Older people's care: RCN calls for action

Published: 03 December 2012

The Royal College of Nursing has today published a position statement on improving hospital care for older people.

Improving Hospital Care for Older People: A Call For Action identifies seven key themes that must be addressed by commissioners and providers in order to make hospital care fit for now and for the future, including patient-centred care, and dignity and compassion.

Nicky Hayes, RCN Older People's Adviser, said: "We are all aware that there are a number of challenges facing hospitals now and in the future in achieving safe, effective and compassionate care for older people. Older people occupy the majority of hospital beds, often have highly complex health and social needs, and will continue to need access to high quality hospital services in the future, as well as appropriate community-based care.

"The RCN recognises that while there’s much good practice, excellence and innovation in services, there is also much still to be achieved in order to ensure older people receive the level of service they need in the future."

The call for action was developed at a summit event on 26 October in partnership with Age UK, MacMillan Cancer Support, the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, and NHS London. 

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, with colleagues from other medical bodies, has written a letter to The Daily Telegraph saying that older patients are being let down by "systemic failings" in the NHS.

The letter calls upon commissioners and hospital providers to give guarantees that key areas for improving care for older people have been identified and are being addressed.

The letter is seen as a response to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's speech at The King's Fund in which he asserted that patients were experiencing "coldness, resentment, indifference" and "even contempt" in some hospitals.

Download Improving Hospital Care for Older People: A Call For Action (PDF 569KB) [see how to access PDF files]