HIV women take photos to document their lives

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but for women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, a picture can help them deal with the challenges of living with the virus.

A University of Missouri researcher is completing a pilot project during which women living with HIV take photos to document their lives. The photos are used to engage women in critical discussions about their lives, identifying both social, mental, and physical challenges and possible solutions for the women. The photos will be presented at two special events. The first event will be held on March 3-6 in Columbia at the True/False Film Festival. The second event will be held on March 19 in St. Louis at the Regional Arts Commission to commemorate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day..


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Bed-blocking on the rise as care cuts bite: Number of elderly patients stuck on wards soars

Growing problem: Doctors are concerned that elderly patients will not receive adequate care when they leave hospital

Thousands of elderly patients are being forced to stay in hospital for longer than necessary because spending cuts mean there is nowhere else to put them, say doctors.

Bed-blocking, which costs the NHS millions of pounds a year, is worse now than 12 months ago, according to a survey.

The problem, which sees the sick waiting for beds while patients whose treatment has finished are told they cannot leave, has been made worse by cuts to council budgets.

Senior doctors and hospital bosses said it is now more difficult for the elderly to get home help and other community care that allows them to leave hospital because of belt-tightening by local authorities.

The survey, conducted for The Guardian newspaper by Doctors.net.uk, polled 502 doctors working in UK hospitals. Half of those questioned said bed-blocking was worse than a year ago, while 40 per cent said it had not improved.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344206/Bed-blocking-rise-care-cuts-bite-Number-elderly-patients-stuck-wards-soars.html#ixzz1A82prcAz