30 January 2009
By Julie Read
Help the Aged has urged the government to accelerate legislation to stop age discrimination after a survey showed that doctors believe the NHS is institutionally ageist.
The British Geriatrics Society survey of 200 doctors specialising in caring for older people found that more than half would be worried about how the NHS would treat them in old age. The government says age discrimination legislation will be part of the forthcoming Equality Bill.
But Help the Aged feared that the current proposals would not be approved before the next election and called on the government to review its timetable urgently.
Two-thirds of the doctors surveyed believed older people were less likely to have their symptoms fully investigated. Of those polled, 72% said older people were less likely to be considered for essential treatments.
Alex Mair, chief executive of the British Geriatrics Society, said: 'What this research makes clear is that the NHS is currently failing older people. The proposed age regulations for health and social care will be integral to changing attitudes and ultimately improving care. The sooner we have these regulations in place, the better it will be for older people.'
The government has said it will take about 18 months to draft the Bill. Care services minister Phil Hope said: 'It is vital we get the legislation right to ensure there are no unintended consequences.'
PFjan2009
