Calls for better elderly care

NEW Edinburgh Southern SNP MSP Jim Eadie used his maiden speech in the Scottish Parliament to highlight the challenges Scotland faces in providing high quality care for the elderly.

He argued money should be freed to provide services in the community rather than being tied up on the acute sector.

Mr Eadie said: "By 2031 there will be 1.31 million people at or above the state pension age - that is one in four of the population. This will mean that the cost of free personal and nursing care for older people is set to rise significantly as the population ages.

"At the moment money is tied up in spending on the acute sector rather than being used to provide services where the most effective outcomes can be achieved - in the community.

"We must confront the rising costs of people living longer; we must allow people to stay at home with good support rather than being admitted to hospital or residential care; we must utilise the opportunities of tele- health to support independent living in the community."