I CAN only assume that Marjorie Smith (Letters, January 28) is not a state pensioner with no other income, as many, many people are and also that she is not in full possession of the facts.

I ask again - can anyone tell me why recipients of a state pension have to pay for a stay in NHS hospitals when no one else has to?

I am fully aware that this has been going on for some years now and I really do not care which political party did what or when because, in my opinion, none of them is particularly interested in the problems of the good old British pensioner.

I know of two hospital patients whose state pension books have been confiscated and it is a constant worry for them trying to think of how to pay their household bills. It is a fact that after so long (be it two, six or 60 weeks) state pensioners have their pension books taken, regardless of the fact that rent (if appropriate), council tax, water charges and any other on-going bills, have still to be paid, and in full, which compounds the problem, because any benefits that they are drawing are cancelled too.

Yes, Mrs Smith, anyone can claim Income Support, but unless you know how to 'work' the system, or you are an asylum-seeker or similar, don't expect much success.

Then even if you are successful, as I have said, it would be cancelled when your pension book is confiscated.

Finally, I found the last paragraph of Mrs Smith's letter quite insulting and extremely patronising. She clearly has no understanding of the stress involved in keeping the bills paid on such a meagre income as the state pension.

Furthermore, I would rather "get up early on these cold mornings to go to work" than have this constant juggling of finances, and it is extremely difficult to 'relax' when, after several stays in hospital during the last few years (one for open heart surgery), I do fear needing further hospital care, as many state pensioners do, due to this dreadfully unfair practice of taking their well-earned pension off them.

H JACKSON (Mrs), Trafford Gardens, Barrow, Clitheroe.

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