UK is facing a crisis in care for older people

The Royal College of Physicians is warning that a rapidly ageing population and a lack of NHS workforce planning means the UK is sleepwalking into an avoidable crisis of care for older people.

New analysis by the RCP shows there is the equivalent of just one full time geriatrician per 8,031 people over the age of 65 in England, suggesting that the NHS is woefully underprepared to cope with an ageing population.

The East Midlands fares the worst with one full time geriatrician per 12,561 people over the age of 65, but figures across all regions are stark, with the most well-resourced area, Central and North East London, having one full time geriatrician per 3,254 people aged over 65.

The ONS estimates that by 2040 there will be over 17 million people in the UK aged 65 and above, meaning 24 per cent of the population may potentially require geriatric care. Additionally, many of the doctors providing geriatric care now will soon be requiring that care themselves.

Along with over 100 medical organisations, the RCP is supporting an amendment to the Health and Care Bill which would require the government to publish regular, independent assessments of the numbers of staff the NHS and social care system need now and in future.

Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “I have dedicated my career to working in the NHS – a service that I am fiercely proud of - and yet it scares me to wonder what might happen should I need care as I get older. There simply aren’t enough doctors to go round, not least within geriatrics.

“The workforce crisis we’re facing is largely down to an astonishing lack of planning. All successful organisations rely on long-term workforce planning to meet demand and it’s absurd that we don’t do this for the NHS and social care system. The government needs to accept the amendment put forward by Baroness Cumberlege and make workforce planning a priority.”