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Banning age discrimination in services, public functions and associations

15 June 2011

Introduction

agebrieftogo (Adobe Acrobat Document 59kb)

We welcome that the provisions on age discrimination will apply to the provision of health and social care. Older people are major users of health and social care services and will benefit from a more coherent policy towards discrimination. A review into ending age discrimination and promoting age equality in health and social care published in 2009 recommended that, under the Equality Act, a ban on age discrimination in health and social care should be implemented at the same time as in other sectors. We agree with the general approach in this consultation that the general prohibition should be balanced alongside duties to provide appropriately for age-related needs, so specific exceptions are needed to ensure that the legislation is not misinterpreted. Health and social services cannot by definition be age-blind and ignore age altogether, but equally age should not be used as a proxy for need or to ration services.