Age Equality

Ending discrimination in the NHS

Evidence shows that older people are being discriminated against in the provision of certain public services – particularly in the areas of health and social care. This sort of discrimination can come in many guises – but in some cases, it can be fatal. If a doctor fails to investigate a health complaint by an older person simply because of their age, it can leave a serious condition untreated. Even worse, the failure to admit a patient to hospital can sometimes lead to a rapid deterioration in health which could otherwise be prevented.

The Equality Bill will enable new laws to ban this sort of unjustifiable age discrimination.

Ending discriminatory insurance practises

With the number of people aged over 85 set to double over the next two decades, it is essential that we ensure that older people are treated fairly, have fulfilling lives, and are able to play a full part in society. Some insurance companies, however, have taken advantage of the increasing number of older people applying for their policies by setting discriminatory prices for certain age groups.

Such treatment is not currently against the law, and so the Equality Bill will pave the way for new legislation which illegalises unjustified age discrimination.

Positive Action

62% of over-fifties feel that they are turned down for a job because they are considered too old, compared with 5% of people in their thirties. In the public sector, this will be helped by the new Equality Duty, which for the first time will include age in the duty to promote equality. In the private sector, employers will be able to take into account the diversity of their workforce when deciding between two equally qualified candidates for a job.

Positive Action is supported by the CBI, the TUC and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as a means of producing workforces which are more diverse and more reflective of the communities they operate in.