Older people ‘hit hardest by health spending cuts’

CUTBACKS in health spending have resulted in older people being discriminated against, because they are the “easiest” group to deny services to, according to Age Action Ireland.

The organisation, which advocates for the rights of older people, said it has been contacted by a number of health care workers reporting instances of upper age limits being used to deny or reduce access to treatment or services.

Age Action has begun an investigation into the problem, commissioned by the Equality Authority, and will publish the findings before the end of the year.

Advocacy officer for Age Action, Eamon Timmins, said: “When there is scarce resources in the health service, they are using age as a tool to decide who gets services and who doesn’t. Age is being used a yard stick by which decisions are made to help one person and not another person.”

Mr Timmins said this has been an ongoing problem, but has been made worse with cutbacks by the Health Service Executive.

“Geriatric units have closed, and older people have been finding it hard to get into the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoighre.”

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly yesterday revealed that she expected the number of complaints to her office regarding the health service to reach the 600 mark, with about 80 relating to complaints involving hospitals.

Speaking at a conference on disability issues at Croke Park, Ms O’Reilly said people were more proactive today in making complaints about aspects of the health service and social care.

Age Action can be contacted on 01-4756989.