Dr Dave Anderson, chair of the Royal College
of Psychiatrists’ Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry, said:
“This Healthcare
Commission report is yet more evidence showing why we
urgently need to address age discrimination in mental health
services. We know that compared to younger adults with comparable
need, older people have less access to mental health services and
these services in turn receive less investment.
“Through the forthcoming Equality Bill, the
Government can set in UK law the fundamental right for people not
to be discriminated against because of their age. But equality is
not achieved by a one size fits all approach –and the commissioning
of services will have to become much more aware of the needs of
older people.
“We welcome the Healthcare Commission’s call
for the Royal College of Psychiatrists to develop models of care
based on assessment of need rather than age. The College has
recently set up a working group to look at how mental health
services could be designed to create greater equity and better meet
the needs of older people. Greater investment in older people’s
mental health services, and better access to services currently
denied to older people, will be essential ingredients for
delivering equality.
“Defining need in a way that produces clear
responsibility and accountability for services and commissioners,
and clarity for patients, carers, service users and referrers to
mental health services, is a complex task - but the College is
committed to finding better solutions."
For further information, please
contact:
Liz Leicester
or Deborah Hart in the Communications
Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
Equality in later life: A national study of older people’s mental health services (2009), Healthcare Commission
Note to editors:
Equality in later life: A national study of older people’s mental health services was published by the Healthcare Commission on 31 March 2009