Doctors are failing to understand the need of elderly patients which leads to many unnecessary deaths, according to the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome report published Friday 12th November.

Only a third of the elderly patients admitted to hospitals for operation receive good care, the report has revealed based on a survey of 820 patients aged over 80, who have dies within a month of having surgery across the UK.

A large percentage of these patients were admitted to the hospital following fractures and also internal bleeding due to blocked intestine. Over 50% of those who were admitted could have received better care while 6% received treatment that were not adequate.

20% of patients had to go through clinically significant delays between their admission and surgery. The report also highlighted that 71 hospitals did not have appropriate pain management services.

"Most patients were admitted as emergencies by very junior doctors without timely input of senior care-of-the-elderly clinicians. There is a long way to go to ensure good practice and appropriate care," said Ian Martin, one of the report's authors.

Dr. Kathy Wilkinson, another author of the report said: "It is shocking that the survey has revealed organisational failures to respond to the suffering of elderly patients. I hope our report is a wake-up call,"

NHS Confederation policy Director Jo Webber said: There is absolutely no excuse for poor care, regardless of the age of the person involved.

"Where the best care is offered – and there are many good examples – these things will be in place, backed by a culture of learning and continuous improvement. But the NHS will want to get this right every time for every patient. It is clear that we are not quite there yet and this is an important report to learn from."

Patient's group has called the findings of this report a "national disgrace" along with charities for older people.

Michelle Mitchell, of the Age UK charity, said: "This report is a stark reminder that far too often older people in the UK receive second or even third rate care in hospital, condemning many of them to an early death."

Paul Burstow, the Care Services Minister found the findings unacceptable and said "more must be done to improve the quality of care."

"That is why the Coalition Government is determined to make the NHS more patient-centered. It is why we are focussing on achieving outcomes that are amongst the best in the world. Patient safety must always be at the heart of everything the NHS does."

Source: eGov monitor - A Policy Dialogue Platform