NHS levels of care for the elderly is slammed in report
Author: Rachael Burnett, Belfast Telegraph |
Pensioners are receiving unacceptable levels of care from the NHS, with hospitals being given financial incentives for ‘bed blocking’, according to an independent report.
The investigation, by think-tank Localis and old people’s charity Anchor, concluded the elderly are not getting adequate care in hospital and A&E wards.
It found failures in the health and social care system are resulting in “sub-standard care for the older population”.
The average cost of keeping a patient in a hospital bed is around £1,600 a week but the NHS is footing the bill caring for people who do not need medical care, the report stated.
Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of Anchor, said: “It is older people who are suffering the most from a lack of health and social care integration – facing unnecessary admissions to hospital, experiencing lengthy discharge delays and poor standards of care.”
‘Bed blocking’ was identified as the number one issue and lack of financial incentives to clear blocked beds was cited as one of its main causes.