Age-led lottery for healthcare?

Healthcare inequalities hit both ends of the age range across the county, according to a recent report for Lincolnshire.

The results of a service-user survey shows that both the over-60s and the under-30s feel discriminated against when it comes to healthcare.

A year after the pandemic first hit, the survey was conducted by Healthwatch Lincolnshire, which is an independent ‘champion for service users.’

Some 47 per cent of those who responded said age was the biggest reason for inequality in healthcare.

“Health and care services can sometimes communicate differently with older adults than with younger ones, and patients feel they are not taken seriously or treated as senile,” says the report.

“One individual told us ‘you get to 60 and it seems you are written-off as things are age related and you have to ‘put up with it’ rather than being treated,” it adds.

But younger people feel equally discriminated against.

“Because I am in my 30s, I feel I have been overlooked,” it adds.

There is clear perception from older people that they are treated differently by health and social care stuff due to their age.

The number of older people in England is growing significantly and the rate of growth is projected to speed-up over the next 20 years.

“I am a young 67-year-old woman but feel patronised using words like ‘bless’ and generally treating me as if I am mentally unwell, which I am not. I have a PhD and still involved in academic research,” said one response.

Rural populations such as Lincolnshire had a higher chance of developing chronic diseases and preventable conditions.

There is also a problem with infrastructure issues including transport links and public transport.

“As we cannot drive for ourselves, it has been very difficult to get transport to our appointments,” says one respondent.

A Healthwatch statement said it would continue to engage people in dialogue about health inequalities.

The survey, part of the COVID-19 One Year On survey, was conducted between February and June 2021.

Age was the biggest issue followed by long-term conditions, geography and having disabilities.

The NHS constitution guarantees a ‘comprehensive’ service to everyone irrespective age.

“The vast majority of comments received from this survey related to patients feeling they were not receiving the care they required because of their older age,” the report says.

Healthwatch Lincolnshire has pledged to encourage action to tackle inequality, give communities a bigger say in health and social care and have constructive dialogue about health inequalities.

The full report is on www.healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk