FOR several months the media has reported the failures of local government to provide social care for the housebound elderly and the disabled. We also read of the failure of providing good child care facilities due to lack of staffing.
Politicians' point the blame for these problems at lack of finance. This might well be the case, but the this should not be an excuse for reducing those who work directly with clients.
Why do all the political parties not recognise that there are too many bureaucrats? The problem seems to stem from the demise of regional councils resulting the new councils each requiring a chief executive, a director of education, social work and so on, all receiving large salaries, whereas in the past, for instance, in Strathclyde we only had one such senior official.
The result of all these new councils was the creation of more councillors each requiring attendance fees. Is this the reason why politicians ignored looking at themselves and the number of bureaucratic chiefs when seeking the savings required to support services for the community? Is this a case of self-interest or do they hold the view that if it was not for the public they could get on with the job?
Philip Dolan,
160 Camphill Avenue, Langside, Glasgow.
WITH reference to “care in the community”, and the consequent moans about its inadequacies, would not some shift towards “care in the family” be a better approach?
Most elderly people have sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters; why then are so many older people consigned to care homes when only some 60 years ago the elderly were usefully involved in the family home?
Perhaps European human rights should be replaced by Scottish human responsibilities.
Lawrence Bell,
11 North Street, Elie, Fife.
HOW can we afford HS2 and Trident when we cannot afford the NHS and social care? The UK is going to Hell in a handcart – but hey, at least we will get there 20 minutes early.
Linda Fitzgerald,
Dalerb, Killin, Perthshire.
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