Older people 'not getting the care they deserve'

Older people are still not being given the basic care they deserve, according to a new regulatory report.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has carried out inspections on a number of NHS hospitals and care homes and found that standards for nutrition and dignity are still short of what is expected.

It found that in some cases calls for aid are being ignored, correct support is not offered during meal times and some staff have bad manners towards their patients.

The commission carried out inspections at 50 hospitals and found just 33 met all five of the required standards.

The move followed visits to care homes, in which 316 of 500 homes met all the standards.

David Behan, chief executive of the CQC, described the report's findings as "disappointing".

Dot Gibson, of the National Pensioners Convention, added: "One report after another shows that we still cannot guarantee that when an older person goes into hospital or a care home that they will have their dignity respected."

Find the nearest Barchester care home.