British Geriatrics Society

The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) is a professional association of doctors practising geriatric medicine, old age psychiatrists, general practitioners, nurses, therapists, scientists and others with a particular interest in the medical care of older people and in promoting better health in old age. It has over 2,500 members worldwide and is the only society in the UK offering specialist medical expertise in the wide range of health care needs of older people.

DH: End of Life Care Strategy: Second Annual Report

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 10:13 Tom Thorpe

In July 2008 the Department of Health published the End of Life Care Strategy - promoting high quality care for all adults at the end of life. This second annual report sets out the continuing progress in implementing the strategy, highlights the need for further work and identifies the action intended for this coming year. Further information is here.

Still hungry to be heard

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 06:34 RJA

Despite Age UK's "Hungry to be Heard" campaign, for which the BGS' Dr Jackie Morris acted as advisor, in January 2007, a recent report commissioned by Age UK has found that there is still an unacceptable level of malnutrition and under-nourishment in hospitals.

Age UK says that it is a national disgrace and calls for:

All hospital wards to effectively implement its seven steps to end malnutrition
The Government to introduce compulsory monitoring of malnutrition in hospitals
The Care Quality Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of hospital mealtimes

Record increase in NHS complaints

Wednesday, 25 August 2010 09:59 Tom Thorpe

BBC News report that written complaints about NHS hospital and community services in England has seen the biggest annual rise since records began over a decade ago. There were more than 100,000 complaints in 2009/2010, a 13.4% increase on the previous year. For more information go here.

A Call in Time - Age UK's telephone befriending service

Tuesday, 24 August 2010 12:36 Gavin Brown

In May 2005, Help the Aged and Zurich Community Trust launched a three-year national programme, A Call in Time. The purpose of the programme was to provide low-level support and befriending services via the telephone to older people who are lonely, isolated or vulnerable. Eight projects were funded across the country. Following the launch of the programme, Help the Aged commissioned the Centre for Health Promotion Research at Leeds Metropolitan University to undertake an evaluation of the programme and to investigate the direct impact of low-level support, using the telephone as a specific tool of befriending, on older people who are vulnerable.