Tens of thousands of people over the age of 65 are being denied access to specialist mental health services because of arbitrary age limits, an MP has said.
A new report, launched at the House of Commons by Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow, exposes the ways in which older people are missing out on vital support and risking serious deterioration in their mental health.
Mr Burstow said mental health services have traditionally been based on age, which means that, if someone is under 65 years old, they can receive a wide range of support through adult mental health services.
But a person who is only one year older – regardless of their need – may be placed in an older people’s service, where this same support is not available.
The policy means over-65s are denied access to a range of services available to younger adults, including psychological therapies, early intervention, rehabilitation and addiction services.
Mr Burstow said: “There should be no place for age discrimination in the NHS.
“The evidence is compelling.
“There is no reason why an older person, with the same need as a younger person, should be denied equitable mental health care, but that is what happens.”
“Providing services on the basis of need, not age, must not mean a one-size-fits-all approach.
“Otherwise age discrimination will continue in another guise."
Mr Burstow was asked by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to back their calls on mental health services to abolish the arbitrary age limit on adult mental health services.
The college believes all mental health services should be available to people on the basis of need– not age.
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