Dr Eileen Burns, President of the British Geriatrics Society (BGS), is calling for the NHS 10 ten-year plan to meet the needs our ageing population.

Dr Burns is urging the Government to put older people at the centre of the forthcoming plans for the NHS so that all older people receive high-quality, patient-centred care when and where they need it. Today, to support the changes required to make this happen, the Society has published its priorities for the plan.

In 2018, 70 years after the founding of the NHS, the challenges of meeting the needs of our ageing population requires increased financial investment, reform across health and care services, as well as a clear plan and strong, consistent commitment to delivering it.

Reform of where, and how, patients are able to access care is key to achieving better health outcomes for older people, and vital to realising the benefits of financial investment. BGS is calling for the availability of care and treatment in community settings, closer to where people live. A financially sustainable approach to social care is also called for as it is critical to the success of any plans for the future of the NHS.

Dr Eileen Burns, President of the British Geriatrics Society, commented: “An NHS that better meets the health and care needs of our ageing population will not only benefit older people but society as a whole. In order to improve health outcomes for older people, we need to ensure they are able to access expert treatment when and where they need it, and we are calling for this to be taken into account at every stage of the planning process.”

www.bgs.org.uk