Claims nursing homes are deliberately ‘drugging’ patients

NURSING homes in Australia have been accused of drugging elderly residents to make them "easier to handle".

Doctors from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) have slammed the practice, saying constantly sedating patients could be masking painful health issues and prevent patients receiving treatment.

"Doctors are asked to prescribe hypnotics for no other reason but to ease the workload and that's just not appropriate," AMA President Mic­hael Gannon told The Daily Telegraph.

"Giving some sleeping tablets is not a surrogate for appropriate care.''

The federal government has launched an independent inquiry as a result of a number of claims of abuse in aged care facilities.