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Thousands
of old people 'drugged' BBC
news online More
than 22,000 elderly people in nursing homes are being given powerful
sedatives for no medical reason, it has been claimed.
Its
health spokesman Paul Burstow said the situation may be even worse in
residential homes. "Quite
simply the over medication of older people is abuse," he said. The
report's figures are based on a review of British and international
studies in this area and information released to parliament. Under
sedation It
is the Lib Dems' second report on the issue. According to Keep Taking the
Medicine 2, up to 22,233 elderly nursing home residents are being given
powerful anti-psychotics without medical grounds. It
suggests that another 32,000 elderly people in residential homes may also
be at risk. The
report points to an increase in community prescriptions for antipsychotic
drugs - up 6.2% between 1999 and 2002, an increase of 129,000
prescriptions. It
also shows that two out of three GP practices have missed a government
target to introduce six-month reviews of medication for all over 75s.
These reviews were supposed to have been up and running since April. Mr
Burstow called for tougher action to tackle the problem. He wants tighter
checks on care homes and a new criminal offence of neglect of a vulnerable
adult. "Despite
mounting evidence that older people are the victims of a chemical cosh in
care homes, minister's have failed to get a grip on the problem. "With
serious shortages of specialist staff and little chance of attracting
more, the evidence is that care homes are turning to chemical cocktails to
make residents easier to manage," he said. "It
can result in death and it denies older people their dignity." 'Homes
checked' The
Department of Health said care homes were required to keep
"meticulous" drug records on every resident. "If
an inspector from the National Care Standards Commission finds evidence of
over-prescription or maladministration of drugs, they have a duty to
report such evidence to the police and the professional bodies of those
involved for further action," a spokeswoman said. "We
are aware of concerns about the overuse of antipsychotics for older
people, particularly those in care homes. "Since
March 2001, as part of the National Service Framework for older people,
doctors, pharmacists and other health care professionals have been
implementing a medicines management programme where medication is
regularly reviewed to ensure that people receive the right
medication." However,
the National Care Homes Association dismissed the claims. "I
find these figures very surprising," a spokeswoman told BBC News
Online. "Care homes don't
prescribe drugs. Doctors prescribe drugs. If the Lib Dems are saying these
drugs are being prescribed for no clinical reason and just to make the
life of care home staff easier then it is doctors that need to be called
to account."
Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging |
A
report by the Liberal Democrats suggests residents who do not need these
drugs are being kept sedated to make life easier for staff.