Older People's Services
Elderly 'being left to go hungry on wards'
Elderly people are being left to go hungry on NHS wards, a report has claimed.
Labour accuses SNP of hypocrisy over bed cuts
Labour has accused the Scottish government of “staggering hypocrisy” after figures showed more than 1,100 hospital beds have been cut in the past three years.
Hospital drivers to vote on strike action
Health staff who drive patients to and from hospitals are to be balloted for strikes in a row over plans to privatise their work.
'Postcode lottery in end of life care provision'
A postcode lottery exists in whether patients approaching the end of their life are able to die in hospital or at home, a major piece of research shows.
£400m NHS funds may go to social care
The Department of Health is considering transferring around £400m of NHS funding to councils next financial year to partially plug the gap in their social care budgets.
C diff target increased to 50% in Scotland
NHS boards in Scotland are being asked to meet an increased target in the reduction of over-65s catching Clostridium difficile in their hospitals - placing the figure now at 50%.
Early breast cancer diagnosis could save 1,000 lives
A total of 957 deaths from advanced breast cancer could be avoided each year in England if its early diagnosis rates matched those in Norway and Sweden, research has shown.
Dorrell chairs health committee
Former health secretary Stephen Dorrell has been elected chair of the Commons health committee.
CQC review uncovers nursing failures and poor staff supervision
Nursing failures and poor staff supervision were discovered at a mental health unit after an investigation into the deaths of six elderly patients, the Care Quality Commission has said.
NHS staff vetting plans to be scaled back
Home secretary, Theresa May, has promised to scale back “draconian” plans for vetting people working with children and vulnerable adults to bring in more “common sense”.
Leaders clash over healthcare at general election debate
The leaders of the three main parties made history last night as they crossed swords in the first ever televised prime ministerial general election debate.
Care white paper opts for care free at the point of need
The government has staked its general election chances on the establishment of a national care service akin to the NHS.
£4m telecare funding announced
Scotland’s public health minister Shona Robison has announced £4m of telecare funding for high-tech devices that help older people stay in their own homes.
Care bill funding drops 'death tax' plan
The government will rule out today what critics have branded a “death tax” to fund social care for the elderly.
Government to launch social care white paper on Tuesday
Number 10 and health secretary Andy Burnham are preparing to launch the long awaited social care white paper on Tuesday.
NHS elderly care review launched
The Welsh government has launched a review into the level of respect and dignity given to the elderly in hospitals.
Dementia funding being diverted
Health trusts are spending money intended for dementia on other things, an MPs’ report has said.
King's Fund sets out social care funding proposals
Elderly people who need social care should foot part of the bill so current standards can be maintained as costs soar over the next 15 years, according to a new study.
CMO's report: national plan needed to cut winter death toll
A national cold weather plan should be developed to help reduce England’s annual winter death toll, chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson has said in his final annual report.
Elderly care row escalates
The row over reform of care for the elderly escalated over the weekend as Labour and the Tories accused each other of sabotaging attempts to reach a cross-party consensus.
More on Older People's Services
Residential care commissioning leaves room for improvement
Despite their complex needs it has been revealed that many care home residents lack access to specialist services, reports Stuart Shepherd
Patient safety: falls prevention
Assessing patient at risk of falling should not be left to nurses and geriatricians alone but must involve professionals from across disciplines, says Helen Mooney
How to improve end of life care
The 2008 end of life care strategy allocated £286m to primary care trusts. Lynne Greenwood looks at some of the innovations and improvements being made with the cash
The national standard for intermediate care
A successful pilot audit of standards in intermediate services is expected to be rolled out on a national scale, writes Lynne Greenwood
Integrated services: reducing hospital admissions among older people
Integrated services mean many older people can stay out of hospital while receiving care, says Stuart Shepherd
Lower leg care: no one left out on a limb
Leg Clubs are a social model for managing treatment such as ulcer care, where patients can feel in control and share information, says Julian Tyndale-Biscoe
