New beginning for care for elderly people?

doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7308.337/a

BMJ 2001;323:337 ( 11 August )

Letters

New beginning for care for elderly people?

National framework could transform care for older people in England

Proposals for intermediate care are reinventing workhouse wards

Problems with mental health are important too

Framework's recognition of importance of stroke has substantial implications

Framework will have considerable effect on primary care

Authors' reply

National framework could transform care for older people in England

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ Grimley Evans and Tallis criticise the national service framework for older people.¹ I agree with them that thepolicy to reduce emergency admissions to hospital only among theover 75s is ageist. Application of the framework's age discriminationstandard means that this high level performance measure will haveto be changed to an age standardisedmeasure.

The framework model for intermediate care services requires there to be comprehensive assessment, active rehabilitation, andmedical leadership involving both hospital specialists and generalpractitioners. There will be no return to 1960s-style convalescenceand other forms of marginalising olderpeople.

On research strategy, the national framework supports the recommendations of the research and development strategic reviewto establish a national research advisory network for older peopleand for a directed programme of research; this has already commissioneda £1.2m programme to evaluate intermediatecare.

On information provision, the framework will ensure scrutiny . . . [Full text of this article]