Pay postal workers to check the elderly

Sir, Despite the huge increase in the number of elderly people being forecast 30 years ago, politicians of all colours failed to plan and budget for a different society. Keeping people in their own homes is great but how can we ensure they are all monitored and have regular personal contact?

It costs £100 for a GP to make a home visit and £50 for a nurse. It’s still £25 for a social worker, which is why in Finland and Jersey governments are paying postal workers £5 to check on elderly residents and reduce the need and expense for crisis care. A quick smile and a chat for an isolated pensioner living alone is good and cheap medicine.

In these days of declining mail volumes, £5 a visit would bring welcome new revenue to the Post Office as well as helping our communities. Helping voters and saving money are seemingly no longer important, though, as Cosla and Holyrood politicians focus on their own flatulence.

Mike Foster, Sannox, Crannaig a Mhinister, Oban.