but the technology let me down! My laptop took exception to the smell of disinfectant and flatly refused to work in hospital. It's now receiving TLC in the hands of Dr Steve - my friendly computer man. I'm home again and feeling better than I expect the laptop does!!
While in hospital and bereft of technology, I read every newspaper that I could get my hands on - particularly the EDP - and was horrified to read of the closure plans for day centres. Apparently, closing well used day centres is all part of offering "choice" to older people throughout Norfolk. I protested against the privatisation of home care services while I was a County Councillor and now I find that day care is going the same way!! I'm sure that readers will remember the nightmare stories of elderly people sitting in their own excrement in bed, waiting for home "care" to arrive - of 24 hour gaps in the administration of medication or hot meals - often the only meal that person would have for the day! I am now registering my serious concern that providing individual budgets is all very well but if the infrastructure available for "choice" is piecemeal and of variable quality, all the money in the world will not improve the lives of vulnerable people.
I would like somebody to tell me what the choices are for older people and, for that matter, very disabled people, for whom consistency and high standards can mean the difference between a life worth living and one of pain and confusion.
The Conservative control of South Norfolk - whether it be District, County or Parliamentary levels - is failing the most vulnerable people of our society and it can't go on!
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