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64. Dorothy Hall - age discrimination in the NHS
Manage episode 466895033 series 2981270
In this powerful episode, Gill Phillips chats with her long-time friend Dorothy Hall, a former social worker and fierce advocate for fairness. They explore the realities of ageism in healthcare.
At 82 and a half, Dorothy brings a wealth of lived experience—as a professional, a family carer, and now as someone navigating the NHS as an older person.
She highlights the stark contrast between systems that dismiss patients based on age and those that embrace co-production and shared decision-making.
Dorothy shares two shocking yet inspiring stories:
- How she was abruptly denied essential treatment for a genetic condition upon turning 80—without warning, discussion, or a clear clinical rationale
- Her journey to access an innovative light therapy treatment for macular degeneration, which remains largely unknown and unavailable on the NHS despite its life-changing potential
Instead of accepting the system’s failings, Dorothy took matters into her own hands—seeking a second opinion, finding more compassionate healthcare providers, and ultimately reclaiming control over her own care.
Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋
🍋 Co-production doesn’t stop at 80 - see the person
🍋 Healthcare should be about needs, not numbers – age alone should never determine whether someone gets treatment
🍋 Patients shouldn’t have to be experts in NICE guidelines or fight for info
🍋 Don’t push people into complaints—listen first – most patients don’t want a fight, they just want fair treatment
🍋 The complaints process takes a huge toll on people
🍋 Empathy transforms healthcare
🍋 Joint decision-making rocks!
🍋 Short-term cuts create long-term costs – and unnecessary suffering
🍋 Rigid NHS systems fail real people – bureaucratic barriers, arbitrary cut-offs, and poor communication leave people helpless
🍋 Being 'outside the system' can be a nightmare
🍋 Seek a second opinion
🍋 Vision loss is life-changing - NHS should embrace this proven, non-invasive macular degeneration preventative treatment
🍋 It’s not just about vision - age-related sight loss affects independence, mobility and mental health
🍋 Patient advocacy is powerful – knowing your rights, pushing back, and seeking alternatives can change everything
🍋 Honest communication matters!!!
Links:
Encouraging results from light therapy study for dry age-related macular degeneration - study published by the Macular Society
#WIGO - When I Get Old campaign - Gill Phillips chats with Angela Catley
✨ A must-listen episode for anyone passionate about health inequalities, patient advocacy, and how we can build a healthcare system that truly listens to people—at every stage of life. 🎧
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Chapters
1. Introduction of background – Gill Phillips and Dorothy Hall (00:00:00)
2. Dorothy reflects on ageism and age discrimination (00:03:42)
3. Gill reminds listeners about the episode with Angela Catley #WIGO - When I get old (00:04:41)
4. Being refused services because of your age is alarming and disturbing (00:06:23)
5. Systems thinking ... but Institutionalised procedures and systemic challenges are rife in the NHS (00:07:16)
6. Dorothy starts to tell her story about haemochromatosis, a genetic condition (00:09:45)
7. The bombshell - Happy 80th birthday ... but no more treatment for you! (00:10:40)
8. Why are they ending the treatment? asks Dorothy (00:11:48)
9. "Oh well, it would have to be really, really bad" ! (00:13:30)
10. 'Outside the system' - nightmare! (00:15:00)
11. The complaints process can be very damaging to the individual (00:19:29)
12. Seeking to put lived experience to good use – but Dorothy is too old! (00:23:26)
13. Seeking a second opinion - what a difference! (00:25:50)
14. Joint decision making at its best (00:27:00)
15. Dismissed - Dorothy describes the feeling of utter abandonment and the toll it took on her (00:30:40)
16. The nurse practitioner - one of the 'golden people' in health care (00:32:06)
17. The challenges of age-related macular degeneration (00:34:05)
18. Age-related macular degeneration - listen to the whole story, it brings HOPE! (00:34:10)
19. Health inequalities, human impact and systemic impact - and opportunities for PREVENTION (00:43:11)
20. Summary of some lemon lightbulbs - HONEST COMMUNICATION MATTERS! (00:47:00)
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