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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Turning your back on us
— older people and the NHS | | Author(s) | Caroline Gilchrist |
| Corporate Author | Age Concern England - ACE |
| Publisher | Age Concern England, London, 1999 |
| Pages | 39 pp |
| Source | Age Concern England, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER. |
| Keywords | Ageism ; National Health Service ; Rights [elderly] ; Medical workers. |
| Annotation | A 1999 Age Concern / Gallup survey showed that one in twenty people over 65 has been refused treatment, while one in ten has been treated differently since the age of 50. Older people report discrimination - both explicit and implicit - at all levels of the National Health Service (NHS), from primary care to hospitals. Negative attitudes from NHS staff are also reported, denying many older people access to services and the quality of care expected by younger people. This report presents detailed accounts of age discrimination as evidence of unequal treatment and rationing of health care. It recommends that as with other forms of discrimination, the Government should make it illegal for the NHS to refuse treatment or to treat someone differently on the basis of their age. There is the need for a full and open public debate concerning any such policies, practices or proposals. Other recommendations concern access to complaints procedures, ensuring that NHS staff understand older people's needs, and safeguarding older people's quality of life. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-000131005 B |
| Classmark | B:TOB: L4: IKR: QT |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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