Move to improve care of elderly

A COMMISSION is being set up to investigate how to improve dignity and care for the elderly in hospitals and care homes.

The initiative is being launched today by the charity Age UK, the NHS Confederation, representing NHS trusts, and the Local Government Group after a series of scandals exposed in the NHS and private sector.

It will establish what works to improve standards and will drive change and improvements to dignity and care for the elderly in hospitals and residential care.

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Doctors, nurses and patient representatives will be invited to give evidence to the commission, which will report next spring.

Dianne Jeffrey, chairman of Age UK, said: “We hear all too often about the appalling care of older people in hospitals and care homes but horrifying headlines alone do not change practice.

“This commission aims to build understanding of why and how older people’s essential care is going wrong and to set out practical solutions for getting it right in the future.“

NHS Confederation chairman Sir Keith Pearson said: “We have seen too many reports highlighting unacceptable levels of care in health and social care.

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“It should not be an option for any part of the service to provide anything but the highest standards of dignity and care to its patients. Getting it right for every patient, every time is a big challenge, but it can be done.

“Regulation has a critical role to play in shining a spotlight on minimum standards, but it cannot deliver the more comprehensive cultural and organisational change that may be necessary. This is an industry problem and the industry must own it.

“We want a warts and all picture of where care is going wrong and how we can put it right.

“Some of the evidence sessions may be uncomfortable listening for those of us who lead the health and social care system. But it is only through an honest look at the issues that we can come up with the right solutions that will work on the ground.”

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