National law firm Access Legal from Shoosmiths has welcomed a report exposing widespread shortcomings by the NHS in failing to care properly for elderly patients.

It isn't only NHS patients who are being failed, though, as a recent Access Legal case demonstrates.

Solicitor and medical negligence specialist Kishma Small secured £40,000 compensation for a 59-year-old dementia sufferer who was left critically ill, severely dehydrated and with bed sores following a two-week stay in a Birmingham care home.

Kishma Small said: "This is a stark case where the allegation is failure to provide basic care.

"Given our client's vulnerability, he was dependent on staff to ensure he drank fluids, was fed and his pressure areas were looked after. His devoted wife had put her trust in this establishment. She feels utterly let down.

"This case reflects growing national concerns about whether the elderly are getting acceptable standards of care, and this latest report will do nothing to ease their fears, though it might prove the catalyst for a much-needed overhaul of care for the elderly."

The in-depth report into the NHS was conducted by the Health Service Ombudsman and examined 10 cases involving patients aged over 65. The BBC has recently covered this topic in a news article NHS 'failing to treat elderly with care and respect'.

Called Care and compassion?,the report found that they suffered unnecessary pain, neglect and distress.

Charities have called the findings 'sickening', and the Government has said improvements are needed.

The Health Service Ombudsman received almost 9,000 complaints in 2010, with 18% concerning care of the elderly. More than 220 cases were investigated, which is twice the number as for all other age groups put together.

Kishma Small added: "We've been seeing cases like this for some time. We hope this report will be a catalyst for a thorough review and significant improvement in the care being provided to the elderly."

Access Legal have a specialist team who deal with medical negligence claims, to speak to someone call our legal helpline on 03700 86 87 88.

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