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Health system 'neglects elderly'
Elderly people are being neglected and poorly treated by England's health system, inspectors say.

...One of the worst areas, the report found, was mental health care, where older people found services deteriorating as they passed the age of 65.

The vast majority of older people surveyed said they had not been asked their views on the NHS or council services in the last year, and 80% did not think they had influenced the planning of services.

The report did find that steps had been taken to address age discrimination in public services and more people were being supported to allow them to live at home.

Gordon Lishman, director-general of Age Concern England, said it was "shocking" that so many social services departments were still failing to meet the needs of older people - the main users of these services.

He said: "Sadly, too many older people in need of public services are currently treated as second-class citizens."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said: "The needs of older people are not a priority for this government."

Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said the report highlighted the possibility that government targets for assessing patients in Accident and Emergency departments had led to the rushed discharge of older people.

He also highlighted concerns about inconsistencies in community rehabilitation of stroke patients. ...