CARE in the community does not work for really ill people, neither do most nursing homes.

The closing of the beds in Cardigan Hospital was one of the most stupid things ever done and must have led to even more ‘bed blocking’ in Glangwili and Withybush.

Cardigan may not have been able to do major surgery but it could do aftercare – for instance 10 years ago my husband was in Withybush suffering from an unrecoverable stroke – he was too ill to be put in a nursing home – I was told he was bed blocking and they were waiting for a bed in Cardigan hospital as he needed 24-hour care.

He died while waiting for the bed nearer home. Had he been able to be transferred to Cardigan and have 24 hour care it would have freed a bed in Withybush earlier. We need more smaller hospitals with beds like Cardigan was before the beds were taken away.

Heaven help us all when we get old and ill. I can see in years to come there will be compulsory euthanasia for the old and infirm.

As it is now the over-70s are no longer considered worthy of breast tests and bowel test kits, which are available to those under 70. When I asked to see a specialist about my back I was told by the doctor I saw: ‘I’d get into trouble with the practice if I referred you to a specialist at your age’ (over 70).

M TROTT

Llanfyrnach