08.03.11
More older people feel let down by health staff
A rising number of older people feel they are viewed as a “nuisance” by health professionals.
An Age UK survey has revealed that 32% of over-65s feel that way, up from 29% the year before, despite them being the largest age group using the NHS.
The charity has demanded a root-and-branch review led by the new NHS Commissioning Board to identify and eradicate the barriers that older people face in accessing high-quality care.
The statistics are contained in an Age UK report released today called ‘Agenda for Later Life 2011’ which sets out the challenges facing those in later life and the direction that public policy must follow.
Charity director for Age UK, Michelle Mitchell, said: “The NHS, those who fund it and those who work in it need to closely examine the service they are offering to older people. At the moment the NHS is failing those people who use it most and that is not acceptable.
“With an ageing population, the number of older people needing the NHS is set to grow steadily so the NHS must urgently examine every aspect of the service it provides to the over 65s to ensure that respect, dignity and exemplary health care is uniform throughout and that the service is adapting to demographic change.”
The full report, including the charity’s ‘12 challenges’ to the Government, is at www.ageuk.org.uk
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