Exploring variations in access to surgery among older people

"CCGs should evaluate their treatment rates across each 

procedure and seek to explain whether, and if so why, their rates are appropriate. 

CCGs should look to benchmark their own rates against those of their peers, identify 

what action is required to improve access to treatment for older patients and improve 

their assurance process through changes across the commissioning cycle."

Access all ages 2: exploring variations in access to surgery among older people

Royal College of Surgeons, Age UK
July 2014

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Care in crisis: what’s next for social care?

"The care system in England is in crisis. Older people, their families and carers are often placed under incredible pressure navigating a system which is confusing and unfair. Many are denied access to help, while others are forced to sacrifice what they have worked all their lives for."

Care in crisis: what’s next for social care?
Age UK
January 2014
Read more here.

Focus On: Social care for older people

"Given the future trends in population growth and the visible constraints to local government, which is facing further budget cuts in the coming years, it is imperative that we develop better information systems that span care providers for older people."

Focus On: Social care for older people: Reductions in adult social services for older people in England 

S Ismail, R Thorlby, H Holder

The Health Foundation, Nuffield Trust

March 2014

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Supporting working carers

"This report is a landmark statement from business and Government that more can and should be done to support people who want to combine caring for a family member with working."

Supporting working carers: the benefits to families, business and the economy
HM Government
August 2013

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Inner North West London Integrated Care Pilot

"The North West London Integrated Care Pilot (ICP) is a large-scale innovative programme designed to improve the coordination of care for people over 75 years of age, and adults living with diabetes."

Evaluation of the first year of the Inner North West London Integrated Care Pilot
Nuffield Trust
May 2013

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Care for older people

"This research summary sets out projections of public expenditure on social care and continuing health care for people aged 65 or over in England from 2010 to 2022."

Care for older people
R Wittenberg, B Hu, A Comas-Herrera, JL Fernandez
Nuffield Trust
December 2012

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Delay in discharge and its impact on unnecessary hospital bed occupancy

"Elderly patients experiencing acute surgical admission and discharge to community hospitals had prolonged length-of-stay due to significant delays associated with care of the elderly provision."

Delay in discharge and its impact on unnecessary hospital bed occupancy
Majeed MU, et al.
BMC Health Services Research, 2012, 12:410

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Access all ages: assessing the impact of age on access to surgical treatment

"Where there are allegations of rationing of interventions according to age, as opposed to clinical need and potential benefit, these should be investigated by the commissioners of that service and escalated to the NHS Commissioning Board where appropriate."

Access all ages: assessing the impact of age on access to surgical treatment
Royal College of Surgeons of England
October 2012

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Health care quality for an active later life

"This report brings together recent scientific data from diverse sources to shed light on two broad questions:

1. As a country, how successful has England and the UK been in preventing later life disease and disability?
2. How well are we delivering high quality medical treatments for the common disabling diseases of later life?"

Health care quality for an active later life
D Melzer, B Tavakoly, R Winder, S Richards, C Gericke, I Lang
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
May 2012

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Acute medical care for frail older people

"Geriatricians supporting acute medical units will be able to help to identify older people who may be safely managed in the community, probably improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital bed-days."

Acute care toolkit 3: Acute medical care for frail older people
Royal College of Physicians
March 2012

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Continuity of care for older hospital patients

"This exploratory paper draws attention to an overlooked but important topic: the contribution that continuity of care makes to the quality of care experienced in hospital by patients with multiple health problems aged 70 years and older, and also how it affects the experience of the people closest to them."

Continuity of care for older hospital patients: a call for action
J Cornwell, R Levenson, L Sonola, E Potellakhoff
The King's Fund
March 2012

Read more here.