Equality watchdog ignores ‘institutional ageism’ in the NHS in favor of sex, race and trans issues, charities claim

The Equality Commission is failing to protect older Britons from discrimination because it is too concerned with race and transgender issues, a leading campaign group has warned.

Silver Voices claims the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ‘routinely’ ignores the rights of older people while prioritizing other minorities.

It is now calling on the government to launch a major investigation into the regulator amid concerns it is ineffective and delivers little value to its £18m-a-year budget.

The EHRC is supposed to enforce the Equality Act 2010, which makes it unlawful to discriminate or harass individuals on the basis of nine protected characteristics.

These are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and registered partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender and sexual orientation.

But Silver Voices, which campaigns for the over-60s, says the EHRC appears uninterested in tackling age-related complaints such as ‘institutional ageism’ in the NHS.

The current EHRC Business Plan contains specific projects on sexual discrimination, racial discrimination and traveler discrimination, but nothing on age discrimination.

Silver Voices has written to the government agency to complain that older people are being denied healthcare, such as cancer treatment and vaccines, that it believes would be available to young patients.

But it says its complaints have been ignored or resulted in no clear action being taken.

Silver Voices filed a complaint with the EHRC against the NHS six months ago, on the grounds that its policy on age limits for cancer screening breached equality legislation. The complaint was supported by a petition with more than 100,000 signatures.

Despite the EHRC agreeing to investigate the complaint, it appears to have taken no action.

Dennis Reed, the director of Silver Voices, said he was not asked to discuss the complaint and no progress reports were given.

Three months ago, Silver Voices filed a new complaint against the NHS, alleging ‘blatant’ age discrimination in shingles vaccinations.

The charity says older people are routinely ignored by the equality watchdog because it focuses too much on race and transgender issues.

The injections are offered to people when they are 65 years old, unless they are already between 66 and 69 years old. In that case, they will have to wait until they are 70, after which they will no longer be eligible at 80.

The EHRC has not even confirmed that it is considering this complaint.

Mr Reed told the Daily Mail: ‘We would expect all forms of discrimination to be treated equally by the ECHR, but unfortunately this is not the case.

‘Elderly people are routinely ignored by this organisation, which has a budget of £18 million, of which staff costs represent £14 million.

‘The most important public service used by older people is the NHS, and yet the EHRC appears uninterested in tackling institutional ageism within the NHS, despite thousands of older lives being put at risk by its policies.

‘There needs to be a fundamental review of the effectiveness and value for money of the ECHR by the next government, and a review of equality legislation to ensure that endemic age discrimination against 12 million older people is eradicated.’

A spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: ‘The EHRC receives complaints every week about allegations of unlawful activity in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

‘We carefully assess every complaint and take action where necessary.

‘As the UK’s equality regulator, we take our duty to protect and promote equality for all very seriously.

‘We are addressing issues that specifically affect older people through several of our priority work programmes.’

An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘NHS staff work around the clock to care for millions of patients every year, and clinical need and what is best for the patient is always the priority.

‘Advances in healthcare are helping people live longer than ever before, and it is vital that older people are supported to stay healthy and independent for as long as possible, and that they receive the highest quality care when they need it. ‘

The NHS follows guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization on vaccine eligibility, including for the shingles vaccine, and the UK National Screening Committee advises ministers and the NHS on who should be eligible for screening.