Hospital admissions from care homes up by two-thirds

The number of elderly patients admitted to hospital from care homes as an emergency measure has risen by 63% since 2011, the latest NHS figures reveal.

Charities and leading healthcare authorities have stated that this demonstrates what Shadow Minister for older people Barbara Keeley has dubbed “a scandal that has gone on far too long”: care homes facing severe cuts as part of the Governmental austerity drive.

The report states that while 13,906 emergency admissions were made in 2010/11, the figure rose to 22,682 in 2014/15. Analysts believe that a lack of resources caused by the cuts has resulted in many care home residents being neglected until a healthcare complaint becomes an emergency.

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services this month penned a letter to the Chancellor to warn that such an increase in admissions was a direct result of the inability of publicly funded care homes to meet the needs of elderly residents, due to budgetary cuts. The body states that the budget has been slashed by approximately £4.6bn since 2010.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS medical director, last week issued a rallying call to friends and relatives of elderly care clients, asking them to do more to ensure their loved ones are looked after during the winter season, to avoid the soaring numbers of pensioner admissions experienced in winter 2014/15.

Fiona Lowry, our CEO, commented: “It is deeply concerning to see the lack of available resources at care homes leading to an inability to appropriately respond to residents’ health problems. At The Good Care Group, we believe care should enhance quality of life, and our highly trained, live-in carers work closely with clients to monitor their health and prevent hospital admission where possible. This avoids unnecessary distress, and ensures a higher standard of health and happiness in their own homes for longer.”