In April 2009 the Government published the Equality Bill.  One of the things the Bill does is to outlaw age discrimination against people of 18 and over when providing services or exercising a public function.  This affects the Department of Health, the NHS and social care bodies.

To support delivery of the Equality Bill’s age provisions in health and social care, a national review on age discrimination is being led from the South West region by Sir Ian Carruthers, Chief Executive of the South West Strategic Health Authority, and Jan Ormondroyd, Chief Executive of Bristol City Council.  The review will produce a published report in October 2009 which will include recommendations on the timing of implementation of the ban and on those areas of age-based differentiation that should be maintained under the new law.  It will also give advice on how to support the health and social care system to implement the public sector equality duty in respect of age.  

The review will be supported by the Department of Health advisory group on tackling age discrimination.