15.10.12
Age discrimination deemed ‘unacceptable’ in the NHS
The age of a patient should not decide whether they are eligible for surgery or not, according to a report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and Age UK.
It states that older patients may miss out on vital treatments due to age discrimination. The report also outlines that older people may not get the access to surgery that they need as budgets tighten.
The report called for patients to be considered for surgery on the basis of their health, as opposed to age. It acknowledged that there are some valid reasons for older people to be denied operations, such as health issues or their desire to not have surgery. However, it highlighted “outdated perceptions” that older people should not receive certain treatments.
For example, it pointed out that the majority of those suffering from breast cancer are over the age of 85. However, those most likely to be considered for breast surgery are around 65 years old.
The report said: “Decisions may not always be made on the basis of a comprehensive and objective assessment, but on a series of assumptions about fitness in older age.”
Michelle Mitchell, from Age UK, said: “When it comes to people's health, their date of birth actually tells you very little. A healthy living 80-year-old could literally run rings round someone many years younger who does not share the same good health.
“Yet in the past too many medical decisions, we believe, have been made on age alone with informal 'cut-offs' imposed so that people over a certain age were denied treatment.”
Chief executive of the NHS Confederation, Mike Farrar, said: “Age discrimination is not only illegal but goes against all the principles and values of the NHS. Access to NHS services should always be based first and foremost on clinical need, not on age.
“This report presents some worrying figures. We need to look at them carefully to examine whether they are the result of arbitrary decisions taken solely on the basis of age, or because some non-surgical treatments could offer greater benefit, or a patient chooses not to undergo surgery.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]