Many elderly care home residents are on medication

A survey by the National Care Standards Commission suggests just 45% of homes meet minimum standards on dispensing drugs to their patients.

The watchdog presented the findings to the Common's Health Committee, which is investigating so-called "elder abuse".

Previous studies have suggested some care home staff drug residents to make their job easier.

Shortcomings

The NCSC survey found that just 46% of care homes dispensed medicine to patients properly - only 1% of them were found exceeding the minimum standards.

A further 42% were found to have faults. However, officials said these shortcomings could be easily addressed by given better training to staff and changing the way pills are stored.

Patients are given sedatives to ensure that they have a quiet night and therefore the staff have a quiet night Dame Deirdre Hine, Commission for Health Improvement

In its evidence to the committee, the NCSC said "inappropriate prescribing and administration of medicines is a significant area of concern".

Dame Deirdre Hine of the Commission for Health Improvement told MPs there was concern over the quantity and combination of drugs given to some care home residents.

"Patients are given sedatives to ensure that they have a quiet night and therefore the staff have a quiet night. It's a matter of concern."

She called for better training and improved supervision by management staff.

Dame Deirdre also criticised the medical profession for failing to pay enough attention to the sophisticated nature of care for the elderly.

"I think the complexity of care of the elderly has been under sold," she said.

Citing conditions such as dementia, she added: "I'm sorry to say that the medical profession has given far too little attention to the sophistication and complexity of this in the past."

Dame Deirdre said the NHS as a whole could also do better but acknowledged that staff shortages were often a problem.

"Services for older people do not necessarily achieve the priorities that they require within the NHS."

According to the charity Action on Elder Abuse, most cases of elder abuse occur in people's home. It estimates that 21% of cases happen in care homes.

Health Minister Stephen Ladyman said there was no accurate figure for the number of elderly people who are abused but he said it was probably "significant".