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Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern England, said:

“We join the country in celebrating 60 years of the National Health Service.  Many older people will be able to remember what life was like before the introduction of the NHS.  Back then, seeing a doctor was a luxury that many people simply couldn’t afford.

“People aged 85 and over are the fastest growing age group in Britain and there are now more centenarians than ever before.  However, as the country continues to age, people are more likely to have longstanding illnesses and need NHS treatment.

“As the NHS turns 60, one of the  key challenges  ahead is how it tailors services to meet the health needs of an ageing population.  Age discrimination is still rife in the NHS and age is often used as a means of rationing services.  Older people should not be denied services and medical treatment on the basis of their age - their health needs should always come first.  We hope it rises to this challenge in the same way it has risen to so many other challenges over the last 60 years.”

-Ends-

Notes to Editors

• 16% of the population are over the age of 65, but they occupy two thirds of general and acute hospital beds.
• 43% of the NHS budget (2004/05) is spent on them.[1]
• Six out of ten older people say they have a longstanding illness (57% of people aged 65-74 and 63% of people aged 75+ in 2001)[3] 

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