Designing a new primary care NHS service to prevent harm from oropharyngeal dysphagia in older people

Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) is a well-recognised complication of neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and stroke. However, around one fifth of adults aged 60 years and older without neurological conditions are living with dysphagia and it is largely underdiagnosed. Older adults are generally only diagnosed with dysphagia once they have been hospitalised as a result of an adverse outcome such as aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition dehydration. This reactive approach to dysphagia care for older adults is leading to serious adverse outcomes for both patients and avoidable NHS resource use. Proactive identification of health conditions is a policy priority to minimise risk of adverse outcomes and prevent harm.

This programme of research aims to work with healthcare professionals, patients, family and carers to develop a new NHS service to facilitate identification and provision of initial support to older adults with dysphagia.