Summary
The NHS Confederation’s Commission on Improving Urgent Care for Older People has provided further evidence that many persons aged over-65 are admitted to hospitals via accident and emergency (A&E) unnecessarily, usually with relatively poor outcomes and incurring higher costs to the NHS.
Radical solutions proposed by the Commission to avoid expensive and potentially harmful hospital admissions include providing emergency care (and better ongoing support) in the home and the possibility of doctors conducting in-reach “ward rounds” at care homes.
Reference
Triggle, N. (2016). Older people in need ‘let down by NHS’. London: BBC Health News, January 28th 2016.
See also:
Reference
Commission outlines key principles for revolutionising urgent care for older people. London: NHS Confederation, January 28th 2016.
The Independent Commission on Improving Urgent Care for Older People’s vision for excellent urgent care features in the following report:
Reference
Growing old together: sharing new ways to support older people. A report by the independent Commission on Improving Urgent Care for Older People. London: NHS Confederation, January 27th 2016.
Background and related files:
Reference
Growing old together: sharing new ways to support older people. [Resources]. London: NHS Confederation, January 28th 2016.
A literature / evidence review for aficionados:
Reference
Growing old together: what the evidence tells us. London: NHS Confederation, January 28th 2016.
This relates to:
Reference
Appleton, S. [and] Miller, R. (2015). What the evidence tells us about improving urgent care for older people. A literature review to support the independent Commission on Improving Urgent Care for Older People. London: NHS Confederation with the Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) [and] Contact Consulting (Oxford) Ltd, January 27th 2016.
Surge in Emergency Admissions: Not Restricted to the Elderly
Recent news concerning the January 2016 recorded surge in emergency hospital admissions:
Reference
Triggle, N. (2016). A&Es struggle after ‘sharp rise’ in demand. London: BBC Health News, January 29th 2016.
More on the 8% year-on-year increase in attendances at major A&E centres:
Reference
Pym, H. (2016). NHS: Surging patient numbers – what’s happening in A&E? London: BBC Health News, January 29th 2016.
Possibly of interest:
Reference
Triggle, N. (2016). How red bags are bringing NHS and care homes closer. London: BBC Health News, June 27th 2016.