Elder Abuse Report Must Be Wake Up Call For Government

12.00.00am GMT Tue 20th Apr 2004

Commenting on the Health Select Committee Report on Elder Abuse published today (Tuesday), Liberal Democrat Committee Member, Paul Burstow, MP said:

"The report must act as a wake-up call for a complacent Government. Elder abuse is still a taboo and is all too often a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'. It's high time Ministers stopped dithering and took this issue seriously.

"The inquiry has revealed a lack of urgency in Government. The protection of older people from abuse comes a poor second to efforts to tackle child abuse. Nowhere is this clearer than the tardy way in which the Department of Health has delayed the implementation of the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) List. Plans for its piecemeal introduction are not good enough.

"It's clear that the systems for safeguarding vulnerable adults are a low priority for many Councils. There is an urgent need to turn a spotlight on what Councils are doing to protect frail elderly people from abuse."

The Select Committee report draws on research by Mr Burstow on the inappropriate use of medication in care homes. Commenting on the 'chemical cosh', Mr Burstow said:

"It is a scandal that thousands of frail elderly people are the victims of chemical management in care homes. The Select Committee rightly call on the Government to put in place a tough regime of medicine review to ensure that elderly people are getting the right medicines at the right time in the right place."