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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of NHS provision for elderly patients. [102290] Mr. Hutton: In 1997, the then Secretary of State my right hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), commissioned the Health Advisory Service to undertake an independent inquiry into the care of older people on acute wards in general hospitals. The resulting report, "Not Because They Are Old" was sent under cover of a health service circular to health authorities and National Health Service trusts in November 1999. The circular required Chief Executives of health authorities, in partnership with colleagues in NHS trusts and social services, to ensure that the findings of the report are considered when preparing joint investment plans for older people. These joint investment plans are an integral part of local health improvement programmes (HImPs) which will include both national and local priorities. We are also developing a national service framework for older people which will set out, for the first time, national standards for the health care of older people. The national service framework will be published next year. We have also taken steps to address a number of areas to improve the care of older people. For example, we have introduced free sight tests for people over 60 and free immunisation against influenza for people aged 75 and over. Our plans to expand cataract services from 170,000 a year to 250,000 will benefit thousands of older people.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

102290; 341 c509-10W

Session

1999-00

Question not reached

Yes

Subjects

Health services Patients Older people

Contains statistics

Yes