Health and care services

Pensioners Parliament delivers ‘damning’ verdict on health service

ASP Health Committee with Report

Serious concerns have been expressed by Northern Ireland’s older people over health and social care provision.

A recent report by the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament revealed serious concerns among the older population in relation to health and social care provision here.

The report, which represented the views of 700 older people from across Northern Ireland, exposed fears in relation to hospital safety, concerns about home care packages and GP appointments, and anxiety about proposals to introduce prescription charges.

Age Sector Platform, the charity responsible for the Pensioners Parliament, described the report as “damning” and says it serves to illustrate that health and social care provision is only worsening, despite ambitious plans for reform.

Following the publication of the Donaldson Report at the end of last year, the charity is urgently calling for a new costed, timetabled implementation plan for Transforming Your Care, which must be equality screened to help rebuild confidence in the reform process by older people and the rest of the population.

Robert Hasson, from Age Sector Platform, comments: “The fact that more than one in three older people would not feel safe in hospital if they were very ill is an indictment of the health service here.”

“But concerns are not confined to acute care; with three out of four older people describing time allocated for domiciliary care as inadequate, and three out of four finding it harder to get an appointment with their GP compared to five years ago.”

He continues: “These findings should be the basis for decisions made in relation to providing health and social care in future – they represent the voices of older people; the biggest users of the health and social care service here.”

“Worryingly, the majority of older people do not believe decisions made in relation to health and social care are open and transparent.”
Premature decisions made in relation to statutory residential care homes and meals on wheels services have certainly added to this mistrust, Mr Hasson says.

“It’s clear the only way trust can be earned back is through genuine and meaningful consultation with patients and honest communication with the public.”

Recently, there have been proposals to reintroduce prescription charges in Northern Ireland. “Our research shows that the vast majority of older people do not agree with paying for medication. Furthermore, if forced to pay, they would cut back on other essentials or pick and choose between prescriptions.”

“The consequences of these actions could be disastrous for the health and wellbeing of an older person; and will of course cause further financial implications for an already stretched hospital service.”

“Our research is a damning assessment of the current state of our health and social care service.”

“It is clear that change is needed to address the current problems; and with an ageing population there is an urgency to ensure these services meet the needs of people as they grow older.”

The report launch coincided with the hosting of the Pensioners Parliament on Health and Social Care in Belfast at the end of May. The event saw over 150 older people from across Northern Ireland coming together to discuss their concerns, listen to healthcare professionals and question a political panel made up of MLAs from the Northern Ireland Assembly.

To request a copy of the report or for more information about the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament, visit www.agesectorplatform.org or phone 028 9031 2089.

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