Disabled and elderly people face ongoing problems in accessing NHS long term care, an official watchdog has said.

In a report published on Thursday, health service ombudsman Ann Abraham called for "clear and consistent national guidelines about who is eligible for funding".

She also said there should be robust approaches for assessing need, and enough people in place with the right skills to undertake that assessment at local level.

The report is based on evidence gathered from almost 4,000 complaints received since the publication of the ombudsman's first report on the subject in February 2003.

Stakeholder Response: Help the Aged

A spokesman for Help the Aged said:"Today’s recommendations from the Ombudsman and last weeks ministerial commitment  on continuing NHS healthcare, paves the way for real progress in tackling what can only be described as  a confusing anomaly in our National Health Service.