Should the aged be left to die? Apparently socialized medicine in Britain is failing those not only at the beginning of life, where doctors in that oh so civilized nation are asking "Should babies born before the 25th week of pregnancy be left to die?" but apparently also among the final stages. 

Britain's elderly are being neglected, poorly treated and marginalised by the country's health system, according to a shocking study published today.

The scathing report, by three Government inspectorates, criticises the "patronising and thoughtless" manner in which NHS hospitals and care institutions treat older patients. It also identifies a catalogue of sins and omissions practised by hospitals, that are condemning the elderly to second—class status in Britain's hospital wards.

Inspectors found that many older patients went hungry because meals were taken away before they could eat them, while others suffered embarrassment through being cared for on mixed—sex wards. There were also frequent complaints about dirty wards, the strong smell of urine from unemptied bottles and people waiting on trolleys.

The report's authors stated that "deep—rooted cultural attitudes to ageing" had led to thousands of elderly patients receiving inferior treatment to the young. The survey comes at an acutely embarrassing moment for Tony Blair, as the state of the NHS comes under increasing scrutiny amid widespread job cuts. Commitment to better care for the elderly has been a feature of Labour's winning election manifestos.

The over—65s occupy almost two—thirds of hospital beds and accounted for some