Care of England's older people still “unacceptably poor”

Despite attempts to improve health and other care services for older people in England in the past five years, progress has been inconsistent and patchy, a joint report from three inspection bodies has found.

The Audit Commission, the Healthcare Commission, and the Commission for Social Care Inspection looked at developments in services since the 10 year national service framework for older people was published in March 2001.

Their report highlights the lack of dignity and respect in the way older people are treated when they are in hospital. Standards of care are still “unacceptably poor.” Examples include using wards and bays designated as single sex for both sexes and moving older people from ward to ward, sometimes in the middle of the night and not always for clinical reasons. …