Investment in older people’s care welcomed

Published: 23 November 2012

The Royal College of Nursing has welcomed the news that £20 million will be spent on helping older people in England stay warm and healthy this winter, but said it must go hand in hand with investment in staffing levels.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced a package of plans to address the challenges of caring for an ageing population.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said: “Older people who live in cold, damp houses are more likely to become ill and require hospital treatment, placing additional strain on hospitals at a busy time of year. It is good to see the Government investing in this area to combat some of the problems.

“At a time when many older people are struggling with energy bills it is important that they receive as much help as possible to stay healthy and comfortable in their own homes.”

Dr Carter said caring for the older population is one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS in the UK.

He added: “We welcome any measures to improve care for the elderly but of course this goes hand-in-hand with proper investment in staffing levels to ensure the best level of care for patients. We don’t want to see the gains from initiatives like this negated by the effect of falling staff numbers.”

Raead more on the Department of Health website.