Leaked SA Health emails reveal 'ageist' culture, advocates say, as Government defends position

Advocates for older people have accused the South Australian health department of having an "ageist" culture, after leaked emails showed surgeons have been encouraged to "say no" to GP referrals for older and sicker patients.

A senior SA Health program manager emailed surgeons on Saturday saying health services needed to "tighten up … processes with regards to incoming referrals".

The leaked email suggested surgeons "say no" to general practitioners referring patients who were elderly or had comorbidities (multiple health conditions). We also expect that where the person is old or has many comorbidities, you might suggest to the GP that is [sic] not necessarily in their best interests. Please use your wealth of consultant experience and start to say 'no' when clearly not sensible and high-value care.

Council on the Ageing chief executive Jane Mussared said the correspondence showed

pure and simple ageism within the health system. We hear that, importantly, clinicians say they look at people's whole health circumstances. But age is not a health factor — age is a number. It's very important that we call this out for what it is — ageism. It has no place in our public health system.