Tag Archives: Older care
Why are the lives of disabled people “valued less” than those of others?
Doctors put lower value on lives of the disabled, study finds
NHS doctors are more likely to allow patients to die if they suffer from a mental disability, a damning Government-backed report suggests.
Lives of disabled ‘valued less’ in NHS, claim
By John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor
In some cases doctors may even be making orders not to resuscitate “because” patients have learning difficulties, the three-year study concludes.
In other cases, it found evidence of doctors making more “rapid” and “premature” life-and-death decisions in cases involving the disabled than other people.
People with special needs are also less likely to be diagnosed quickly with conditions such as cancer and “all aspects” of medical care were “significantly” worse for them than for the wider population, it concluded.
Care for the elderly is not good enough
Basic care for elderly ‘lacking’
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
The CQC looked at standards across care homes and hospitalsBasic care for the elderly in hospitals and care homes in England is still not good enough, the regulator says.
The Care Quality Commission report, based on a snapshot of services, found about a third failed to meet all the standards for nutrition and dignity.
It cited examples of call-bells being left unanswered, bad manners and a lack support at meal times.
It comes after the NHS was criticised by the Stafford Hospital scandal public inquiry for not putting patients first.
The Stafford report, published last month, said the NHS system was more focused on corporate self-interest than getting services right.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections were carried out before those findings were released.
