Healthcare Commission Report On Emergency Services - Help The Aged Response, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 29 Sep 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Emergency Services Must Meet The Needs Of Older People, Says Help The Aged

Reacting to a Healthcare Commission review of urgent and emergency care services, Not Just a Matter of Time, which calls for improvements to the system across England, Charlotte Potter, Senior Health Policy Officer for Help the Aged, says:

"While this report shows some welcome improvements in healthcare services, there remains a way to go before we can be assured that everyone receives the care they need in an emergency. There are still some worrying shortfalls - people with more complex needs, including older people, are still getting pushed from pillar to post.

"When older people are poorly in the middle of the night they want the reassurance of knowing who to call and getting the help they need - all too often the NHS isn't providing this service.

"Until everybody is able to benefit from consistent, high quality health services, there will always be more work to do. It is imperative that the Government and NHS providers take on board the Healthcare Commission's recommendations."

Notes

1. Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

2. Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

Help the Aged