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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ageism claim on care and housing | Ageism claim on care and housing |
| (1 day later) | |
| The NHS in Wales and providers of care and housing may be "institutionally ageist," it has been claimed. | The NHS in Wales and providers of care and housing may be "institutionally ageist," it has been claimed. |
| That is the argument of Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales. | That is the argument of Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales. |
| Its equalities manager told BBC Wales' The Politics Show that anecdotal evidence suggested an "abundance" of ageism in the public and private sectors. | Its equalities manager told BBC Wales' The Politics Show that anecdotal evidence suggested an "abundance" of ageism in the public and private sectors. |
| But the charity's claims have been questioned by the NHS Confederation and the Royal College of Nursing in Wales. | But the charity's claims have been questioned by the NHS Confederation and the Royal College of Nursing in Wales. |
| Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales came together as a single charity in April. | Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales came together as a single charity in April. |
| Equalities manager Martyn Jones said: "We have considerable evidence which concerns us about the possibility of there being institutional ageism in both policy and practice in the NHS in Wales but also in other service providers such as care providers, housing provision. | Equalities manager Martyn Jones said: "We have considerable evidence which concerns us about the possibility of there being institutional ageism in both policy and practice in the NHS in Wales but also in other service providers such as care providers, housing provision. |
| "There really is an abundance of this issue in all public service providers in Wales." | "There really is an abundance of this issue in all public service providers in Wales." |
| I have never observed, in clinical practice, discrimination on the basis of cost Tina Donnelly, Royal College of Nursing in Wales | I have never observed, in clinical practice, discrimination on the basis of cost Tina Donnelly, Royal College of Nursing in Wales |
| Mr Jones gave an example of alleged discrimination in NHS Wales. | Mr Jones gave an example of alleged discrimination in NHS Wales. |
| He said: "We are aware that there does seem to be an imposed cut off that is based entirely on chronological age in the health service where perhaps certain services are not delivered to older people purely on the basis of their age. | He said: "We are aware that there does seem to be an imposed cut off that is based entirely on chronological age in the health service where perhaps certain services are not delivered to older people purely on the basis of their age. |
| "So there seems to be some kind of analysis taking place during the diagnosis that includes almost a cost-benefit element. | "So there seems to be some kind of analysis taking place during the diagnosis that includes almost a cost-benefit element. |
| "You know, how much older is this person going to live if we go ahead and deliver this intervention? That perhaps wouldn't affect younger people." | "You know, how much older is this person going to live if we go ahead and deliver this intervention? That perhaps wouldn't affect younger people." |
| 'Substantiate this claim' | 'Substantiate this claim' |
| The Welsh NHS Confederation's policy and communications manager said the organisation was "very surprised" by those claims. | The Welsh NHS Confederation's policy and communications manager said the organisation was "very surprised" by those claims. |
| Jonathan Davies said: "The NHS in Wales works very hard to try and ensure that it carries out its work without discrimination against any group or individuals. | Jonathan Davies said: "The NHS in Wales works very hard to try and ensure that it carries out its work without discrimination against any group or individuals. |
| "The accusation... is one we take very seriously. | "The accusation... is one we take very seriously. |
| "The Welsh NHS Confederation would be very keen for Mr Jones to share whatever evidence he has to substantiate this claim so that we can take a closer look at the issues raised." | "The Welsh NHS Confederation would be very keen for Mr Jones to share whatever evidence he has to substantiate this claim so that we can take a closer look at the issues raised." |
| There are long waits for hip operations for the elderly | There are long waits for hip operations for the elderly |
| The director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, Tina Donnelly, said she doesn't believe services are withheld from older people on the basis of cost. | The director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, Tina Donnelly, said she doesn't believe services are withheld from older people on the basis of cost. |
| But she added that if older people think that's the case, then such a perception is a problem in itself. | But she added that if older people think that's the case, then such a perception is a problem in itself. |
| Ms Donnelly said: "I have never observed, in clinical practice, discrimination on the basis of cost. | Ms Donnelly said: "I have never observed, in clinical practice, discrimination on the basis of cost. |
| "If patients are feeling that there is discrimination on the basis of cost, rather than on other reasons as to why surgery or similar treatments (are) not undertaken, then perhaps there isn't sufficient time being given to explore the real reasons with those individuals and the medical and nursing staff as they are explaining the potential risks and outcomes. | "If patients are feeling that there is discrimination on the basis of cost, rather than on other reasons as to why surgery or similar treatments (are) not undertaken, then perhaps there isn't sufficient time being given to explore the real reasons with those individuals and the medical and nursing staff as they are explaining the potential risks and outcomes. |
| 'Demoralised' | 'Demoralised' |
| "And I think we've got to look at that as a profession." | "And I think we've got to look at that as a profession." |
| A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association also responded to the claims. | A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association also responded to the claims. |
| She said: "There is some way to go in achieving equality for all and tackling age discrimination. | She said: "There is some way to go in achieving equality for all and tackling age discrimination. |
| "However, local authorities have responded to this in an innovative and swift way which has attracted international recognition." | "However, local authorities have responded to this in an innovative and swift way which has attracted international recognition." |
| Benita Afan Rees, of Llanelli, believes she was a victim of age discrimination. | Benita Afan Rees, of Llanelli, believes she was a victim of age discrimination. |
| Mrs Rees took early retirement at 55 but had to return to the job market when her husband fell ill. Only a few of her 150 applications were acknowledged. | Mrs Rees took early retirement at 55 but had to return to the job market when her husband fell ill. Only a few of her 150 applications were acknowledged. |
| One interviewer told her he doubted she could reach the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet because of her age. | One interviewer told her he doubted she could reach the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet because of her age. |
| Mrs Rees said: "I was completely demoralised. I lost my confidence and it affected my family as well because obviously our standard of living dropped and I felt embarrassed because I wasn't able to help the family as I should do." | Mrs Rees said: "I was completely demoralised. I lost my confidence and it affected my family as well because obviously our standard of living dropped and I felt embarrassed because I wasn't able to help the family as I should do." |
| 'Equal access' | 'Equal access' |
| The 2006 law banning age discrimination focused on the workplace. | The 2006 law banning age discrimination focused on the workplace. |
| The Equality Bill currently progressing through Parliament aims to protect against discrimination by health and financial services, such as insurance providers - areas exempt from the existing law. | The Equality Bill currently progressing through Parliament aims to protect against discrimination by health and financial services, such as insurance providers - areas exempt from the existing law. |
| Llanelli MP Nia Griffith, a Labour member of the Equality Bill committee, said: "When we look at things like the NHS it will outlaw, for example, discriminating on the basis of age in respect of services. | Llanelli MP Nia Griffith, a Labour member of the Equality Bill committee, said: "When we look at things like the NHS it will outlaw, for example, discriminating on the basis of age in respect of services. |
| "In addition to that there is a public sector duty...to say to public bodies, what are you doing to make sure that there is equal access?" |