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03/03/2011
No More Age Discrimination On The NHS
The NHS must never discriminate based on age – that was the message given by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow today as he announced that the Department of Health will not be seeking any exceptions to the planned implementation of the Equality Act 2010.
The Government is committed to tackling age discrimination and the Government Equalities Office will shortly launch a consultation on the Equality Act through which Departments are able to seek specific exceptions before it comes into force in April 2012.
As part of its commitment to a personal, fair and diverse service that protects patients’ dignity and ensures that all patients receive the best possible treatment regardless of their age, the Department of Health will not be seeking any exceptions.
Reports by the British Geriatrics Society and the recent Health Ombudsman Report on Care and Compassion have suggested that older people do not always receive the same standard of care from the NHS as younger patients. The Age Review carried out in 2009 also identified a number of areas in health and social care where age discrimination was most likely to occur and made recommendations around how the ban on age discrimination could best be implemented.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: "There can be no place for arbitrary age discrimination in the NHS. We know that older people are not always treated with the dignity they deserve because of ageist attitudes.
“Our population is ageing as more of us live longer. The challenge for the NHS is to look beyond a person's date of birth and meet the needs of older people as individuals. By not seeking any exception for the Equality Act, we are sending a clear message that there is no place for age discrimination in the NHS.
“The views of the respondents to this consultation will be vital to help us ensure that the ban on age discrimination helps us improve services for everyone."
(BMcN/GK)
The Government is committed to tackling age discrimination and the Government Equalities Office will shortly launch a consultation on the Equality Act through which Departments are able to seek specific exceptions before it comes into force in April 2012.
As part of its commitment to a personal, fair and diverse service that protects patients’ dignity and ensures that all patients receive the best possible treatment regardless of their age, the Department of Health will not be seeking any exceptions.
Reports by the British Geriatrics Society and the recent Health Ombudsman Report on Care and Compassion have suggested that older people do not always receive the same standard of care from the NHS as younger patients. The Age Review carried out in 2009 also identified a number of areas in health and social care where age discrimination was most likely to occur and made recommendations around how the ban on age discrimination could best be implemented.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: "There can be no place for arbitrary age discrimination in the NHS. We know that older people are not always treated with the dignity they deserve because of ageist attitudes.
“Our population is ageing as more of us live longer. The challenge for the NHS is to look beyond a person's date of birth and meet the needs of older people as individuals. By not seeking any exception for the Equality Act, we are sending a clear message that there is no place for age discrimination in the NHS.
“The views of the respondents to this consultation will be vital to help us ensure that the ban on age discrimination helps us improve services for everyone."
(BMcN/GK)
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