Almost half of doctors who care for older people believe the NHS is "institutionally ageist", according to a poll.

Half of doctors believe NHS is 'institutionally ageist'
article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"A total of 47 per cent thought the NHS was ageist while 55 per cent said they were worried themselves about how the NHS would treat them in old age.

The survey, of 201 doctors who specialise in caring for older people and are members of the British Geriatrics Society (BGS), was carried out for the charity Help the Aged.

More than six in 10 (66 per cent) doctors agreed that, in their experience, older people were less likely to have their symptoms fully investigated.

Meanwhile, 72 per cent thought older people were less likely to be considered for, or referred for, essential treatments like neural surgery or chemotherapy.

More than three-quarters (77 per cent) were also in favour of laws preventing age discrimination in the NHS."

Rising number of serious complaints about the NHS

Number of complaints against the NHS soars

Extract from the Telegraph:

"A growing number of NHS complaints are being upheld amid falling nursing standards and rushed GP appointments, according to a report published today.

The Healthcare Commission, the independent watchdog, investigated more than 10,000 cases last year. Complaints included cases of patients left in soiled bedding and allegations about rude nurses.

The commission upheld 20 per cent of complaints, more than twice as many as the previous year. Almost a third of complaints about hospitals involved lapses in basic nursing care.

Patients reported that they did not receive regular baths or showers and, in some cases, were left for hours in soiled bedding or clothes.

Nurses barged in on patients when they were changing and could be "abrupt" or "sharp" when speaking, making them feel like a nuisance, the watchdog found.

In some cases call bells were left out of reach and elderly patients were not given help with eating.

Patients also complained that they were given revealing hospital nightgowns to wear.

Charlotte Potter, from Help the Aged, said: "It is astounding that 30 per cent of complaints about hospitals concerned lapses in fundamental aspects of nursing care.

"Nutrition, privacy and dignity, and communication should not be optional extras. It is never acceptable to be left in soiled bedding."

Complaints over GPs included claims that they were too busy to spend enough time with patients.

More than 20 per cent of those who complained about GP service said that the diagnosis of their illness had been incorrect or delayed because of the lack of time. Most of these cases involved the eventual diagnosis of cancer.

Patients also complained that GPs withheld full information about their treatment because of fears that they "could not cope"."

Most patients rightly fear being 'punished' if they make a complaint - especially those without relatives to protect them from victimisation or bullying, so the number of complaints is very much an underestimate of the dissatisfaction felt.

Pensioners' quality of life is worsening.

Quality of life getting worse, say older people - Telegraph

Extract:

"More than a quarter of older people say that their quality of life has worsened in the past year, researchers report today.

A survey for the second annual report into pensioners' lives by the charity Help the Aged found that more than nine out of 10 of those questioned felt their lives had not improved - and 28 per cent felt they had worsened. The report also showed that more than a fifth of older people were now living in poverty, with 11 per cent in severe poverty.

While excess winter deaths had fallen by almost a fifth, the study warned that 1.25 million pensioner households across Britain were suffering from fuel poverty.

Worries about money led 20 per cent of older people to avoid heating their bedroom, living room or bathroom, the survey found.

Of those entitled to pension credit, 40 per cent were not receiving it and 47 per cent of pensioners failed to claim council tax benefit. One in three on the lowest incomes were spending more than 10 per cent of their income on council tax."

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