I HAD to ring for a doctor at 11pm on February 11 as my husband, who, like me, is over 80, was in need of help.

He had a bad attack, collapsed, went white and shivering.

I struggled to get him in a chair and rang the doctor.

A recorded message gave me a number to call and added that if he needed help, I would have to get him a taxi or some transport myself and get him to Blackburn Infirmary.

As we are both partly disabled, this was impossible, but because I am a retired geriatric nurse, I did know what to do and knew he had not had a stroke.

But, I think this treatment of elderly disabled people is a disgrace, and I would like to ask someone in authority to explain it to me soon.

MRS ALICE PHILLIPS, Scotland Bank Terrace, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.