Shortchanged future of the NHS

From Miss Mary A. Lynch

Sir: The policy of reducing the number of hospital beds has been facilitated by the practice of using a euphemism, "community care".

In plain English, however, the pharase "community care" simply means nursing sick and infirm persons in their own homes, at a time when women are being encouraged to take paid employment outside their homes.

In the ward where I live, in this nursing home, about 30 elderly and disabled persons are provided for by a small number of nurses and care assistants. If we each lived in our own homes and were visited by nurses, the number required would be very much greater.

Yours faithfully,

MARY A. LYNCH

Nazareth House

London, W6

6 March