NEWS RELEASE FROM THE
REGISTERED NURSING HOME ASSOCIATION
Issued 3rd November 2005
GOVERNMENT, LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND NHS
NEED TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER TO PREVENT
MORE WINTER DEATHS
The UK’s nursing home leaders have called on the Government, local authorities and the NHS to get their act together in the coming winter months to prevent yet a further rise in the number of excess deaths.
The plea from the Registered Nursing Home Association (RNHA) for better planning and co-operation between all the relevant agencies comes after publication of figures showing that the number of excess deaths recorded across the country during the 2004/05 winter was a third higher than in 2003/04.
Commented RNHA chief executive officer Frank Ursell: “Time and time again we have asked the Government to make sure that social services, hospitals and primary care trusts engage with the independent and voluntary care sectors at a local level in planning how best to protect the elderly and the vulnerable during the coldest part of the year.
“Sadly, there is little evidence that the Government listens. As a result, we see poor co-ordination of services, wasted resources and a lack of information about who is doing what. If only all parts of the care system could work together, many of these excess deaths would be prevented by ensuring that older people receive the level of care they need when and where they need it.”
Added Mr Ursell: “For some older people, especially those with chronic conditions that are easily exacerbated by inclement weather, brief stays in a care home could provide the respite they need to get through a difficult patch. There is considerable expertise available within nursing homes to advise on which packages of care and support are likely to make the most difference. Such interventions could save lives.”
The RNHA wants local authorities and NHS bodies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to invite representatives of independent nursing homes, residential care homes and domiciliary care providers in every city, town and rural area to discuss their ideas on how to reduce the number of excess deaths during the winter of 2005/06.
Said Mr Ursell: “The UK has one of the most sophisticated care systems in the world.
We are also one of the richest countries in the world. Yet the apparent inability of public authorities to marshal our resources means that unnecessary deaths take place every winter. It is a disgraceful situation which, I am sad to say, reflects once again the relatively low priority accorded to the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.”
END
For further information please contact:
Frank Ursell, Chief Executive Officer, RNHA
Tel: 0121-454 2511 or 07785 227000
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