Age Concern found over 65s seeking help were often fobbed off, misdiagnosed or given inappropriate treatment.

Doctors may prescribe drugs when counselling would be more beneficial.

The charity Help the Aged said the government's upcoming Equality Bill should help address age discrimination within health services.

  It is scandalous that hundreds of thousands of older people may be denied treatment

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern

Fewer than 10% of older people with clinical depression are referred to specialist mental health services compared with about 50% of younger adults with mental and emotional problems.

In some cases, GPs are unable to refer older people on to other parts of the NHS that could help them because of discriminatory rules excluding people over the age of 65.

Overall, eight out of 10 older people with clinical depression do not get any treatment, Age Concern said.

The charity has launched a new campaign - Down, but not out - to improve the lives of older people with depression.

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said: "It is scandalous that hundreds of thousands of older people may be denied treatment because depression is wrongly seen as a natural part of getting older.

"Older people deserve better treatment - there should be no excuse for inaction."

Elizabeth McLennan, senior policy officer of fellow charity Help the Aged, said: "General Practitioners have a key role to play in more effectively pinpointing possible depression as patients present themselves.

"Care home staff and managers must also ensure their own knowledge of symptoms associated with depression is improved.

"The Government's upcoming Equality Bill should address some of these issues, but a timetable for action is vital to ensure this unfairness is tackled as a priority."