16 February 2004 14:39
The elderly have already paid for their care
Brian Dempsey's recent letters highlighting his concern for the numbers of old people dying every winter deserve
some response. His comparison with the situation in Scandinavia and Siberia infers that he is linking these deaths to
cold weather. There is a Scottish Executive programme which makes governmental help available to all those over 60 years
of age, whereby they can have some form of central heating installed free of charge through the Eaga Partnership. There
is also help available to enable insulation to be installed with grants from the government. In addition, there is help
available for those who have difficulty in paying for the fuel required to heat their homes.
Apart from those living in a very large house, the cost of heating and lighting an average house is about (pounds) 2
daily and the great majority of people will be well able to afford this even if they can be regarded by political
activists as ''living in poverty''. I am not suggesting that there are no problems involved for the
poor in our society, but it is too simplistic to blame so-called free care for the elderly for exacerbating these
problems.
I reject entirely the idea, again the subject of spin by the political activists, that care for the elderly is
provided free. The elderly have, throughout their working lives, paid their dues via the national health insurance
route. They were, in fact, pre-paying for their care, whether they would need it or not. It is not the fault of ordinary
taxpayers if past and present governments have used this money for current expenditure rather than ring-fencing it for
future health care. Normally, people with any sense put some money aside and save it for possible future contingencies.
Why do we tolerate politicians, who claim to be sensible people, spending money paid for health care, and which should
be ring-fenced for the health care, on current expenditure? They did this in order to be able to keep taxes low and so
enhance their chances of re-election and hence continued access to the gravy train of perks of the job.
The (pounds) 150m required to fund the care for those people unfortunate enough to find themselves suffering from any
condition which has been arbitrarily deemed by politicians not to qualify for care without further charge represents a
very small proportion of the annual budget of one of the richest countries in the world.
John A Maxwell,
10 Beechwood Court, Bearsden.
CAN someone please inform me how I can avoid becoming old? It seems that then I will become some sort of pariah,
scrounger, lowest of the low, deserving of nothing but contempt from the likes of Brian Dempsey and Richard Watson. And
the more so if I dare to become ill. Now I have no idea what these persons earn, but I would imagine that if they become
ill, or have an accident, they will expect to be treated by the NHS, and will not expect to be billed for their personal
care - regardless of their personal wealth. Or are they advocating a means test for all patients?
Is there some magic change that occurs when I become old which turns me into a monster? Don't I have the same
right to care if I have, heaven forbid, a stroke at age 70, as I have at age 50? If not, why am I paying my taxes? Why,
even more to the point, am I paying national insurance? Insurance, I understand, is to help me in my hour of need. I pay
insurance on my home. If I have a fire in my house, would I expect my insurer to come back to me and say that because
they think I am wealthy enough to pay for repairs, they expect me to pay for the repairs myself?
I think Mr Dempsey and Mr Watson should let us know. Do they want us all means-tested for personal care whatever our
age? Or what is it about old people which makes them different from the rest of society? I'd like to know before I
get there.
Ken Allen,
12 Branziert Road, Killearn.
THERE seems much good sense in Thomas Mullen's suggestion (February 14) that care for the elderly be provided
free at the point of need, but that, for better-off citizens, the cost be charged against their estate. After all, the
ability of those who succeed in life is usually endowed at birth. Often they have also benefited from financial
security, and a good upbringing and education, with which they are potentially well-equipped for satisfying and
rewarding careers. In turn, they often pass on these invaluable assets and values to their children. They should not,
therefore, feel deprived if they are unable to pass on their home or all their savings to their family who have already
had a goodly inheritance.
Constance A C Ross,
20 Abbey Drive, Glasgow
[The Herald (United Kingdom)] |
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