Older people's human rights 'abused'
Wednesday, 15 Aug 2007 08:46
Report claims older people are facing discrimination
Older people's human rights are not being respected in hospitals and care homes, a committee of MPs and peers has warned.
Although many elderly people are said to receive excellent care, a report from the joint committee on human rights claims that there is also evidence of discrimination, poor treatment, neglect and abuse.
Some older patients have been granted an ill-considered discharge and evicted from care homes, the report says.
In 2006, the report states, 21 per cent of care homes were found to be failing to meet the national minimum standards for privacy and dignity for older people.
The committee accuses both the Department of Health (DoH) and the Ministry of Justice of failing to give leadership and guidance on basic human rights to health and residential care services.
It is now calling for legislation protecting rights to be properly implemented and for new obligations to "ensure elderly people are treated decently" rather than being a "tick box exercise for lawyers".
Committee chair Andrew Dismore said: "Neglect and ill treatment of the elderly is a severe abuse of human rights. It is a serious betrayal of trust by the very people upon whom older people depend for care.
"We must see a complete change of culture in the health and care services."
Concerns have also been raised about the proposed new healthcare inspectorate, which may not have the power to investigate individual complaints. The committee recommends complaints are investigated by an independent third party.
Kate Jopling, head of public affairs at Help the Aged, said today's report has "lifted the lid on the shameful treatment of our older citizens by health and care services".
"Surely the shocking examples highlighted by this report provide all the evidence this government needs to justify urgent action to remedy the situation," she added.
Age Concern director general Gordon Lishman commented: "It is scandalous that there is ignorance and even blatant disregard of human rights, seven years after the Human Rights Act first came into force.
"The Department of Health must, as the committee says, show more leadership in putting human rights at the heart of health and social care."
In response to the report health minister Ivan Lewis said the government is "determined" to root out "unacceptable" abuse of vulnerable and older people.
"Demographic realities mean the rights of older people are now one of the greatest challenges facing our society. This report highlights a number of key concerns, which government, frontline staff and communities must address," Mr Lewis added.
"We are strengthening our leadership role and embarking on a major programme of change which will seek to address the issues raised in this report.
"This includes the integration of the inspection, regulation and complaints systems for health and social care, the review of adult protection guidance and the development of a national strategy to improve dementia services."