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Elderly Feel Unprotected by Health System: Commissioner
19 Feb
Summary
- An 87-year-old patient spent weeks in a hospital corridor after a stroke.
- Older people report barriers accessing GPs, emergency, and hospital care.
- Health system pressures are driven by demographic change, not just Covid.
An 87-year-old man described spending "a couple of weeks" on a hospital corridor bed after a stroke, emphasizing the lack of space within wards.
Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Older People, Siobhan Casey, released a report detailing how current health service pressures negatively impact the elderly, creating barriers to essential care.
Casey noted that winter pressures are now constant, driven by an aging population rather than temporary disruptions.
Many older individuals experience extreme difficulty reaching GPs, sometimes requiring hundreds of calls, only to find no appointments available.
This situation, affecting access to doctors, social care, and hospital beds, is unsustainable and requires a comprehensive government approach for reform.
Dr. Alan Stout of the BMA agreed, attributing lengthy waits to underfunding, increased demand, and workforce shortages, advocating for a long-term plan to stabilize and invest in services.
