NHS organisations not ready for age legislation

Two-thirds of NHS organisations are failing to properly prepare for new age discrimination legislation, according to NHS Employers.

The body responsible for workforce conditions in the NHS said just one-third of organisations have had the necessary discussions at board level, according to Health Service Journal.

Carole Smith, NHS Employers age discrimination programme manager, said she was confident most HR departments had looked at basic check-list requirements, but none appeared to be carrying out age profiling.

"This work is about ensuring the whole workforce has equal rights, not just making sure you don't discriminate against older people," she told HSJ.

HR directors in the NHS are to get guidance from NHS Employers on implementing policies that ensure their workforce reflects the age profile of their local population, for example.

A tool on age profiling will be launched at the annual HR in the NHS conference in Birmingham next week.

www.nhsemployers.org

www.hrinthenhs.org