Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I support Senator White's call for an urgent debate on elderly people and the attitude that has arisen within the health and social services regarding them. It is unfortunate that elderly people are denied access to proper treatment, are sent home from hospitals before full recovery and are classified as "bed blockers" and other such terms. If it is true that the needs of people over the age of 82 are being disregarded in the health service, there will be serious consequences. Our society is ageing but the old health boards have adopted a policy of disregarding the needs of older people. The policy of ensuring that older people can live independently in their own homes is given little or no support. As a result, older people must live in long-stay institutions, which is demoralising for many of them. The Leader should ask either the Minister for Social and Family Affairs or the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to debate this very important issue. We will all be among the ranks of older people in a short space of time.