Note: this story was originally published last Wednesday but was remvoed at the Scottish government's request as the consultation had been published in error a week early. 

Older people have told the Scottish government that an overreliance on unsustainably financed third sector support, lack of information sharing between health and social care and inconsistencies in available support has held back the delivery of their care.

A consultation on ministers’ proposed integrated health and care strategy for older people has revealed patient transport as the most common complaint.

Based on views gathered during online engagement last autumn, the consultation seeks to understand the impact covid-19 has had on older people and how services can be improved moving forward.

By 2040 25% of Scotland’s population will be older than 65. In the Scottish government’s Statement of Intent published in March 2021, ministers identified the need to adapt services now to meet the increasingly complex needs of older people.

Place and Wellbeing, with a focus on health inequalities, arose as a key theme in the initial engagement.

Equity of local services provision was found to be an issue faced by older people in the consultation, with different experiences across the country but also within the same health and social care partnership.

Figures published this week show people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland can expect to spend 24 fewer years in good health than those who live in the least deprived areas.

In a joint ministerial foreword, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Minister for Equalities and Older People said:

“As we undertake the work to co-produce a Health and Social Care Strategy for older people, we will ensure that health and social care services are designed around the needs of older people, allowing them to enjoy a high quality of life, so they can live actively and independently in their own homes and communities for as long as they wish, and make Scotland the best place in the world to grow older.”

Staffing in home care services arose as another key issue, with many older people reporting their care workers had not turned up when they were expected.

Hospital at Home, where acute care is given in people’s own homes rather than requiring a hospital admission, was seen to be working well in health boards where it is available. The government says it wants to expand this service throughout Scotland.

Older people also told the government they had faced delays in receiving palliative or end of life care when it was required, due to lack of awareness of its availability by either themselves or NHS staff.

The government has committed to producing a new palliative and end of life care strategy in 2022, though questions on this area are incorporated within the recently published consultation.

To support the development of its health and care strategy for older people, the government says it will undertake ‘an extensive consultation and public engagement exercise where we will meet with a wide range of older people, the organisations that support then and clinicians and health professionals who are involved in the provision of health and social care’.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

“I want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow old, with older people living full and rewarding lives, contributing to society and actively involved their health and social care.

“The reshaping and remobilisation of health services following the pandemic provides a unique opportunity to focus on this goal. The consultation we are launching today will enable older people, and those involved in caring for them, to contribute their views and shape our forthcoming Older People’s Strategy.

“Older people are a vital part of ensuring Scotland's future success – essential to our communities, our economy, our public services and to society as a whole.

"By working together we can place older people at the centre of the recovery, remove barriers and ensure an effective, joined up approach to healthy ageing.”

 

 

Read more: Views sought on new carer benefit; Centre to support ageing population; Sector reforms "must put social back in social care"

 

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