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Improving the care of older people in Northern Ireland

We are all getting older. The impact of existing government policy not only affects the current population of older people in Northern Ireland – it will continue to impact on each one of us in the future.

Despite the high standards of healthcare that exist in Northern Ireland, the British Medical Association Northern Ireland, (BMA(NI)), is concerned that the care of older people is sometimes deficient, despite the many strategies, policies and care standards that exist. This is unacceptable.

It is the aim of the BMA(NI) to not only highlight the deficiencies, but also to work constructively with stakeholders, healthcare providers, policy makers and government to ensure that there is equity of access to high quality healthcare for all sections of our community, including older people; and that healthcare should remains free at the point of use for all those in need.

In order to explore issues regarding older people’s care with a range of stakeholders in Northern Ireland, and to see if consensus could be reached in terms of recommendations to improve care of older people in Northern Ireland, the BMA(NI) invited representatives from the community and voluntary sector to participate in a workshop under the auspices its Patient Liaison Group. A full list of stakeholders who have contributed to this policy is contained in Appendix 1.

The outcomes from the workshop have been developed into 11 recommendations, which, if acted upon, will improve older people’s care in Northern Ireland. While funding is essential for some of the recommendations, little is required for others.

If local policy makers are serious about improving healthcare for older people, then action is needed now.

Download the paper in full .

See also the joint BMA(NI)/IMO paper 'Care of Older People on the island of Ireland'

Further information contact:
Sara Morrow
BMA(NI) Policy Unit
Telephone: 028 9026 9666
email: smorrow@bma.org.uk