Abstract

Editorial individuals without lower urinary tract symptoms. Older people should not be routinely catheterised unless there is evidence of urinary retention. Geoffrey Hughes Mental health services should be commis- sioned so that they can contribute to specialist mental health assessments Although most urgent care of the elderly There must be an initial primary care within 30 min if appropriate. occurs in primary care, more and more response to an urgent request for help Older people who present with inten- older people are visiting emergency from an older person within 30 min. tional self-harm should be considered as departments (ED) and accessing urgent Ambulatory emergency pathways with a failed suicide; along with older people health and social care services. EDs must access to multidisciplinary teams with unintentional self-harm they be supported to deliver the right care for should be available within <4 h for should be assessed for ongoing risk of these people, as no one part of the health older people who do not need admis- further self-harm in any setting. and social care systems can manage the sion but need ongoing treatment (eg, in GPs should monitor hospitalisation and problem in isolation. a Clinical Decisions Unit). avoidable ED