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BURSTOW SLAMS AGEIST HEALTH POLICIES
October 23, 2009 12:00 AM
Tens of thousands of people over the age of 65 are being denied access to specialist mental health services because of 'arbitrary' age limits, says local MP, Paul Burstow and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
A new report, launched at the House of Commons by local Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow, exposes the ways in which older people are missing out on vital support and risking serious deterioration in their mental health.
Mental health services have traditionally been based on age. This means that if someone is under 65 years old, they can receive a wide range of support through adult mental health services. But a person who is only one year older - regardless of their need - may be placed in an older people's service where this same support is not available.
For example, if someone under the age of 65 has a mental health crisis, such as an attempted suicide, they can have immediate assessment and treatment at home from a 24-hour specialist team. But people over the age of 65 cannot.
Over-65s are also denied access to a range of services available to younger adults, including psychological therapies, early intervention, rehabilitation and addiction services.
Paul Burstow MP was asked by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to back their calls on mental health services to abolish the arbitrary age limit on adult mental health services. The College believes all mental health services should be available to people on the basis of need - not age.
Paul Burstow MP, said: "There should be no place for age discrimination in the NHS. The evidence is compelling there is no reason why an older person with the same need as a younger person should be denied equitable mental health care, but that is what happens."
"Providing services on the basis of need not age must not mean a one size fits all approach. Otherwise age discrimination will continue in another guise. Fairness is not achieved by treating all people in the same way but by respecting their differences. The Royal College's new policy statement provides positive action and a responsible solution to this very important problem."
"This is a local problem that is not only for politicians and NHS management to address, but also for local clinicians to tackle."
ENDS
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