Healthcare crisis for elderly who are enduring chronic pain from lack of NHS support

Huge numbers of elderly people are enduring chronic pain and anxiety due to the lack of support and care that the NHS is able to provide to them, leading to a variety of unmet support needs.

A report by Age UK has drawn attention to this estimating that over 12% of people over 50 in the UK are being affected by this issue, equating about 2.6 million people.

The situation has been intensified by the pandemic, with elderly people whom receive care been forced to manage their own health at home without essential support. The report suggests that those with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart failure are having constant difficulty with everyday tasks due to lack of support.

In the winter it is expected that the crisis will climb to its peak, with the volume of elderly people unnecessarily stuck in hospitals due to the lack of basic social care increasing.

Prof Adam Gordan, the president of the British Geriatrics Society states ‘The levels of excess mortality and of morbidity and suffering that we’re seeing in the system as a consequence means this is now a healthcare crisis’

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care have expressed that the situation for the elderly will improve by expanding community teams and virtual awards. It is claimed a proposed £200m will be invested to free up hospital beds and reduce the pressure on A&E. However Age UK report that there are 165,000 vacancies in social care workforce which is constantly increasing.

Further reading

Hospital negligence claims – Oakwood Solicitors

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