WEST Midlands Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Liz Lynne has today written to Paul Hope MP, the Care Services Minister, expressing her concern over a recent study by Help the Aged that found that 47% of doctors believe the NHS is ageist.

Liz is currently the rapporteur for the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee on a new EU-wide Equal Treatment Directive that will outlaw discrimination in access to goods and services, including healthcare, on the grounds of age, religion or belief, sexual orientation and disability. Liz, who is also co-chairman of the European Parliament’s All-Party Intergroup on Ageing, has called on the minster to immediately investigate the findings of the report and work quickly to put in place legislation to prevent patients being treated differently because of their age.

Speaking today, she said: “The report by Help the Aged is yet more evidence of the institutional ageism faced by many older people in the NHS - it is simply disgraceful that the quality of treatment people receive is affected by their age.

“I am currently fine-tuning proposed laws at a European level that I have long campaigned for which will outlaw discrimination in access to goods and services, including healthcare, on the grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief.

"Unfortunately, the UK continues to lag behind many other European countries when it comes to age discrimination laws and yet this report shows it is an issue which needs urgent action, not just in the NHS but in all areas of government.

“I very much hope that the Care Services Minister will fully investigate Help the Aged’s report and ensure that changes are made to prevent this type of discrimination in healthcare.”