THE term 'bed-blockers' is an unfortunate expression for elderly people at a vulnerable time of their lives who may be concerned and mistrustful of where to go to end their days.

Nationally, we have seen investigative television programmes highlighting nursing homes run to appallingly low standards, while in York several homes have closed in cavalier fashion, sold to developers and residents dispersed far and wide.

Is it any wonder people at least try to secure somewhere they feel they can trust?

Your survey of six random people in York city centre was worrying because two of the six felt the elderly should be less fussy and "take what they can get".

This is grim stuff from people who would probably be pretty indignant if they chose a "hotel allocated on arrival" holiday and were offered something substandard.

Those feeling the Government has a responsibility to provide care for the elderly must surely realise this responsibility has been abandoned and transferred to the private sector for decades.

The damage was done in York ten years ago with the enforced closure of the City Hospital, which provided beds for about 200 elderly people, and whose sale to developers, we were told by the management of the day, would provide funds to considerably improve facilities for York people.

Jonathan Charles Bonner,

Huntington Road,

York.

Updated: 10:51 Wednesday, May 17, 2006