Geriatric consultants’ numbers up by 25%

The number of geriatric consultants working for the NHS in Scotland has increased by almost a quarter over a six-year period, according to official figures.

Government statistics reveal there were 159 consultants specialising in caring for older people in September last year, compared with 128 in 2006. SNP MSP James Dornan received the figures in a parliamentary answer from Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing Alex Neil recently.

Mr Dornan said: "These figures are good news for older people in Scotland. A 25% increase in the number of geriatric consultants is testament to the dedication of our caring services to ensure that we have the necessary expertise to treat older patients with skill, sensitivity and dignity."

Age Scotland has welcomed the growth in this specialist area of health provision, but warns that with Scotland's ageing population, the need for geriatric specialists will in all likelihood grow.

Charity spokesman Lindsay Scott said: "The British Geriatric Society Scotland's annual report for 2011/12 states that ‘…Change Fund finances have had a patchy impact for the speciality - with new consultant posts or sessions funded by some areas - but little or no impact in other regions.  The Reshaping Care for Older People meetings appear to have diminished in the last year…and the subsequent review of policies by the government has been disappointing.'

"While we may have the necessary expertise, two years on from the introduction of the Change Fund, it is important that Alex Neil clearly lays out the future role of specialist geriatrics services in Scotland, including the anticipated spend on community capacity-building as opposed to traditional NHS and Social Care budgets, when he addresses the BGS Scotland Spring Meeting on 10th May in Bellshill."