IN June last year, the Government took an important step forward – they finally acknowledged the injustice faced by older people every day in accessing basic goods and services. They promised to abolish the last 'ism' permitted in our society by banning age discrimination in the planned Equality Bill.
This decision is long overdue, but now senior citizens face an even longer wait before they get any protection from discrimination. An 18 month government review of dealings with ageism in health and social care threatens to push the passing of any new law well past the next election – and at that point the chance for change could well be lost.
This is a huge disappointment. I've written to our MP, Mark Harper, to ask him to sign the Early Day Motion 458 to call for swift action to ban age discrimination. I urge your readers to do the same by supporting the Help the Aged Just Equal Treatment campaign. They can take action by calling 0207 239 1982 or going to http://www.helpthe">www.helpthe
aged.or.uk/justequal
treatment.
Older people who are being denied vital health care or struggle to buy insurance cannot afford to wait. – A.D. Elkington (chairman, Citizens Say).