Access To GPs In Care Homes Still Non-Existent For Many, UK

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 26 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Responding to Government plans to improve access to GP services, David Sinclair, head of policy at Help the Aged, said:

'Accessibility to primary healthcare services is a matter of life and death for many sick, older people and we applaud the Government for tackling this.

'However, accessing the services of a GP in care homes is often impossible - this is something which has failed to be taken into account by the Health Secretary. A fifth of care homes have no regular visits from a GP. We wonder if any of the Government's 'satisfied' survey respondents were living in care homes?

'The truth of the matter is that there is over 400,000 older people living in care homes, often with substantial healthcare needs which need to be supported by GPs. Despite this, many older people are struck off their local GP records when they enter a home. Some GPs will simply not register with a care home because home visits are seen as too 'time consuming'.

'This is unforgivable treatment of the single largest group of healthcare users. Alan Johnson states that it is crucial that the 21st Century health service responds to these challenges, but forgetting older care home residents could be condemning thousands to an avoidable early grave.'

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.

http://www.helptheaged.org.uk

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