ELDERLY people in Suffolk who need care because of chronic health problems are being let down by the NHS, a charity has claimed.Figures obtained by Age Concern show that just 8.
ELDERLY people in Suffolk who need care because of chronic health problems are being let down by the NHS, a charity has claimed.
Figures obtained by Age Concern show that just 8.08 people per 50,000 of the population received continuing care funding from Suffolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the final three months of 2007 - the fourth lowest figure in the country.
Continuing care is given to people who do not need to be in hospital but have long-term health needs. The national average is 27.82 people per 50,000 in population who receive funding from PCTs.
Daphne Savage, chief executive of Age Concern Suffolk, said the Government must act quickly to achieve fairness for all elderly people.
“It is very disappointing to find that Suffolk is near the bottom of the league table in terms of the numbers of older people getting NHS continuing care funding to cover the costs of their care.”
Jonathan Williams, chief nurse at Suffolk PCT, said the board recognised more patients would be eligible for care following new Government guidelines and increased its annual budget from £2.3 million to £8.6 million.
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