Dear Editor,

Looking at your articles on deprived areas within Test Valley (Advertiser, November 25) along with other news elsewhere showing that there were between 600-700 bed blocked beds in Hampshire Hospitals, it seems that a bigger focus should be placed on providing these services, firstly, to reduce desperation caused by poor services and second to relieve the pressure on hospital beds so that ambulances are able to transfer their often seriously ill and/or pain-ridden patients to expert help who can treat them and pass them to wards that have spare beds.

READ MORE: 2021 census reveals the most deprived areas in the Test Valley

The contribution per head made to retirement homes even before the recent inflation was inadequate and the minimum wage has also increased. Also, it is cheaper to allow people to stay in their own homes and give them regular support yet travel costs for carers are not covered (fuel or time).

If the Conservative Hampshire County Council cannot persuade a Conservative Government even with the support of a Conservative Test Valley Borough Council to provide the necessary support who can? Even the National Insurance levy to be eventually allocated at least in part to social services was scrapped!

In the meantime, TVBC can only be asked to provide more first aid or facilitate charities to be able to do so in their new corporate plan!

Clive Bagwell

Conholt Road

Andover