EDITORIAL COMMENT: Help for the frail (From South Wales Argus)

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Help for the frail

9:11am Wednesday 27th January 2010 in Gwent news By South Wales Argus

WE welcome plans by Gwent NHS chiefs to care for frail elderly people in their own homes and keep them out of hospital beds or care homes where possible.

The Gwent Frailty Programme is based on a model which has already been successful in Torfaen for several years and has made a major difference to the numbers of frail older people treated in hospital.

Instead care teams will be on duty 365 days a year to treat older patients in their own homes, much to the approval of all parties concerned.

We all know that the population is aging as we all live longer.

We also know that too many older people have been marooned in hospital wards and described as bed blockers simply because of the lack of suitable alternatives.

The proposed frailty programme seems to us the ideal way to look after patients who do not need to be treated urgently in hospital and they will generally be happier being looked after in the comfort and security of their own homes.