P 08

Ymchwiliad i’r Adolygiad Blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon

Inquiry into the Priorities for the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Ymateb gan: Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru

Response from: Older People’s Commissioner

Dai Lloyd AM

Chair

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff

CF99 1NA

26 August 2016

Dear Dai Lloyd AM,

Priorities for the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

I am writing in response to the opportunity to comment on the priorities of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.

I welcome the priorities that the Committee has already identified, many of which are highly relevant to the lives of older people across Wales. However, there are four areas in particular which are very closely aligned to my own forward work plan and Framework for Action, and I would strongly support the Committee undertaking work in these areas.

Integration of Health and Social Care services:

Previous work that I have undertaken into the integration of health and social care services and the impact on older people can be found here.

Primary Care:

I am currently undertaking work to understand older people’s access to and experiences of GP services, through group discussion sessions and a questionnaire. I will publish a report in early 2017. Therefore, I feel that work by the Committee in this area would be well placed after the publication of my report.

Use of antipsychotic medication in care homes:

The Committee rightly identifies the concerns that I raised about the inappropriate use of antipsychotics in my care home review. The proposal for the Committee to assess the scale of the problem, and examine possible solutions is to be welcomed. I will be undertaking a ‘care home review follow up’ over the next year.

Loneliness and isolation among older people:

The Committee rightly identifies the concerns that I raised regarding levels of loneliness and isolation amongst older people, which should be seen as a key public health issue. Loneliness and isolation is one of the five key strands of the Ageing Well in Wales programme, for which I am Chair. Further information can be found here.

Please follow these links to a briefing outlining my own forward work plan, my Impact and Reach Report 2015-16 and Framework for Action as these may provide useful background information to the Committee’s work. Do let me know if you would like a further discussion about any of the work I have identified in this letter as the Committee’s planning takes place.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Rochira

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales