New standards for the hospital care of older people strengthen the involvement of patients and carers

New standards published today for NHS Scotland aim to improve the care of older people in hospital. A key goal of the standards is strengthening the involvement of patients and carers in discussions and decisions about the care that is delivered. NHS boards in Scotland are now expected to work towards meeting these standards. Each standard includes a statement of the level of performance that NHS boards are to achieve. The new standards build on the previous standards from 2002, with a greater focus on initial assessment on admission and more complex aspects of care. Standards 1 to 3 emphasise