Raising the profile of older people's care in hospital through training

Two-thirds of patients requiring inpatient acute hospital care are aged over 65. Older people also have a greater need for the use of health and social care (Department of Health (DH) 2001). It is therefore no surprise that the majority of patients cared for by nurses care in general wards are older people. It is vital that health professionals caring for patients, in all ward settings, have the knowledge and skills to care for the complex needs of older people. This article describes a project carried out at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, to address aspects of general hospital care for older people.