Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022, the BGS is calling for a renewed commitment to investing in health services for older people. The cost of living crisis is making life more difficult for people across the whole of society, as well as putting increased pressure on the NHS, a system already stretched to breaking point by the COVID pandemic.
In this challenging environment, we ask Governments across the UK to recognise and address the needs of the largest population group using health services. We urge them to maintain funding and continue the movement to bring care for older people closer to home as set out in the Long Term Plan in England, and equivalent strategies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Failure to invest in older people’s care is short-sighted and leads to poorer health at greater cost to the NHS. Investing in proactive care in the community and a sustainable social care solution frees up capacity in acute care to address the backlog of people waiting for the care they desperately need.
Ageing is an inevitable, universal process. Older people can be helped to live healthy lives and maintain independence longer with the right support and early intervention. Investing in such care and support improves health outcomes, saves money and relieves pressure on the health system. The BGS calls on Governments to commit to long term investment in older people’s care to ensure we can all live well into old age.
| We are highlighting key issues in older people’s care via a social media campaign. Over the next 8 days, we will promote via Twitter one statistic a day about older people’s health, and what the Government and NHS need to do to invest in care. We invite you to follow our campaign via #BGSInvestInCare @GeriSoc and share these important messages. |
