Aged pensioners malnourished, uncared for in hospitals

Aged pensioners malnourished, uncared for in hospitals
The situation of elderly patients seems bleak with recent reports emphasizing how malnourished they are in hospitals. Statistics show that over 7,50,000 pensioners face severe under-nourishment and hence greater risks of diseases as well as complications during surgery. Their helplessness seems accelerated by the obvious hesitation of NHS to divert more funds for them.

The report claims that there is great negligence on the part of health care officials with patients often getting the kind of food that is unsuitable to them. In some cases trays are carelessly kept too far away causing difficulty for the patient to even reach the food.

Many others require persuasion and aid while eating, all of which is currently not made available to them. Some relatives of patients have complained that unless they are present and helping the patient, he or she either eats too little or with great difficulty.

Age Concern director-general Gordon Lishman while lamenting on this sorry state of affairs said that this was a disgrace to the concerned hospitals and other health establishments. Apart from that, he added that this increases the burden economically as well since risk to health is greater and duration in the hospital is longer.

Meanwhile, a joint letter has been sent to Chancellor Gordon Brown regarding the funding currently provided for the aged by the NHS. Although the aged are allotted one-sixth of the total NHS budget amounting to a little over $10 billion, more is required in order to provide them with the help and comfort they need. Added, in the past few years, the NHS has received increases of around 7%, which has not reflected in the funds allotted for the aged. At most, this group has seen an increase of 2% to 3% in recent years.

A spokesperson for the treasury stated that while the views of the signatories will be considered, exactly how allocation and spending will be done can only be disclosed in the coming year.