Following a long term interest in Care of the Elderly, and having been a family doctor for 23 years, I have been trying to encourage local health management to approach looking after frail elderly patients for some 10 years with an MDT.

 

My initial suggestions ( listened to only recently), were how linking a practice with a social worker and therapists could enhance care of this group of patients, as it has done on hospital wards. This poster summarises our 12 month pilot, rather than full blown research.

 

As the NHS evolves, combining health and social care is very important, but the local health management have undertaken an alternative approach and I remain sceptical at this approach- but I am a family doctor, not a politician.

 

As a long serving GP I am inspired by education and teaching and as an appraiser for 10 years, I truly value my primary and secondary care colleagues and the interactions between us all that emerge from an educational environment. I also value my patients, and have embraced shared decision making with them to which they have responded positively.  I am convinced we can encourage many older frailer patients to improve their confidence to manage their own conditions.

 

Growing up in Australia instilled enthusiasm for a healthy diet and exercise and staying healthy remains important to me. My research in the 1980s looked at how regular exercise classes could help prevent falls, improve bone density and aerobic fitness of over 65’s, a bonus of bringing this group together mutual support. Healthy living is a concept I still encourage with all my patients.