§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instigate an immediate inquiry into age discrimination in the delivery of health services. [38991]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Government's commitment to promoting a fair and equitable health service is set out in the 1998/99 priorities and planning guidance for the National Health Service. Whatever the age of the patient, 507W there are no exceptions to the fundamental principle that the NHS is there to provide services for everybody on the basis of clinical need. The White Paper The New NHS also sets out our proposals for a new national performance framework for the NHS which will focus on six areas of performance selected to capture what really counts for patients and staff. One of these six areas will be that of fair access to health services in relation to people's needs, irrespective of geography, class, ethnicity, age or sex.
In response to the recent campaign by the Observer newspaper entitled "Dignity on the Ward", which raised the issue of age discrimination in the delivery of health services, amongst other things, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has commissioned HAS 2000 (formerly the Health Advisory Service) to examine the care which acute hospitals provide for older people. HAS 2000 are expected to look at the care which acute hospitals provide for older people nationwide, and examine one or two hospitals in greater detail. They will report directly to my right hon. Friend, who plans to publish their report. The study will be undertaken between January and June 1998.