A new report from The King’s Fund says that treatable conditions such as incontinence and depression were sometimes ignored within the NHS. The report also suggests that the elderly are being passed around hospitals in England like parcels, often going without treatment because of ageist attitudes and that even diseases like cancer and heart disease were not always tested for.

The report, based on both patient surveys and evidence from staff is the latest in a series of critical reports on elderly care.

The study by the King's Fund criticised the whole approach to elderly care, saying the attitudes and language used, such as “bed blocker” suggested that staff, particularly doctors could be ageist.

Report author Jocelyn Cornwell said: "The health and social care system system has failed to keep pace with changing health needs.  The report laid the blame on the system, pointing out the volumes of work and pressure on meeting targets was compromising care and called for better training for staff, leadership and involvement of patients to ensure the co-ordination of care improved.

It said elderly patients, who make up two-thirds of admissions, often found themselves on the wrong wards and passed around "like parcels" because of the rush to admit them.

The Department of Health commented on the report saying that addressing problems with elderly care was a key priority for the NHS and adding that the reforms being introduced in the health service were designed to free staff from the obstacles they were facing to putting patients first.