Older people in need 'let down by NHS'

[maureenho]

Older people in need 'let down by NHS'
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent

Older people in need of urgent help are being failed by the NHS, a group of English and Welsh health leaders say.

Too many over-65s end up in accident and emergency unnecessarily, says the NHS Confederation's Commission on Improving Urgent Care for Older People.

The group said this was because of a lack of help when they fell ill.

It called for radical steps, including providing urgent care at home and getting doctors to carry out "ward rounds" in care homes.

The commission's report said older people were "poorly served" and "all too often forced to go to A&E".

And once in hospital, they faced longer stays and losing some of their independence.

The report said older people needed more help navigating the complexities of the health and care system.

It pointed to an Age UK scheme in Cornwall, where the frailest people had co-ordinators helping organise their care.

It also said GPs could identify and work with patients most at risk of hospital admission.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35411701

[wendy]

I know there was no help for me when I came out of hospital last year.

[maureenho]

I think it varies from hospital to hospital, a relative of ours who had a stroke had good after care at home when she was discharged from a Norfolk hospital recently.

[wendy]

Do you think it depends on the illness?
I only wanted help for one day because I was weak, but someone who had a stroke would need weeks of care.
Certainly someone needs to listen to what is needed for the patient.