Remembrance Sunday was the subject of yesterday's blog and I read today about a related incident which has occured in northern France. Apparently the graves of British soldiers who died in the Battle of the Somme have been desecrated with graffiti including swastikas and Nazi SS signs. What sort of minds have those people who would do such a thing? Presumably they have no understanding of why so many fought and died in both World Wars in order to protect the way of life and freedoms we enjoy today.

I often wonder what those who died would think of our society today. What would they think, for example, of the way that our old folk are treated today? Many having retired after working hard all of their lives are now suffering hardship, some trapped in their own homes unable to get out and about as they once did, others having to sell the homes for which they have worked hard all of their lives to pay for, so that they can pay for the nursing care and accommodation they now find themselves in, and the indignity suffered by those who are mistreated and feel abandoned by the society they helped to build. I recall an experience earlier this year when I happened to be visiting a friend in hospital and I overheard a conversation between an elderly lady, who must have been in her mid-80s at least, and a male nurse. The nurse, who was not from theses shores was asking questions of the lady about her condition. I am sure the nurse was quite competent and well-qualified but I found it difficult to understand what he was saying so felt the old lady most probably understood even less. What I did glean was that the elderly woman was incontinent and the nurse was asking her questions about this, but using medical terminology which I am sure the lady would not have been familiar with. I am sure the nurse was doing his best to help her but it was obvious the lady was confused and upset. This old lady was alone but may well have family who were not with her, nor were fully aware of her plight. I am not ashamed to say that tears welled up in my eyes thinking of how this old lady, who was once young and enjoying life to the full, must have felt to suffer this indignity. I was also recently told of another story whereby a gentleman pensioner visited hospital to see a consultant regarding a chronic condition that he was suffering from. When he went in to see the consultant another person was present. This person introduced himself as the interpreter for the consultant. I understood there was such a thing as patient confidentiality which means that the patient has the right to keep his medical history confidential. By introducing a third party, an interpreter, in to the process, surely makes a mockery of this. Fortunately, this time the patient was able to speak out and demanded he be seen by a consultant who spoke English. It wasn't a racist demand, as so many of the weedy liberal-left members of the establishment might suggest, as the elderly gentleman made it plain that he didn't care where the consultant came from so long as he spoke English and therefore could communicate directly with him. Isn't it about time this government made ample provision to ensure that our elderly people are given the respect they deserve and allowed to live out their twilight years in a dignified manner without having to fear what may become of them?