Lords select committee to ask: "What's right and wrong in health and social care for the elderly?”
The House of Lords Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change will tomorrow take evidence from experts, doctors and the care regulator on the current state of health and social care for older people. The Committee will look at whether changes are needed to meet increasing demand from an ageing population, given current pressures on public spending.
The witnesses giving evidence will be:
- Caroline Abrahams, Director of External Affairs, Age UK;
- Professor Chris Ham CBE, Chief Executive, The King's Fund;
- Philip King, Director of Regulatory Development, Care Quality Commission;
- Steve McIntosh, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Carers UK;
- Dr Martin McShane, Director, Domain 2, National Commissioning Board ‘Improving the quality of life for people with long term conditions', NHS Commissioning Board; and
- Professor David Oliver, Consultant Physician, The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Health National Clinical Director for Older People's Services (England) and Professor of Medicine for Older People, City University, London.
The witnesses will be asked their views on recent disturbing reports about the poor treatment of frail older people in the NHS, and about how high standards of care can be delivered given current spending constraints. The Committee will also ask what an ideal system of health and social care for the elderly would look like, and about the best international examples for the UK to learn from.
The evidence session will take place at 9.45am on Tuesday 6 November in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords and will be webcast live at www.parliamentlive.tv.
The evidence session is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
