Department of Health announces new leadership on older people's care

Date of article: 25-Jan-10

The Department of Health’s appointment of two new National Clinical Directors to improve care and services for older people has been welcomed by Anchor.

The National Clinical Director for Older People is Professor David Oliver, Consultant Physician and Clinical Director at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, while the National Clinical Director for Dementia is Alistair Burns, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Manchester and developer of the South Manchester Memory Clinic.

Both posts are designed to raise awareness of older people’s issues regarding care and services. The appointments reinforce the government’s stated desire to prioritise older people’s care. The focus on dementia is especially welcome after the recent problems revealed by the National Audit Office in the implementation and progress of the National Dementia Strategy.

Anchor’s Acting Chief Executive Jane Ashcroft stressed that person-centred, choice-based dementia care was crucial to helping older people live happy lives. "Until a cure for dementia is found, the focus should be on high-quality care, which recognises the needs and aspirations of individuals," she added.

Professor Oliver said: "Our ageing population is a success story, but as many older people need to access health and social care, getting their care right is key to improving the whole system. This is an exciting opportunity to ensure that the health, wellbeing and independence of older people is at the heart of our work.”

 
Article Source: Anchor Homes

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