I READ with interest your article 'My mum was treated worse than an animal' (LET, February 17), this lack of concern for the care and well-being of the elderly seems to be prevalent.

We will all eventually need care in old age and unless society and the medical profession stops 'writing off' elderly people, we will all be victims of inadequate care.

My mother died last year about this time after a six-day illness. The doctor treated her for indigestion for five days - it turned out to be peritonitis.

Mother lived in a care home. The matron on the night mother was admitted to hospital was incapable of recognising that she as critically ill - she simply walked away from the situation without concern.

I phoned for the doctor and mother was admitted to hospital, but it took two and a half hours for the ambulance to arrive in this critical situation.

I will not ramble on, but, hopefully, through publicising such low standards of care for the elderly, we will improve standards of health care for the people of Blackburn.

Name and address received.

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