People aged 65 and over arriving at A&E in England who appear frail will soon receive a “health MOT at the front door”, the head of the NHS will pledge. A&E units must start giving everyone that age a battery of tests to see if they are frail or have any other underlying condition and then arrange whatever care they may need. NHS England hopes the initiative will reduce the number of older people being admitted to hospital, and cut overcrowding, “trolley waits” and “corridor care”.
Amanda Pritchard, the organisation’s chief executive, will tell an audience of health service heads on Wednesday they must ensure by next April that all A&E units start offering detailed assessments of older people’s health. However, the service will only operate for 10 hours a day. “Health MOTs at the front door of A&Es for older people could be a lifeline for many.
From blood pressure tests to a review of their falls history, these checks mean patients can be assessed quickly and directed to the right support for their needs,” Pritchard will say. “While some people do need to be admitted, it isn’t always the most suitable place for older patients’ needs, and they can also rapidly lose mobility while in hospital.” The initiative is an effort by the NHS to change the way care is given to relieve the pressure on hospitals and adapt to the increasing demands of an ageing population.
Assessing frailty is important because falls and the resulting injuries, such as broken bon.
