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We must adapt for an ageing population, says Chris Whitty
Professor Chris Whitty’s annual report says we can improve older citizens’ quality of life, and this should be a major aim of policy and medical practice. England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor Chris Whitty, in his annual report, says we need to focus on how to maximise the independence and minimise the time in ill health between reaching older age and the end of life. Quality, enjoyment and independence should be the principal aims. The report, Professor Whitty’s fourth as CMO,
describes how we can maintain older people’s independence via two broad complementary approaches: reduce disease, to prevent, delay or minimise disability and frailty, and change the environment so that people can maintain their independence longer. The geography of older age in England is already
skewed away from large urban areas towards more rural, coastal and other peripheral areas, and will become more so. Efforts to achieve shorter periods in ill health and an easier environment for those with disabilities should concentrate on areas of the
absolute priority if we wish to maximise the period all older citizens have in independence. The report calls for research into multimorbidity,
frailty and social care to be accelerated, and states that the medical profession needs to focus on maintaining generalist skills as doctors specialise. Medical specialisation, specialised NHS
country where the need is going to be greatest. The report makes the case that older people
are currently underserved in healthcare, with less accessible transport links and insufficient infrastructure designed for older adults, including housing. Providing services and environments suitable for older adults in these areas is an
provision, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and medical research are all optimised for single diseases but that is not the lived reality for the great majority of older adults who often transfer very rapidly from having no significant disease states, to several simultaneously. The increasing specialisation of the medical profession runs counter to optimising treatment for this group of largely older citizens and patients. Professor Chris Whitty, said: “Maximising the
quality of health in older adults should be seen as a major national priority - we can make very significant progress with relatively straightforward interventions. Older people can and should be better served.”
Up to 90% of packaging waste can be reduced in theatres
At the height of a global discussion around the need to reduce hospital waste, an innovative partnership between a Dutch artist and a Swedish healthcare company shows that up to 90% of packaging waste, the major contributor to operating room waste, can be reduced. In 2019 Dutch artist Maria Koijck underwent a full
mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis. The waste from her 10-hour breast reconstruction surgery two years later, including post-op care, resulted in an art installation where she challenged the healthcare industry on more sustainable solutions. “I was shocked when I discovered how much
waste a procedure like mine generated,” said Maria Koijck. “I’m happy that my original video got a lot of attention and reactions from the healthcare industry. But for a long time, my question has been unanswered”. As a result, Mölnlycke Health Care, a global provider of innovations in wound care and
operating room solutions, teamed up with Maria Koijck to recreate her artwork with Mölnlycke’s proprietary “ProcedurePak” which proved that packaging waste can be reduced by up to 90%. (Visit:
https://youtu.be/J1InyHgC5oo) “At Mölnlycke, sustainability is a core strategic pillar and an integral part of all our innovation efforts. We strive to develop products that are better for the planet and improve patient outcomes without compromising patient safety,” said Zlatko Rihter, CEO of Mölnlycke. The Campaign page can be viewed at:
https://www.molnlycke.co.uk/campaigns/ reducesurgicalwaste/
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I January 2024
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