Elderly 'left in crisis' by town hall cutbacks as social care is slashed

More and more pensioners are living in crisis conditions because town halls are denying them the care they need, MPs said last night.

In a damning report, they said some elderly people were suffering hardship and a diminished quality of life because of cutbacks in home helps, meals on wheels and other services.

Because of poor coordination between councils and the Health Service, many pensioners are sent to hospital unnecessarily – reducing their chances of recovery and wasting public money.

The Commons health select committee called for much better teamwork to stop patients being ‘passed like a parcel’ from one department to another.    Full Read