Standards in Health and Social Care and Health (formerly Social Services) - what can I expect?
|
|
A Guide for Older People and Carers |
|---|
The National Service Framework for Older People (also known as the NSF) sets out the Government's standards for organisations in England which provide health and social services for older people. It aims to make sure that wherever you live, you receive the same standard of care and that the quality of all services is improved.
 What can I expect?
You should have the same access to services or treatment whatever your age.
The NSF says: "NHS services will be provided, regardless of age, on the basis of clinical need alone. Local Authority social care services will not use age in their eligibility criteria or policies, to restrict access to available services".
This means that:
Health and Social Care and Health (formerly Social Services) should not have policies that mean you get worse treatment or care because of your age.
You should be treated as an individual, with respect for your dignity and privacy.
The NSF says: "NHS and social care services should treat older people as individuals and enable them to make choices about their own care".
This means that:
- Your views, and those of anyone who helps to care for you, should be taken into account.
- You should be involved in all decisions about your needs and about how care is provided to you.
- You should be given information to help you make choices about your care.
- You should not have to work out which person and which organisation is responsible for your care - there should be one named person that you can contact to sort out anything that is bothering you about any aspect of your care.
You should be helped to live as independently as possible.
Older people will have access to a new range of free, 'intermediate' health and social care services which aim to prevent unnecessary hospital admission, provide rehabilitation to enable early discharge from hospital, and prevent premature or unnecessary admission to long-term residential care. Intermediate care may be provided in your own home, or somewhere specially designed to help you get fit before you return home.
 You should receive high quality care in good quality hospital environments.
Hospitals should consider your needs during your stay in hospital, from admission through to arrangements for your discharge and return home. Wards should be clean and food should be nutritious; and the hospital should respect and support your spiritual beliefs and cultural preferences. All staff should be competent in the care of older people and by April 2002, all general hospitals should have a specialist team for older people to make sure that you get good quality care throughout your stay in hospital.
You should have access to services that help prevent you becoming ill through stroke, mental health problems or because of a fall and access to services that provide the best support and treatment available if you do have a stroke, develop depression or dementia, or injure yourself by falling.
By April 2004, every general hospital will have a specialist stroke service and every area will have a specialist mental health service for older people.
By April 2005, every area will have a specialist falls service.
Specialist services help to make sure you receive the best care as quickly as possible by helping to coordinate your treatment, advising you and the people caring for you about the best treatment and rehabilitation options.
You should be helped to lead a healthy, active life.
Local NHS organisations and councils should work together and with organisations like Age Concern to remove barriers to a healthy lifestyle and a good quality of life. This includes offering the annual flu immunisation and helping people to eat well, take exercise and stop smoking. You should also have access to benefits advice and to safe, affordable housing.
You should be helped to take medication safely and get the most benefit from it.
By 2002, everyone over 75 should normally have their medicines reviewed each year and if you take 4 or more medicines you should have a review every 6 months.
Who is responsible for putting these standards into action?
All local health (NHS) and Social Care and Health (formerly Social Services) organisations have to work together to develop a local plan describing how they are going to meet the standards in the NSF (this includes General Practitioners). Each of these local planning groups (often known as the Local Implementation Team) has to involve older people and their carers.
Each Social Care and Health (formerly Social Services) organisation also has a Champion for Older People. They have the role of highlighting older people's concerns and influencing local policymakers on behalf of older people when major plans are being developed. Age Concern's 'Champion's Pledge with Older People' encourages Champions to commit to work to challenge ageism, involve older people and respect the diversity of older people.
 How will I know if changes are being made?
The NSF sets out stages ('milestones') which have to be reached by particular dates. These milestones are monitored regionally and nationally to make sure that progress is being made and to compare progress between areas. It is possible to ask to see the local implementation plan for your area (your local Age Concern may be able to help you do this). It is important that you give your ideas and comments about the NHS and Social Care and Health (formerly Social Services) so that this plan helps you locally.
How can I find out more?
Many organisations are involved with the local planning and delivery of the standards, for example: Age Concern, Pensioner's Forum, Stroke Association, Alzheimer's Society or Voluntary Action Group. These groups may be able to advise you how to get involved locally and help you find out more, as well as advising you what to do if the care you receive does not meet these standards.
View a list of local organisations in Tameside.
|
0161 342 2582/2476
0161 304 5400