I was surprised to read in last week's Gazette that there are so many 'boozy pensioners' being admitted to Ealing Hospital, the figure having risen to 1,869 on recent figures.
This amounts to 35 pensioners a week, indeed enough to fill a whole ward.
Where, I wonder, do they hang out? I have seen none on the parks, or in the supermarkets.
Perhaps they happen to lie outside of my sight line.
As I possess an air raid shelter in my garden, it may be that they exist underground and only appear to be taken to hospital.
The last time this group had any experience of a good binge was for V.E. night in 1945. It is hard to believe that they are still suffering from the after effects.
As for an MP commenting on the figures, he belongs to the best club in London for cheap booze, namely the House of Commons, where a more boozy crowd would be hard to find.
It would be useful to know from the Department of Health why such people in this condition are admitted in the first place, and whether they are in receipt of disability allowance.
As it is the Government's intention to close many adult education classes for the benefit of pensioners in favour of employment training for the 16-24-year-olds, it is their policy, which is part cause of the problem.
L E PORTER
Southall UB1
