|
We do our best to keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date in these fast-changing times and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.
Reminder: Deadline Approaching for Feedback on the Annual Fee Review Proposals 2026/27
Devon County Council has published its Annual Fee Review Proposals for 2026/27, and this is a reminder to all providers to share your feedback before the engagement period closes.
Comments on this proposal should be sent using this Microsoft form by midnight on Tuesday 24 February 2026.
The responses received will be considered and fed into our decision-making process before final rates are determined. Providers will be informed during March, and new rates will be applied from April 2026
Information for Older Persons’ Care Home Providers -Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Older Persons Care Homes, Version 1 February 2026
Following extensive discussions and reviews with valuable input from providers involved in the Information Resources Group, the new SOP for older persons’ care homes has now been published. You can access the SOP here. Please use the following Feedback link to submit any further comments or feedback on the SOP.
Notice to All Care Home Providers
The slides from the Care Home Forum which took place on 3 February can be found here.
UK Health Security Agency and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency remind public to stop using some non-sterile alcohol-free wipes
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are reminding the public not to use four specified non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products under any circumstances due to an ongoing risk of infection associated with their use.
Additionally, UKHSA and MHRA would like to remind people that non-sterile alcohol-free wipes, of any type or brand, should not be used for first aid, applied on broken or damaged skin and should never be used for cleaning intravenous lines.
There have been 59 confirmed cases of Burkholderia stabilis identified in an outbreak in the United Kingdom from January 2018 to 3 February 2026, associated with some non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products. A small number of cases continue to be detected. These have included some serious infections which have required hospital treatment and one death has been attributed to Burkholderia stabilis infection.
Burkholderia stabilis is a bacteria found in natural environments, rarely causing infection in healthy individuals and the risk to the general population is very low. However immunocompromised individuals, those with other risk factors such as cystic fibrosis and patients at home with intravenous lines, are at higher risk of developing infection. No person-to-person transmission has been identified.
During outbreak investigations in 2025, the following products were found to be contaminated with Burkholderia. These four products should not be used under any circumstances:
- ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
- Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free
- Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
- Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes (testing revealed contamination with a Burkholderia strain not related to the outbreak cases).
The MHRA issued notices to the sellers of these products in July, resulting in their withdrawal from sale. However, some of these products may still remain in some first aid kits and in people’s homes. Members of the public should check for these wipes in their home including in first aid kits. Anyone who still has any of the identified affected products should stop using them immediately and dispose of them in standard household waste.
UKHSA issued a safety alert to health professionals in June 2025 and have reiterated this advice today.
Dr James Elston, Consultant in Epidemiology and Public Health at UKHSA, said:
“We are reminding the public not to use, and to dispose of, certain non-sterile alcohol-free wipes which have been linked to an outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis.
“The overall risk to the public remains very low, and affected products have been withdrawn from sale. However, we are continuing to see a small number of cases in vulnerable patients, and we are now aware of one associated death.
“Non-sterile alcohol-free wipes, of any type or brand, should not be used for the treatment of injuries, wounds, or broken skin; and they should never be used to clean intravenous lines.
“UKHSA uncovered the link to this outbreak through testing of wipes used by those affected and worked quickly to notify health professionals through a patient safety alert in June 2025. We have provided a further update to reinforce infection prevention and control guidance.
“When treating injuries or cleaning intravenous lines, it is important to follow NHS advice.”
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said:
“Patient safety is the MHRA’s top priority. The MHRA issued Notices to sellers of specific products in July, resulting in their withdrawal from sale. If you have any wipes at home or work, double check they are labelled ‘sterile’ before using on broken skin. Follow the advice of your clinical team, GP or community nurse in the care of your intravenous line.”
Click here to view a staff awareness poster
Capacity Tracker Mandatory Submission Window is Currently Open!
Please note that the ‘Capacity Tracker data submission’ mandatory window opened on 8 February, the window will remain open for mandatory updates until 23:59pm on Monday 16 February.
Please remember that there is a statutory obligation which requires all registered providers to submit data via the Capacity Tracker between the 8th and 14th day of every month (or next working day). Providers risk being issued with a Notice of Intent if they do not update mandatory data for 3 months consecutively or 4 times within a 12-month rolling period.
Good News Stories -
Hand Crafting a Legacy, The Story of Stan Herbert
Stanley Herbert (Stan), a resident at Sundial Care Home, has lived a life shaped by courage, craftsmanship, and a deep love of nature. Born in 1937 in Beckenham and raised in wartime London, his early memories include witnessing bombings and developing a strong bond with his childhood sweetheart, Maureen.
As a young man, Stan earned recognition as a “Young Hero” after rescuing workers from a fire by climbing across rooftops. Though he once hoped to become a carpenter, he first worked for a photographer before finding his calling in farming.
During National Service, Stan served near Benghazi, Libya, as a military dog trainer. He forged a close partnership with his dog, Sly, and enjoyed his service enough to stay an extra year.
Back home, he reunited with Maureen, and the pair married in 1961. They moved to New Zealand for farm work, where their first three sons—Michael, Peter, and David—were born. Missing home, they eventually returned to England, continued farming, and welcomed two daughters, Lindsay and Jessica.
Health issues later led Stan to part-time work in a joiner’s workshop, where his natural woodworking talent flourished. Known for his practicality and “common-sense aesthetic,” he crafted furniture, carved wood, and even helped start a carving group that continues today.
Now retired at Sundial Care Home in Devon, Stan remains connected to his passions. His willow fox sculpture stands proudly in the garden, and his carvings are displayed throughout the home. Loved deeply by his family, Stan is remembered as fearless, practical, and gifted with an innate understanding of the natural world.
If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/
Free Fatigue Programme Transforms Lives for People with MS in Exeter
People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Exeter are reporting life‑changing improvements after completing a free six‑week fatigue management programme delivered by the South West MS Therapy Centre. Often described as one of the most challenging symptoms of MS, fatigue can have a significant impact on daily life, but participants say the programme has helped them regain confidence, energy, and a sense of control.
Designed to empower individuals with practical tools and strategies, the course supports people to better understand their fatigue, plan their activities, and adopt techniques that make everyday tasks more manageable. Early feedback describes the results as transformative, with participants noticing meaningful changes in both wellbeing and independence.
This initiative highlights the ongoing commitment of the South West MS Therapy Centre, a local charity dedicated to supporting people with MS and other neurological conditions to provide accessible, holistic support that makes a real difference in the community.
The work of the South West MS Therapy Centre continues to demonstrate how community‑based programmes can improve quality of life and help people live well with long‑term health conditions.
|
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
Has the support you've provided helped transform someone’s life? Have you got innovative practice to share? Send us your celebratory photos and words and we will help share good practice.
Revisit previous good news stories
|
