A Shropshire homecare expert has hit out at the poor standards
of care received by elderly patients in some NHS hospitals.
Margaret Rhodes is the founder and managing partner of the
Anchorage Care Group, in Condover, and has over 20 years'
experience in caring for elderly and vulnerable clients.
Her comments come in the wake of a study from the Care Quality
Commission, which revealed a fifth of NHS hospitals were breaking
the law on care for the elderly.
"It's a disgrace that people who are among the most vulnerable
in our society are suffering such undignified and disrespectful
treatment at exactly the time when they need the very best
support.
"I have been involved in the UK Homecare Association for over
two decades, and we played a key role in the campaign for the
introduction of national care standards which have since become
mandatory.
"Our company has achieved the highest quality rating from the
Care Quality Commission, and it's vital that the NHS steps up to
improve its services in a similar way."
The CQC report found that half of hospitals were failing to
provide all-round good nutrition to elderly patients and 40 per
cent did not offer dignified care.
A hundred hospitals in England were investigated, and 49 were
found to have minor, moderate or major concerns about nutritional
standards for elderly people.
In the hospitals that failed to meet the essential standard on
dignity, patients had their call bells put out of reach or did not
receive a quick enough response, staff spoke to them in a
"condescending or dismissive way", and curtains were not closed
around beds when personal care was being carried out.
The hospitals who failed on the essential standard for nutrition
were often found not providing enough help with eating, some
patients had their meals interrupted, and others were not taken to
wash their hands before meals.
Anchorage Care has a network of over 120 carers across the
county, delivering homecare services to elderly people 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, to help them maintain their independence
and stay in their own homes for longer rather than moving into
residential care.