Healthcare services for elderly ‘not good enough’

A survey of doctors has revealed that a majority believe healthcare services for older people are not good enough.

The poll from the British Medical Association (BMA) found that eight in ten doctors think such services are not good enough on the NHS, with one in ten believing that enough money is being spent on the elderly.

Furthermore, less than one in ten believed that the activities provided in care and residential homes were adequate to facilitate the maintenance of mental and physical agility, while two-thirds said there are not enough services to help people with dementia.

Dr Helena McKeown, chair of the BMA’s committee on community care, said: “It is disgraceful that care services are so chronically underfunded.

“For example, cutbacks in my area meant I heard of elderly patients having their bathing reduced from twice a week to once a week, something which they found very distressing and dehumanising.”

She added that without an attached social worker, community psychiatric nurse or physiotherapist, it is difficult to give patients the joined-up care they need.

Earlier this week, the Department of Health announced the launch of a consultation on the future of care services in the UK in an ageing population.