Report on Health Care for Elderly People to include commitments on care standards.

4.00.00pm GMT Thu 11th Mar 2004

A report has been passed by members of European Parliament in Strasbourg calling on member states to implement strategies for ensuring high levels of social protection for elderly people across Europe.

The report by Karin Jons on Health Care and care for elderly people was successfully amended in Committee by Liberal Democrat MEP

Liz Lynne to include an end to cage beds for people with mental health problems and people with intellectual disabilities.

Speaking today on behalf of the ELDR group the West Midlands Euro-MP, a member of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee said:

"I would congratulate the rapporteur on her excellent report. Health issues quite rightly should be left to the member states to legislate on, but it is important to exchange best practice across the EU.

" I was particularly pleased that my amendment regarding the use of cage beds in psychiatric institutions and Social care homes was passed. This recognised that it contravenes international standards regarding care for people with mental health problems and people with intellectual disabilities. Since the Mental Disability Advocacy centre report last year improvements have been made. Let us hope that this practise will now be discontinued completely in the EU and especially in the accession countries.

"Another amendment of mine that was accepted was about the need to undertake more research projects on how various conditions affect European Citizens and for any information to be disseminated across the EU.

"I hope the commission will look at the possibility of helping in the exchange of research information, especially if that research has received EU funding. In fields like age related macular degeneration, which is the main cause of loss of sight in older people in the EU, good work is already taking place.

"No clear system has been set up to exchange research information. I have already talked to the commission about this and maybe they could start by publishing research on the internet or I am sure the commission could come up with other ideas.

"It was an excellent report and I am pleased that long term care for elderly people is also covered in the report"

ENDS