Source: The Evening Chronicle (UK) [Letters to the Editor]

LAST week the Royal College of Physicians issued a report re care for the elderly after a fall which may result in broken bones such as a hip.

They said that many elderly patients waited more then two hours in Accident and Emergency – over government guide lines. Also many of them waited more than 48 hours for an operation, again outside the Government’s guidelines, and on discharge many of them did not receive a risk/care assessment and physiotherapy was not in place to help them regain their mobility.

One thing that was not mentioned was the help a full-time carer can give.

First of all, carers would hopefully stop the person they are caring for from having a fall in the first place. Secondly we would make sure they get treatment they are entitled to. Of course, as carers we are only too happy to have our disabled relatives discharged as soon as possible. This cuts out bed-blocking.

It was estimated that a hip replacement could cost £35,000 but if the patient has a full-time carer the cost may be reduced by 50%, saving the NHS billions of pounds.

In a report from Carers UK, it was estimated carers save the NHS £87bn pounds per year, so if you want to help the NHS, give up work like I had to do in 1997 and work as a full-time carer. For this you will receive £49 per week. However, you must prove to the Department of Works and Pensions that you work a minimum of 35 hours per week – as you know, most carers work 24/7. It’s about 30p per hour .

GEORGE HERSCHEL, Gosforth, Newcastle