Growing numbers of ethnic minorities are facing discrimination and little access to public services as they get older. Research by the Commission for Health Improvement (now the Healthcare Commission), published in 2003, shows inequality in health care, levels of poverty, inadequate housing, limited access to information and public services due to language barriers and a lack of services that take account of cultural differences.

Speaking at Age Concern's annual lecture, today, Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, said, "More work needs to be done to help ensure older people receive equal treatment and access to services, no matter what their ethnic heritage.

"Ethnic minority elders suffer discrimination and disadvantage due to both age and ethnicity. Why is it that NHS patients receive unequal levels of care? CHI's report found that South Asian respondents reported the poorest experience of outpatient, emergency and primary care, followed by those of Chinese origin and mixed origin."

In the last 20 years the number of ethnic minority elders has grown six times to its current level of over 350 000. By 2021 around a quarter of pensioners will be from ethnic minority communities. "We need to adopt a strategic approach to understanding and meeting the needs and concerns of ethnic minority elders," Trevor continued. "We then need to make sure that strategy provides real benefits that can be felt by people suffering as a result of their age and cultural background.

"The CRE has been working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions and their recent report into the delivery of services to ethnic minority communities provides the basis for a promising future. I look forward to seeing how we can work together to take this forward."

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