Patients Must Be Treated With Dignity, Says Help The Aged, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 12 Dec 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Reacting to the Healthcare Commission State of Healthcare report 2008, which shows more improvements in quality of care are needed, Paul Cann, Director of Policy and External Relations, says:

"It's worrying that despite increases in overall funding, the performance of some NHS trusts is still unacceptably poor. This means older people are at risk of secondary infection or are not being treated with appropriate dignity and care.

"Treating symptoms isn't always enough - sometimes a bit of thoughtfulness and care is what's needed to make someone truly feel better. Patients are humans first. Life expectancy is increasing all the time, partly as a result of improvements in healthcare services. But this in turn means those same services are in increased demand.

"For older people, as the largest users of health services, dignity is of paramount importance - having privacy to go to the toilet or help with eating a meal can make the world of difference to their overall healthcare experience. It's worrying that the Commission is yet to see substantial improvement in the experiences reported by older people. We have to push hard until every single healthcare provider succeeds in giving all patients dignity."

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. Visit http://www.helptheaged.org.uk.

Change a life overseas by sponsoring a grandparent today. Visit http://www.sponsoragrandparent.org.uk to find out more.

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