UK mixed-sex wards a thing of the past
United Kingdom (UK) advocacy group, Age UK, has welcomed the British government’s announcement to end the use of mixed-sex hospital wards.
“Many older people find mixed-sex wards extremely distressing and an infringement of their dignity, so the announcement to put an end to this type of accommodation for good will be welcomed,” Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, said.
“The issue of mixed-sex wards has been around for a long time and successive governments have failed to fully solve the problem.
“Time and again older people say being treated with dignity and given sufficient privacy is very important to them. As the largest users of NHS services, it is important both government and medical staff come together to get this aspect of care right for older people,” she said.
Seniors get social care control
Giving people who use social care service control of their own budgets is a welcome move, but it risks being a hollow gesture if the British government imposes a 25% spending cut on social care in October’s spending review, says advocacy group Age UK.
Care Minister, Paul Burstow, has announced the government’s intention to allow all recipients of social care to have control of their personal budgets.
Commenting, Michelle Mitchell said:
“Personal budgets can enable people in later life to live fuller and more independent lives. Many people who receive social care will welcome greater choice and control over their personal budgets.
“But at a time when social care spending faces being cut by 25%, then people are right to question whether this is all smoke and mirrors. If the Treasury cuts social care by 25%, three out of four of the 650,000 older and disabled people in England who currently receive home-based care will lose this support, whether it comes as a personal budget or not.
“It is a hollow gesture to give people greater control with personal budgets if spending cuts mean that three out of four recipients will lose them again over the next few years.
