I DO HOPE that you will take this as it is intended, a letter of concern from an ordinary member of the public.

I recently had cause to dial 999 to seek immediate help for an elderly lady whose car had broken down in a dangerous place.

To my amazement it took 15 minutes before my phone was connected. I had also tried 101.

I was told that there was exceptionally heavy demand.

I was left wondering what would have happened if a person’s life was at immediate risk.

Staffing at emergency call centres has been cut, and we hear that with ambulance reorganisation in Gloucestershire the wait for an ambulance is unacceptably long.

There is no blame on the police or ambulance services, but what is this country coming to when cuts by central government place us at such risk? And yet more.

Junior doctors are so pressured by the government that they are having to resort to, so reluctantly, to strike action.

And it is increasingly difficult to recruit teachers.

And services for elderly vulnerable people are cut.

For shame. This Government is abusing its responsibilities to us all.

Norman Kay

Nailsworth