Cllr Julian Brazil, of East Prawle, Kingsbridge, writes:

Thank you to the Gazette and reporter Sam Acourt for ­highlighting the failings of care provision for the elderly, November 25. The two stories of those wonderful ladies sounds only too familiar.

Many years ago the county council provided care and ran homes for the elderly. Now

this service, while still the responsibility of the county, is commissioned from private companies in order to save money. But these savings have come at a huge human cost.

In many cases the private companies have saved money not by running things more efficiently and effectively, but by eroding the pay and ­conditions of those who work for them. It has been a dash to the bottom.

We have a perfect storm brewing. An ageing population, the geographical breakup of extended families, unaffordable housing for care workers and cuts from the county council due to austerity measures from central government. On top of this, the NHS is in the middle of a consultation calling for the closure of hospitals and hospital beds, so people will be looked after at home.

But as your story illustrates, we do not have these carers to carry out these services. The warning lights are flashing and the bells are ringing.

More money would be a great help and we need to have an open and honest debate on how much we are prepared to pay for elderly care specifically, and the NHS in general.

Dodgy claims by the Government and the failure of senior NHS managers to tell it how it is have not helped in this debate.

We also need, as individuals and families, to plan how we will care for our parents and grandparents. The state should certainly act as a safety net to catch the most vulnerable and needy, but I feel we will have to learn to be more resilient. I am sure the younger generations will have a massive role to play.

How we care for our elderly is a reflection on society as a whole. As it stands, it is not a pretty picture.