§ Mr. David YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what monitoring procedures are in place to ensure that district hospital management committees and hospital trusts do not discriminate against the elderly by refusal to provide, or withdrawal of, treatment; and what further action she proposes to take;
(2) how many administrators and medical staff have been found to have used age as a means of determining access to treatment or physiotherapy facilities in the last five years; and what disciplinary measures have been taken in respect of them.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is the duty of all health authorities to ensure that people of all ages have access to acute care and that specialist care is available to those who suffer with chronic conditions due to the aging process. We are satisfied that we have mechanisms in place for monitoring the performance of health authorities in this respect.
§ Mr. David YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will lay down a streamlined procedure for patients who allege they have been discriminated against because of their age in the medical treatment they receive.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is the duty of all health authorities to ensure that people of all ages have access to acute care, and that specialist care is available to those who suffer with chronic conditions due to the aging process. The patient's charter establishes a charter right to have any complaint about national health service services—investigated and to receive a full and prompt written reply. If patients think that they have been, or were likely to be, denied one of their national charter rights, they should write to the chief executive of the national health service executive who will investigate the matter. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently received a report on NHS complaints procedures and is considering its recommendations.