Age Cymru has welcomed calls made by the outgoing Public Services Ombudsman for an overhaul of health and social care.

Peter Tyndall says the current system is too complicated and calls for more joined-up thinking in the way we provide care.

Responding to the comments, Age Cymru's Head of Policy and Public Affairs Graeme Francis says:

"Many older people have long expressed the view that the care system in Wales is overly complex.

"For too long, there have been inconsistencies in the types of care services that are available across Wales as well as in the eligibility criteria for those services.

"The result of this - by and large, is that the general public is in the dark about what to expect from the care system and what it can do for them and their families.

"This can lead to stress and unnecessary added pressures at times when people need simple answers about the care options that are available to them.

"Age Cymru agrees with the Public Services Ombudsman that we need to develop a better system that provides the care that we need when we need it, without bureaucratic and counter-productive disputes between health and social care providers.

"This will need to involve a more joined-up, patient-centred approach that reinforces the idea that care is care, regardless of how, where and why it is being provided."

Advice

If you need information about health and social care services in Wales, please contact Age Cymru's advice line on 08000 223 444.