Advertisement

Elderly hospital-leaving warning

Wales' Health Minister has set out plans to reduce the pressure on A&E departments here. The charity Age Cymru is warning that older patients must not be pressured to leave hospital too soon, and without the right support.

View all 5 updates ›

Charity: Elderly must not be left to fend for themselves

Age Cymru says it welcomes the Health Minister's "intention to make sure that people are cared for in the most appropriate place."

The charity says: "it is unacceptable that many older people are currently forced to stay in hospitals for longer than they need to because of delays in assessing their needs or arranging suitable places for them to be discharged to", but says that it has significant concerns.

We must develop a system where the help and support that somebody needs on discharge can be put in place quickly, whether that is back at home or in a residential or nursing home.

However, it would not be right for older people or their families to be put under undue pressure to leave hospital before they are able to do so.

The right support and information must be provided so that people aren’t left to fend for themselves at an extremely difficult and emotional time.

– Graeme Francis, Head of Policy and Public Affairs for Age Cymru

More top news