NHS Confederation welcomes report on older people in healthcare

The NHS Confederation has welcomed the publication of a report from the joint committee on human rights on older people in healthcare, regarding its presentation as a key step on the path to enhancing the services provided on the NHS.

It notes that the human rights act can provide guidelines for the delivery of better services, with it necessary that this framework be transformed into genuine action at all levels of the health service to prevent judgements becoming an exercise in list-filling.

Furthermore, the confederation notes that all staff involved in the NHS should not treat care as secondary to cure in treatment, as there must be a focus on both to provide the best outcomes for patients, especially those who are elderly.

Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the body, said: “At the NHS Confederation, we are well aware that although a great deal of care is excellent, there is variability within the system.

“Our members are determined to address these issues through the spread of best practice.”

She added that the extensive use of quotes from members of the confederation in the joint committee report displays the significance of this issue to managers in the health service.

Earlier this week, the NHS Confederation supported the recently published report from Age Concern assessing mental health services for older people, pledging hard work from the Mental Health Network to guarantee the development of the work outlined in the report.