Hospital Posts > Medicine for the Elderly

Consultants: 

Dr J Knox
Dr S F Beardsworth
Dr E Haworth (based entirely at Castle Hill)
Dr N Steel 
Dr T A Farnsworth
Dr F J Thomson
Dr M R Mansoor
Dr A Abdul Hamid
Dr Anand

Other Staff:

2 Specialist Registrars 
12 SHOs - at HRI  3 of whom can be vocational trainees
3 SHOs - Castle Hill Hospital 

The Work of the Department

The Department of Medicine for the Elderly provides a comprehensive acute medical service for older people across the North Bank. There are beds at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital. 

Most SHOs based at HRI currently spend 3 months at Hull Royal Infirmary and 3 months at Castle Hill Hospital. There also 3 SHOs at Castle Hill Hospital.

The Department of Medicine for the Elderly operates an age-related policy: all medical admissions in those aged 75 years or more are accepted; younger patients with needs relevant to the Department are also admitted. There are approximately 6,000 admissions per year, the majority of which are emergencies. All wards take emergencies, and patients requiring more prolonged care are not transferred from the original ward. There are no long stay wards.

Much of the work involves care of acute medical problems in elderly people with the challenge of a typical presentation, multiple pathology including acute and chronic confusion, and altered pharmacology. In addition, there is considerable emphasis on rehabilitation, multidisciplinary care and community liaison. There is regular contact with remedial therapists, social workers and community liaison nurses, and involvement with day hospital care, resettlement procedures and respite admissions.