NMC guidance calls for better care for older people in hospital and community settings.

NMC guidance has called for better care for older people

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The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has announced it is to approve guidance for nursing care of older people in hospitals and community settings next week.

Guidance will be published next year and will contain essential principles for 674,000 nurses in NHS hospitals and PCTs, as well as independent organisations.

The NMC drew up the guidance after consulting with nurses and patient groups to provide a framework to help the nursing workforce focus on care for older people.

Guidance for Care of Older People can be used by nurses to challenge poor standards of care and provides employers with a set of principles against which to judge their performance.

Nurses urged to improve hospital care

Ruth Chuahan, project lead for care of older people at the NMC, said: 'It is essential that nurses, in a hospital or community setting, always provide fundamental care by ensuring adequate fluids, help to eat and give assistance with personal hygiene when required.

'Nurses should also ensure continence needs are met, observing for signs of pain and providing pain relief, and above all ensure that older people's privacy and dignity is respected.'