An article examined findings from a national evaluation of intermediate care, focusing on the relationship between hospital services and intermediate care. It raised questions about the extent to which intermediate care would be able to rebalance the existing health and social care system, and make a substantial contribution to tackling concerns about emergency hospital admissions and delayed transfers of care.
Source: Jon Glasby, Graham Martin and Emma Regen, 'Older people and the relationship between hospital services and intermediate care: results from a national evaluation', Journal of Interprofessional Care, Volume 22 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined the views of practitioners and managers on the implementation of intermediate care for elderly people across England. Intermediate care did not appear to be achieving its full potential for alleviating pressure within health and social care systems. The strengthening of capacity and workforce, improvements to whole-systems working, and the promotion of intermediate care among doctors and other referrers were identified as key future priorities.
Source: Emma Regen et al., 'Challenges, benefits and weaknesses of intermediate care: results from five UK case study sites', Health and Social Care in the Community, Volume 16 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
A report highlighted problems in the quality and accessibility of primary healthcare services for older people.
Source: Primary Concerns: Older people's access to primary care, Age Concern England (020 8765 7200)
Links: Report | Age Concern press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Oct
A report summarized the key findings from a group of 16 studies designed to inform and assess the implementation of the National Service Framework for Older People.
Source: Janet Askham, Health and Care Services for Older People: Overview report on research to support the National Service Framework for Older People, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Oct
An article said that proposals in the Darzi review of the National Health Service for improving the supply of family doctor services in deprived communities underestimated the degree to which, relative to their healthcare needs, older populations experienced low availability of primary care. Many deprived practices appeared to have a better match between need and supply than practices serving affluent but ageing populations: but practices serving the oldest and most deprived populations had the worst availability of all.
Source: Sheena Asthana and Alex Gibson, 'Deprivation, demography, and the distribution of general practice', British Journal of General Practice, Volume 58 Number 555
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Oct
An article examined the receipt of effective healthcare interventions in England by people aged 50 or more with serious health conditions. Shortfalls in receipt of basic recommended care were most noticeable in areas associated with disability and frailty, but few areas were exempt. Efforts to improve care had 'substantial scope' to achieve better health outcomes, and particularly needed to include chronic conditions that affected the quality of life of older people.
Source: Nicholas Steel et al., 'Self reported receipt of care consistent with 32 quality indicators: national population survey of adults aged 50 or more in England', British Medical Journal, 14 August 2008
Links: Article | RCN press release | CSP press release
Date: 2008-Aug
A report criticized mental health services for failing to treat the 'vast majority' of the 2 million people over 65 in England who showed signs of depression.
Source: Undiagnosed, Untreated, At Risk: The experiences of older people with depression, Age Concern England (020 8765 7200)
Links: Report | Age Concern press release | Help the Aged press release | MHF press release | Alzheimers Society press release | Community Care report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Aug
The government published a strategy to improve care for the dying in England, including giving people more choice over where they died.
Source: End of Life Care Strategy: Promoting high quality care for all adults at the end of life, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Strategy | Summary | Hansard | DH press release | NHS Confederation press release | Kings Fund press release | Help the Aged press release | Alzheimers Society press release | RNHA press release | RCN press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jul
Two linked research studies and a literature review (commissioned by the Department of Health) examined the costs and benefits of eliminating age discrimination in the provision of health and social care.
Source: Julien Forder, The Costs of Addressing Age Discrimination in Social Care, Discussion Paper 2538, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent (01227 823963) | Jennifer Beecham et al., Age Discrimination in Mental Health Services, Discussion Paper 2536, Personal Social Services Research Unit/University of Kent | Richard Edlin et al., Cost-effectiveness Analysis and Ageism: A review of the theoretical literature, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences/University of Leeds (0113 343 8005) Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Literature review
Date: 2008-Jun
The Court of Appeal ruled that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence should have been more transparent in the way it made decisions over the availability of drugs to treat advanced Alzheimer's disease – though it did not overturn NICE's ruling on their use.
Source: Eisai Ltd, R (on the application of) v National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Court of Appeal 1 May 2008
Links: Text of judgement | NICE press release | Alzheimers Society press release | BBC report | Telegraph report | Guardian report | FT report
Date: 2008-May
An audit report said that free personal and nursing care in Scotland needed to be better planned, managed, and funded for it to continue to benefit older people in the future.
Source: A Review of Free Personal and Nursing Care, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report | Audit Scotland press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Feb
A report examined regional differences in the health of older people within England. It included information on issues ranging from life expectancy to quality of life.
Source: Indications of Public Health in the English Regions 9: Older People, Association of Public Health Observatories (0191 3340398)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jan
A report by a committee of MPs said that the Department of Health had not given dementia the attention it deserved. Many sufferers were not being diagnosed early enough and, when diagnosed, ended up in hospital beds or care homes, deprived of the specialist care they needed.
Source: Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia, Sixth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 228, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Alzheimers Society press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jan