EXCLUSIVE Equality watchdog ignoring ‘institutional ageism’ in the NHS in favour of sex, race and trans issues, charity claims READ MORE: Mental health of the elderly ignored due to 'systemic ageism' By Shaun Wooller Health Editor For The Daily Mail Published: 09:23 BST, 11 June 2024 | Updated: 09:48 BST, 11 June 2024 e-mail View comments The equalities commission is failing to protect elderly Britons from discrimination as it is too preoccupied with race and transgender issues, a leading campaign group warns. Silver Voices claims the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is ‘routinely’ ignoring older people’s rights as it prioritises other minorities. It is now calling on the government to launch a major review into the regulator amid concerns it is ineffective and delivering poor value for its £18million a year budget.
The EHRC is supposed to enforce the Equality Act 2010, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against or harass individuals based on nine protected characteristics. These are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. But Silver Voices, which campaigns for the over-60s, says the EHRC appears disinterested in tackling complaints related to age, such as ‘institutional ageism’ in the NHS .
Silver Voices complained that NHS policy on age limits for cancer screening contravenes the Equality Act The current EHRC Business Plan has speci.