Don't get old in Britain

Many doctors discriminate against older patients, giving them poorer advice and worse treatment than younger people with the same symptoms. A study has found that elderly patients with angina are less likely to be prescribed a statin to lower their cholesterol, given appropriate tests or to be offered surgical treatments. Instead they were often given a minor change in prescription and told to come back later, in spite of studies that show that all patients, regardless of age, benefit from modern treatments.

The survey, published in the journal Quality and Safety in Health Care, found that patients over 65 were given different care from those who were younger. Twenty-eight general practitioners, 28 elderly care specialists and 29 cardiologists from across southern England and the Midlands were questioned. A total of 72 fictional patients with angina were presented to the doctors as part of a computer programme, and the doctors were interviewed. The fictional patients were aged between 45 and 92, with varying degrees of heart problems.

Overall, the study found that older patients were less likely to be referred to a cardiologist and given an angiogram or exercise tolerance tests compared with middle-aged patients. They were also less likely to be offered revascularisation (opening up of blood vessels). The authors, led by Professor Ann Bowling, from University College London, found that the doctors who were influenced by age were on average five years older than those who were not.

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For greatest efficiency, lowest cost and maximum choice, ALL hospitals and health insurance schemes should be privately owned and run -- with government-paid vouchers for the very poor and minimal regulation. Both Australia and Sweden have large private sector health systems with government reimbursement for privately-provided services so can a purely private system with some level of government reimbursement or insurance for the poor be so hard to do?

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