Essential service standards for the NHS care of older people in both acute and community settings are detailed in this comprehensive report, produced by a multidisciplinary, multi-agency working group for Health Services Accreditation and published jointly with CPA. While the report focuses on standards of health care, it also refers to a number of social issues and effective coordination of services between the NHS and social services, emphasising the importance of joint working amongst agencies. It covers:

• the provision of community-based services including district nursing, therapy services, home visits, assessment and care planning
• hospital-based services including accident and emergency, admission to hospital and care on the ward, including pain management and nutrition
• outpatient services, day hospital care and rehabilitation services
• risk management in acute and community settings; staffing and training issues
• communication policies, including referral practice, record keeping and discharge communication
• patient dignity and the key issues of consent, confidentiality, privacy and complaints handling
• ethnic and cultural issues
• dealing with elder abuse in domestic and institutional settings
• strategies for responding to the issues of falls, stroke and dementia
• the audit and monitoring of services in the acute and community sectors

The report draws on statutory and Patients Charter rights and standards, and recommendations and obligatory requirements from royal colleges and other relevant national bodies. Two sample accreditation statements with supplementary standards and required evidence are included.