Pensioners are a great asset

Sir,

Alastair Redman portrays the elderly population of Argyll and Bute as a problem. Personally, I see our pensioners as a great asset to the community.

The Scottish Government’s recent paper, ‘Reshaping Care for Elderly People’, states: ‘Older people are valued as an asset, their voices are heard and they are supported to enjoy full and positive lives in their own home or in a homely setting.’

People in Scotland are living longer thanks to improving health care and living conditions, surely something we should celebrate.

There are challenges for Scotland’s NHS as the age profile increases. What do you expect when the budget continues to be cut by Westminster Tory austerity?

However, it’s worth remembering that on many different measures of performance Scotland’s health services are the best in the UK.

Problems in recruiting health and social care staff will only increase due to hard Tory Brexit that Mr Redman’s party is implementing.

About 10 per cent of NHS doctors and nurses are from EU countries but the number applying has dropped sharply since the EU referendum.

The shambolic state of the Conservative Westminster government makes me more convinced that Scotland should become an independent country within the European single market.

Alastair Redman and his fellow Conservative/LibDem councillors need to focus on improving services in Argyll and Bute, rather than punting relentless negativity.

Eleanor Hunter, Helensburgh.