Screening elderly people: a multidisciplinary concern.

Abstract

The Elderly Screening Survey was carried out in 1990 as a follow-up to a similar study completed by the Centre for the Study of Primary Care in 1988. The aim of these two studies was to look at national differences in the types of screening programmes for elderly people and, specifically, to look at who carries out these programmes. The Elderly Screening Studies of 1988 and 1990 can be located within the ongoing debates about screening. In particular, given the implications of the general practitioner contract arrangements, these studies provide information on the discussion about the role and involvement of community nurses in screening older people. The results suggest that screening programmes for this age group had become more tailored to 'age-related need' in 1990 as compared to 1988. In 1990, districts were more likely to employ a wider variety of nursing personnel in carrying out screening schedules. Furthermore, it was evident that more districts were employing district nurses and practice nurses to implement screening assessments than in 1988. Attention is drawn to the lack of guidelines at district level on screening activities. The need to re-assess training provision particularly for practice nurses is highlighted.