The government has asked for comments on the recommendations of a review into the implications for health and social care of the new age requirements in the Equality Bill.

The Bill will ban age discrimination against adults in public services and it has particular implications for health and social care as age is taken into account in decisions about some treatments and services. Sir Ian Carruthers and Jan Ormondroyd were asked by the Government to lead a review of equality in the NHS and social care. Their recommendations included:

• that in line with other public services health and social care should implement the new requirements by 2012 ;
• no health and social care service should have wholesale exemption from the legislation;
• where possible, age as a criteria for assessing care provision, should be replaced by relevant and individualised evidence;
• local authorities should re-examine their assessment procedures; and
• professional regulatory organisations review and, if necessary, amend their standards, codes of conduct and education programmes.

The consultation will close on 15th February 2010 and more details can be found at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/News/Recentstories/DH_109058