Staff at Newham University Hospital hosted a visit by a group of 20 doctors and health specialists from Japan.

The group, which represents a national health federation in Japan, Ja-Zenkouren, visited Newham Hospital to learn about the UK’s approach to care of the elderly.

Ja-Zenkouren own and manage a diverse range of hospitals, clinics and health and welfare facilities in Japan and the organisation visited Newham to help them prepare for increasing demand for care of the elderly. People in Japan have among the longest life expectancy in the world.

Newham University Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust since April, is recognised nationally as a site of best practice for care of elderly people. This was acknowledged this March at the national dementia conference held in London, while Healthcare for London rates the Newham Diagnostic Memory Clinic (DMC) as an example of best practice. NUH is renowned for its Older People’s Liaison Service, its falls service, long-term conditions work, memory and dementia liaison services.

Achievements this year include:

o ensuring a Care of the Elderly Physician (CEP) is always present in Medical Admissions Unit (MAU)

o creating a short stay (1 – 2 days) ward for older people with daily CEP review.

o Consultant review of all adult patients within 12 hours

o Refining access to diagnostic testing, for example, complex radiology

o Post-discharge care at or near home

o Giving medical input to community services for elderly

o Ensuring access to memory and falls services by all older patients

NUH Medical Director Mike Gill said: “We are very proud of our care of the elderly services and delighted that medical professionals around the world are interested to see how we are managing to improve outcomes for our older patients.”