SalfordOnline
Your local community website
   NHS guilty of 'institutional ageism'Older people face institutional ageism in the NHS, nowhere more so than in mental health. The issue of depression highlights this. Depression is three times more common than dementia and increases with age, with those in the poorest health most at risk. With depression comes a serious personal cost, as well as significant costs to the taxpayer. However, the burden of depression and other mental health diseases falls unevenly. It is predicted that by 2026 the number of people over 75 with depression is set to rise by 30 per cent, whilst amongst the over 85s it will rise by 80 per cent. Furthermore, the Kings Fund claims that by 2026 the only increase in the numbers of people with mental illness will be amongst the older part of the population. Part of the reason for this is the gulf between the mental health services available to those of a working age, and the elderly; just 1 in 6 older people with depression receive any treatment, compared to half of younger people. What is needed is an evidence based approach to developing age appropriate mental health services. This would save money for the taxpayer and deliver significantly improved outcomes for older people. For example, evidence shows that older people's hospital liaison services save money, reduce the length of a hospital stay, cut re-admissions, and result in better outcomes for patients. In addition, crisis home treatment teams have been shown to cut hospital admission rates by a third, as well as reducing hospital stays, and admissions to long term care. This strategy needs to be supported by informing primary care, general hospitals, care homes, and social care staff. The workforce in these sectors must be able to tailor the services they offer to fit both individual and age specific needs. Simultaneously efforts must be made to tear down the remaining barriers between health and social care. Integration of services is essential to delivering equity and efficiency. In practical terms mechanisms like local area agreements could help to drive this integration. In short, government policy needs to shift its focus, giving detailed attention to the health needs of older people and developing a comprehensive approach. The mental health of older people, not just dementia, must be made a national priority for the NHS. The cost of doing nothing is unsustainable. The case for concerted action is unanswerable. Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam. Source: ePolitix.com Copyright Dod's Parliamentary Communications Ltd
Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
