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Editorial published in the BMJ 2009, 339:b3400 - David Oliver

If enacted, the 2009 Equality Bill will make age based discrimination in health and social care illegal, says David Oliver. While older people remain the core users of health services, these are not uniformly age proof and fit for purpose to meet the needs of this group. He goes on to cite documented evidence of this inequality in the UK’s health service, concluding, “The attitudes, priorities, education, and training of staff often fail to reflect the needs of older patients. Reports of undignified care, poor communication, and patronising attitudes are still all too common”.

While institutional and cultural change is an iterative process, the role of legislation should not be underestimated as a useful lever. Although the principles of respect and dignity, compassion and equality are enshrined in the NHS constitution, presently there is no law in the UK which protects people from aged based discrimination by healthcare or social services. The 2009 Equality Bills sets out to change this and the current consultation and scrutiny process presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the debate on whether age discrimination can be justified in the context of our ageing population, and the NHS’s stated commitment that “everyone counts.”

BGS Newsletter, September 2009
Issue 23 ISSN 1748-634000 23