title: Editorial.
abstract: For more than two years, Nursing Management has been carrying reports from nurses in the field about the problems facing patients in the elderly care sector. Changes in funding arrangements and increased pressure on both the NHS and local authorities to facilitate speedier discharge represents a double bind that is sure to cause difficulties for older patients. Following reports in February from the National Audit Office (NAO) and the King's Fund we now have evidence of the extent of the problem.