Dear Sir,

We welcome the social care green paper’s emphasis on the need for better service integration and early intervention.  As specialists in the care of older people, we are only too aware that social, health and housing needs cannot be treated in isolation.  We advocate targeted comprehensive assessments of older people which take account of their physical and mental health as well as their environment and available support.  Such assessments should result in the integrated commissioning of personalised services which maximise an individual’s ability to live independently.  There must be dialogue and clarity over NHS and local authority funding boundaries so that holistic support, provided by multidisciplinary teams spanning the health, social care and housing interface, can become a reality rather than remaining an ideal.

Yours,
Prof. John Gladman
British Geriatrics Society
 
For more information and/or interviews please contact Iona-Jane Harris on 020 7608 8573 or email press@bgs.org.uk
 
The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) is a membership association of doctors, nurses, therapists, scientists and others with a particular interest in the care of the frail older person and in promoting better health in old age.