Current Campaigns
How to take part in our TV monitoring survey
For one week from Monday 16 August to Sunday 22 August 2010, help us by taking notes when you watch TV programmes, especially ones that have given you problems in the past. Let us know the results using our questionnaire. (We're monitoring a "normal" week, without exceptional changes to the schedule due to the World Cup or Wimbledon.)
We'd like you to concentrate on BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel4, and Five so that we can target our campaign effectively (but if you feel very strongly about the issue on other channels or on radio programmes please feel free to comment on them). Please make a note of the following: Channel, programme title, date, time and full details of the problem experienced.
Please tell us about as many programmes as possible so that we can get a thorough understanding of the situation and return your questionnaire(s) to us by Monday 30 August 2010.
If you are able to watch television during this week you will need to record your findings on our questionnaire (external link).
Regional Campaigns
Current Campaigns in the South West
South West Regional Organiser, Linda Petherick is looking into the care of people with Dementia in Care Homes. A case came about where those who require over 3 or 4 incontinence pads in any given 24 hours were told they would have to pay for the rest themselves. Sensitive, personal information was asked to determine the patients entitlement. This treatment does not give the elderly patients the respect and dignity that they are entitled to as a human being, which is not acceptable. Linda is researching other areas in the South East where this issue has arisen. Please email linda.petherick@nfop.org.uk if you know of anyone who is affected by this.
Linda is also investigating what happens in residential and nursing homes in relation to air pressure mattresses. In some homes they seem to be given for the duration, but in other homes they are taken away after 12 weeks which leads to ulcers forming.
On-going campaigns
 We work closely with many other organisations. Roger Turner, NFOP’s General Secretary is a member of the Executive Committee of the National Pensioners' Convention (NPC) and six members of our own Executive Committee attend meetings of the NPC National Council. We support all campaigns run by the NPC.
NFOP is affiliated to Age UK and Roger Turner is an elected Trustee of Age UK England. We work closely with them on many issues.
Age discrimination is an important area of our work. We are affiliated to Equal Rights on Age and AGE - a European body, to fight age discrimination wherever it occurs.
We are affiliated to the Continuing Care Conference to give users of long term care services a voice in representation to Government
Major ongoing campaigns which we are engaged in are:
| State pension: |
Securing increases and restoring the link to average earnings for pension increases.
Pushing for an increase in the level of the basic state pension to prevent people having to apply for means-tested benefits Improvements to the State Pension Credit |
| Taxation: |
A review of Council Tax to ensure that it is based on ability to pay and pensioners do not lose as much as one third of their income in taxation Restoration of the 10p Tax band or adequate compensation for those between 60 and 65 who have been adversely affected by the change |
| Occupational pension: |
The protection of final salary schemes for the benefit of current and future generations.
Involvement of pensioner members in the nomination and selection of their scheme Boards of Trustees |
| Health and Social Care: |
Free personal care in England and Wales to bring us into line with Scotland More information to be given to residents in nursing and care homes about what they are paying for.
More help for carers to allow them to cope with the heavy demands of looking after a friend or relative.
Getting rid of Post Code prescribing in the NHS |
| Transport: |
Improvements to railway stations for easier access for older and disabled people |
| Parliament: |
Legislation to outlaw age discrimination in the provision of goods and services following the recent legislation on age discrimination in employment.
Working with European organisations to present a pensioner view to the European Union |
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