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The NHS must never discriminate based on age, with thousands of elderly patients not always being treated with the dignity that they deserve, says the care services minister.
Lib Dem Paul Burstow said thousands of elderly patients are being "routinely" denied treatment in favour of younger patients and denied basic dignity as a result of "scandalous ageism".
"Our population is ageing as more of us live longer," he said. "The challenge for the NHS is to look beyond a person's date of birth and meet the needs of older people as individuals.
"By not seeking any exception for the Equality Act, we are sending a clear message that there is no place for age discrimination in the NHS."
The warning from the minister coincided with the launch of a government consultation on banning age discrimination under new equality laws.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said when fully implemented in 2012, the Equality Act will make it illegal for any organisation to discriminate against someone unfairly because of their age.
He said the Act will give statutory weight to the first principle of the NHS Constitution, "to provide a comprehensive service available to all, irrespective of gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation or belief".
Charity director of Age UK, Michelle Mitchell said age discrimination has been a feature of health and social care services in Britain "for far too long".
She added: "The introduction of landmark legislation to ban harmful ageist policies and practices provides an opportunity to stamp them out once and for all, so that everyone can expect to receive the highest standards of treatment and care, regardless of their age."
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