The government has said that more older people than ever are getting treatment from illnesses such as heart disease.

Two years on from the launch of the National Service Framework for Older People, ministers have claimed that age discrimination in the NHS is being tackled and new services developed.

"The first two years of the ten year plan have focused on putting in place the right structures and people to take forward the development of services. We now need to continue to build on these improvements to provide more wide-scale reforms," said health minister Jacqui Smith.

Marking the second anniversary of the strategy, the Stroke Association asked the ePolitix.com Forum how much progress has been made on delivering the commitments made in the plan for older people.

Forum Response: The Stroke Association

Margaret Goose, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: "When the National Service Framework for Older People was published two years ago, we welcomed it with enthusiasm because of the promises it made to improve stroke care.

"Congratulations to all those in the NHS who have risen to the challenge and made improvements to the services they provide to stroke patients. But with only one year left to go before we hit the April 2004 target for all hospitals to have a specialist stroke service, the rate of progress is just not good enough.

"Most stroke patients are still not treated in a stroke unit. Time is running out.

"Stroke units have been shown to considerably reduce death and disability. We are calling on the NHS to rise to the challenge to provide specialist stroke care for all who need it by April 2004."

Forum Response: Help the Aged

Paul Cann, director of policy for Help the Aged, said: "The devastating impact of stroke affects around 140,000 people every year, and is the biggest single cause of disability and loss of independence among older people. There is a wealth of clinical evidence to support the effectiveness of early and specialist intervention in reducing the impact of strokes, and in helping older people to regain their independence following a stroke.

"The National Service Framework for Older People helped to raise the profile of the issue. But access to specialist stroke services and early rehabilitation still appears to be worryingly low.

"We do not want to see another postcode lottery emerging, with access to services dependent upon where people live. We need to re-invigorate efforts to deliver the National Service Framework for Older People."

Forum Response: Age Concern

Gordon Lishman, director general for Age Concern England, told ePolitix.com: "By 2020 a third of the UK will be older and the signs are that future generations of older people will become more demanding as consumers of health and social care. So it is not only fair but also increasingly important to the effective delivery of services that the providers respond to the views and needs of older people.

"The NHS and social services have taken welcome steps to tackling age discrimination against older patients and users, thanks to the guiding framework of the National Service Framework. Many Age Concerns locally have been involved. It is now both challenging and vital that we all keep change for older people high on the agenda."

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Martin Green, chief executive for Counsel and Care, told ePolitix.com: "We welcomed the National Service Framework two years ago and we are positive about what it has achieved in the first two years, but there is still a long way to go."