Special NHS Services for older people
Health promotion and prevention of ill health are important aspects of healthcare. A number of initiatives have been launched to help and support older people to continue to live healthy, independent lives.
Over 60s - free prescriptions
Anyone aged 60 or over does not have to pay for NHS prescriptions. You may be asked to sign the back of the prescription to confirm your eligibility.
Over 60s - free NHS sight tests
Anyone aged 60 or over is entitled to a free NHS sight test. It is generally suggested that adults have a sight test every two years. It is recommended that younger adults have a test every two years and those aged 70 and over every 12 months. Opticians can use their professional judgement in individual cases to decide the frequency of a sight test.
Some opticians only offer ‘private’ sight tests. Make sure you will be having an ‘NHS’ sight test when you book your appointment. You should also check they are including the full range of tests.
Tests for those conditions such as glaucoma and other eye diseases that are more likely in older people are particularly important. People of African-Caribbean origin or with diabetes or who have a relative with glaucoma are at higher risk of developing a sight problem.
If you need glasses you are not obliged to buy them from the optician who tests your sight. You can ask for your prescription and take it to another optician who may offer a wider selection or cheaper range of glasses.
For further information about NHS sight tests or any sight related issues contact The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB). See section “further information”.
Over 75s health check
If you are over 75 and have not needed to see a member of the practice team for a year or more, you may wish to request a consultation to discuss your general health or any health concerns you may have.
If, for medical reasons, you would find it difficult to visit the practice, you should be offered at home visit.
Over 75s medication use reviews
The National Service Framework for Older People recommends a free yearly medication check for all those over 75, with people taking four or more medications having this review every six months. Many PCTs are agreeing local guidelines for medication use reviews. Ask your GP or pharmacist about local guideline.
If you are invited for a review, ask if you can have a copy of the leaflet “Focus on Your Medicines”. It has been produced to help you prepare for your check and suggests questions you may like to ask about the medication you are taking.
Over 65s - free flu immunisation
Complications such as pneumonia or severe bronchitis can follow a dose of flu. It is therefore government policy to offer an annual immunisation against flu to all people aged 65 and over. It is also offer to younger people with specific long-term conditions or a lowered immune system due for example to cancer treatment or to taking steroid medication. You are usually invited to have a flu jab by your local practice in the late summer/early autumn.
Over 65s - free immunisation against pneumonia
The immunisation can protect you against illnesses such as pneumonia, septicaemia and bacterial meningitis, caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumonias. The jab, commonly called the pneumo jab has been offered to people aged 80 and over since 2003, those over 75 since 2004 and will be offered to those 65 and over in 2005. It is not necessary to have a pneumo jab every year. If you would like to know more about this jab, ask at your practice or call NHS Direct and ask for a special leaflet.
Screening for breast cancer and other cancers
Women between the ages 50 and 70 are invited for screening through the NHS breast screening programme. . If you are over 70 you are not automatically invited but you have the right to be screened every three years on request. Contact NHS Direct for details of your local unit and/or for more information about the breast screening programme.
Women between the ages of 50 and 64 are invited every five years for cervical cancer screening.
The government hopes to phase in a screening programme for bowel cancer for men and women in their 60s from April 2006.
Healthy living activities
Many local authorities in association with their PCTs are offering a range of activities at leisure centres and other venues especially for older people wanting to improve their health and fitness and maintain their suppleness. They cater for all abilities and may offer chair-based activities for those who would find standing for any length of time a problem. There may be a charge to practice. Local voluntary organisations such as Age Concern may also offer activities.
Further Information
Useful Organisations
British Red Cross, 9 Grosvenor Crescent, London SW1X 7EJ, tel: 020 7235 5454, website: www.redcross.org.uk. The British Red Cross offers a range of community services including community transport schemes and a short-term wheelchair loan service. Call the above number for your local office contact number or look at their website. The website lists the groups and the services offered by individual groups.
Community Transport Association, Highbank, Hatton Street, Hyde Cheshire SK14 2NY, Office tel: 0870 774 3586 (national call rate), advice service tel: 0845 130 6195 (local call rate) website: www.communitytransport.com. The Community Transport Association can tell you whether there is a community transport scheme in your area and give you a contact number. They do not keep details of services offered by each scheme.
Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), Customer Services PO Box 173 Peterborough PE2 6WS, Helpline: 0845 766 99 99 (local call rate). For Typetalk service dial 18001 0845 766 99 99, website: www.rnib.org.uk. RNIB provides a range of useful information for those with sight problems. The helpline can advise on all their services and campaigns.
Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), 19 - 23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL, Helpline number 0808 808 0123 (free call); textphone 0808 808 9000 (free call). Also a tinnitus helpline 0808 808 6666 (free call); textphone 0808 808 0007 (free call), website: www.rnid.org.uk Produces a wide range of information for people with hearing difficulties and can provide information on the NHS hearing aid scheme and information for those considering buying a hearing aid privately.
Health professionals organisations
Health Professional Council (HPC), Park House, 184 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4BU, tel: 020 7582 0866, website: www.hpc-uk.org. The HPC is the new independent UK-wide regulatory body for 12 healthcare professions including chiropodists/podiatrists, dietitians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. If you want to consult one of these therapists privately, they can confirm whether the person is registered. Registration information is also available on their website.
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, 14 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4ED, tel: 020 7306 6666, website: www.csp.org.uk . The website section physio2u allows you to identify private registered practitioners in your area with particular areas of expertise eg pain management, orthopaedic. It also includes information on the range of conditions physiotherapists can treat.
Society of Chiropodist and Podiatrists, 1 Fellmonger’s Path, Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 3LY, tel: 020 7234 8620, website: www.scpod.org.uk. The society produces information on footcare. Their website: www.feetforlife.org. contains information on keeping feet healthy and common foot problems. It also allows you to search for a registered chiropodist locally.
Websites
This is the NHS’s main health advice and information website.
Allows you to search for local services, explains hospital performance ratings and enables you to look at ratings for your local hospital Trust. It also briefly looks at the history of the NHS and recent changes to NHS structures.
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/OlderPeoplesServices/fs/en
is the website for the National Service Framework (NSF) for older people.
www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/Homepage/fs/en
The Healthcare Commission’s website explains their wide range of responsibilities to improve the quality of healthcare in England. It also contains reports produced as a result of reviews of local NHS services; patient surveys and star ratings for NHS organisations in England. The Commission is based at Finsbury Tower, 103 – 105 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8TG, tel: 020 7448 9200.
Note: Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI) is their legal name.
National Institute for Clinical Excellence website explains the way they NICE committees work in order to produce national guidance on treatment and care of NHS patients. It also includes all the reports produced by NICE since it started work in 1999
The website for the health services ombudsman based at Millbank Tower, Millbank London SW1P 4QP, tel: 020 7217 4051.
This document was provided by Age Concern, April 2005. www.ageconcern.org.uk