NHS to provide more home care

2010-02-22 11:51:26

Health secretary Andy Burnham has announced plans for the NHS to transfer a growing number of services from hospital to the patient’s home. Treatments such as chemotherapy and kidney dialysis are among those earmarked for a change in setting. The move is seen as part of Labour’s plans to tailor health and social care services around the needs of the individual – increasing patient satisfaction and reducing costs. Existing NHS schemes which aim to support people with long-term conditions in the community rather than in hospital or residential care have already saved the NHS around £2.1 billion. Mr Burnham comments: ‘The time has come for the NHS to make a decisive shift in providing more care out of hospitals and in the patient's community and home… By making NHS services truly people-centred and ensuring that patients have access to high quality, integrated and efficient community services, the NHS could save up to £2.7bn a year.’ However, Mr Burnham’s announcement came as the charity Age Concern and Help the Aged released new figures which indicate that providing more NHS services at home may not be enough to help older people stay independent. Their survey results reveal that 60% of older people do not think councils give them enough support to help them stay in their own homes. 80% of respondents rely on friends, neighbours and paid carers to help them manage basic tasks such as shopping and cleaning. Charity director Andrew Harrop comments: ‘Our research clearly shows older people are struggling to live independently in their own homes because the system is failing to provide them with an adequate level of care. Older people and their families deserve a care system which enshrines dignity and fairness – it’s time for our politicians to deliver this for them.’