Elderly to get equal rights as government plans to make age bias as bad as racism

The elderly will no longer be able to be barred from NHS treatment, credit cards or travel insurance under plans to make ageism 'as unacceptable as racism'.

Equalities minister Harriet Harman will this week unveil proposals to outlaw age discrimination in the provision of all goods and services.

It follows complaints that pensioners are being patronised by doctors, or denied insurance or mortgages even if they are fit enough to work into their retirement.

In one case, an elderly woman with back pain was told by her GP that it was to be expected at her age - only for her to be diagnosed with spine cancer.

The Equality Bill will also tackle the pay gap between men and women, allow firms to take 'positive action' in favour of female and ethnic minority candidates, and introduce rights allowing women to breastfeed in public.

Kate Jopling, of the charity Help the Aged, said: 'If the Government has decided to ban age discrimination, then this will represent a massive step forward in the fight for equal rights for older people.'