Age UK responds to unsafe hospital discharge report

AGE UK RESPONDS TO THE PARLIAMENTARY HEALTH SERVICE OMBUDSMAN'S ‘UNSAFE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE REPORT

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:

'Most people would assume that in a civilised society no older person would ever be pressured to leave hospital without adequate support being in place, yet recent calls to Age UK's advice line also show that in our hospitals today, good basic discharge practice is by no means guaranteed.

'As such this report and the dreadful cases it describes mark a new low in what looks like a continuous downward trend in the capacity of our health and care system to look after our older people adequately - indeed, on occasion even in its ability to keep the most vulnerable safe and alive.

'Good practice is about much more than just money but it is surely no coincidence that the position is getting worse at a time when the NHS is under appalling financial pressure and the social care system is falling apart at the seams.

'We cannot go on like this. The Government needs to get a grip and arrest the process of decline, and if that means re-opening the Spending Review and investing substantially more in the NHS and in social care then that's what they should do, and quickly.'

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Media contact: Liz Fairweather

• Tel: 020 3033 1718
• Out of hours: 07071 243 243
• Email: liz.fairweather@ageuk.org.uk