Sir – At a recent committee meeting of Oxfordshire Pensioners’ Action Group, we discussed, inter alia, the Care Quality Commission’s report on hospitals and the John Radcliffe Hospital.

We were shocked to hear from a member, a former Lord Mayor of Oxford, that when, after a fall in her home, she was taken to A&E, she remained there for 30 hours with no refreshment of any kind, except one cup of tea which she had to request from a passing trolley!

She did not formally complain as she was just so thankful to get home. But I shall write to the head of the JR Trust, Sir Jonathan Michael, as this is not the only case of poor care for the elderly which has been reported locally.

Oxfordshire Pensioners’ Action Group has been, for over a year, very concerned about the reduced level of care for disabled pensioners that should be provided by the county council. As you have reported, the whole social services department is being in effect privatised.

I very much doubt whether this will improve the service for clients, though no doubt it will save the council some millions of pounds.

M. Hugh-Jones, Honorary Secretary, OXPAG