research found that over six in ten legal professionals (63%) believe that TV advertising of these kinds of services is one of the key reasons for the increase in people reporting false personal injury claims. The other reasons cited were people thinking it’s an easy way to make money (70%), an increased awareness of the availability of compensation (62%), and the need to hold someone else responsible (49%) if they had been in an accident.

The legal profession is cracking down on cheats as a result of the findings, with the vast majority of solicitors refusing to take on claims, or strongly discouraging claimants if the facts don’t add up.

Commenting on the findings, Asim Butt, a partner from Keoghs LLP, a law firm specialising in the investigation and handling of suspected fraudulent personal injury claims on behalf of insurance companies, said: “The research by LV= supports the experience within our fraud unit that some types of car insurance fraud are now reaching epidemic proportions. Our legal system is intended to ensure that fair compensation is provided to those who genuinely suffer injury or loss as a result of an accident. It is not there to be hijacked by those who wish to abuse the system by pursuing false, bogus or exaggerated claims. Insurance fraud is not a faceless crime; it is an indirect tax on the public, levied by dishonest people and is an unacceptable feature of today’s society that needs to be addressed.”

Martin Milliner, LV= technical claims director, said: “Genuine cases of personal injury where another person or company is at fault are certainly causes for compensation. However, drivers who invent or exaggerate their injuries to make a claim not only break the law but also push up the cost of car insurance premiums for all motorists. We encourage all solicitors to continue to apply rigorous questioning to anyone claiming a personal injury, and to investigate very carefully any concerns they have about the reliability of a claimant’s story.”

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The Government’s Ambitious Reforms For Social Care Could Prove Just The Tonic For A Healthier NHS

Announcing his ideas earlier this week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown outlined ambitious plans to reform Britain’s social care with the creation of an NHS-style national care service.

The Government's Ambitious Reforms For Social Care Could Prove Just The Tonic For A Healthier NHS

The reform, which will be set into three stages, will begin with a “radical overhaul” of care in the home that will provide support and services to encourage elderly people to live independently for longer in their own homes.

With lengthy waiting lists topping healthcare concerns for many UK residents, it is hoped that the social care reform will help alleviate future strain on the NHS where increased life expectancy of the ‘baby-boomer’ generation could lead to demand outstripping supply.

A representative for www.quoteboffin.co.uk praised the Government’s attempts to future proof the NHS even though the effects of any social care reform could take years to become apparent:

“The Government are right to have acted on current trends that suggest the NHS could face huge challenges in the future. Budget cuts, a growing population and increased life expectancy all add to an already strained NHS so providing improved support means elderly people are less likely to end up in hospital when they could be living independently or in a care home.

“It’s worth remembering though that the effects of any care reform will take years to filter through. If UK citizens are looking to avoid waiting lists and want guaranteed access to prompt treatment they are still better off going private until the benefits of any reform come to fruition.”

The reform has not gone without criticism however as a number of charities and care groups claim the Government’s aspirations – such as free residential care for anyone who has been in care for more than two years – cannot be backed up by solid and sustained local funding.

QuoteBoffin went on to further explain the concerns of those opposed to the reform:

“The social care white paper has met criticism from a number of charities and groups whose job it is to look after vulnerable people – such as disabled adults – who feel their needs have been ignored in favour of looking after the elderly.

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Quoteboffin.co.uk – Calls For Binge Drinkers To Think About The Bigger Picture As NHS Staff Call In Police Protection

Money saving website – www.quoteboffin.co.uk – is asking weekend party goers to consider the repercussions of excessive drinking after it emerged that the NHS spends tens of thousands of pounds a year on police protection for A&E staff.

Police officers are being drafted in up and down the country in a bid to protect the welfare of doctors and nurses treating patients on Friday and Saturday nights.

Branded a ‘war zone’ in a BBC report, the culture of drinking to excess has seen a sharp rise in the number of NHS workers being threatened verbally and physically by drunken patients in A&E wards.

A spokesperson for Quoteboffin.co.uk urged weekend revellers to show greater respect for the NHS by considering the repercussions of their binge drinking:

“No one deserves to work in an environment where physical and verbal abuse is a reality. NHS staff in particular are there to help but their jobs are made increasingly difficult when faced with aggressive situations.

“Party goers need to remember that alcohol is not an excuse for violence towards anyone; let alone someone who is trying to treat patients who are in potentially critical situations.”

Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary and Western General in particular boasts the most advanced violence and aggression policy in Scotland; the two hospitals currently spend £60,000 a year on police support, CCTV and direct lines to police stations.

Other hospitals in areas like Bristol have felt the need to introduce a police presence throughout the rest of the week in a bid to tackle drunken antisocial behaviour.

Health workers are calling on the government and police to impose stricter penalties on people who attack or threaten medical staff.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk went on to highlight the financial pressures of binge drinking on the NHS and beyond:

“Binge drinking and alcoholism is a costly business with taxpayers collectively forking out over £1.5 bn annually while the short and long term consequences of heavy drinking can substantially push up an individual’s health or life insurance premium.

Via EPR Network
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M&S Pet Insurance Warns Chocolate Treats Can Be A Doggy Danger This Easter

M&S Pet Insurance is warning dog owners of the dangers of chocolate poisoning in household pets ahead of the Easter weekend.

Chocolate eggs and other treats left around the house at Easter can be a big temptation to four legged friends, however unlike most people they can become extremely unwell if they eat large amounts of chocolate which is intended for humans.

The toxic chemical within chocolate is called Theobromine and the amount contained within chocolate varies according to the type and quality of chocolate. Dark chocolate usually contains high levels of the toxic chemical, compared with white chocolate which contains comparatively little. Even a small amount of high quality dark chocolate eaten by a dog can cause clinical signs such as hyperexcitability and restlessness, vomiting, tremors and convulsions.

While M&S Pet Insurance policyholders have access to a 24-hour advice line, 365 days a year, meaning that if the worst happens this Easter they know they have support at the end of the phone, as it is much better to avoid the problem in the first place.

Vetfone nurses provide concerned pet owners with immediate advice on an animal’s condition and can decide whether emergency medical treatment is required.

Vetfone Deputy Operations Manager, Clare Scantlebury, said: “Easter is a great excuse to indulge in all things chocolaty, but dog owners should think carefully about storing chocolate eggs in a safe place out of the reach of hungry dogs.

“The potential danger depends on the amount of chocolate eaten, the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate and is showing signs of illness, seek medical advice immediately.”

David Wells, M&S Head of Insurance, said: “It’s not just the chocolate at Easter which can cause illness and injury in pets. We have seen claims when dogs have eaten small novelty toys from Easter eggs and shredded plastic used as packing material in Easter baskets.

“Small toys may cause internal damage or an intestinal blockage which can be life threatening. Ideally keep these objects well out of reach of your pets and supervise your dogs closely if children are playing with the toys.”

Via EPR Network
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