22 Armitage Court, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berks SL5 9TA.
Tel: 01344 620775 email: gpss@compuserve.com
Our Ref: JANEG1.RTF 22nd November 2002

Jane Griffith, MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA

Copies: "Eve Lovelocks Care" File, Others as required.

Dear Mrs Griffith,

Subject: Eve Lovelock's Care and the NHS

I am writing you this letter because you are my mother's local MP whose constituency covers Battle Hospital and my mother's house. A similar letter has been sent to Michael Trend, MP for Maidenhead, whose constituency covers my own home and the Nursing Home where my mother is now.

You may already know of the recent news headlines such as "Elderly 'cheated of free care'" and MP Paul Burstow's Press Releases on the subject. In brief: the unlawful practice of local authorities causing homes to be sold to pay for nursing care which should be funded by the NHS. In 1999 the appeal court made the "Coughlan judgment".

I would very much appreciate knowing where you, as my mother's MP, stand on this issue, and if there is any way in which you and/or your party are able to help.

I attach two documents:

In brief: in the past two years my mother Eve Lovelock was diagnosed as having Alzheimer's in addition to other longer term conditions such as lung desease and arthritis. The last 2 months were spent in Battle, an NHS Hospital, and on Monday 18th Nov she was discharged into Holyport Lodge, a BUPA Nursing Home near Maidenhead. My father, Len Lovelock, died of Alzheimer's in January of 2002. We have followed what advice and procedures were available, but have "retained all rights" on the issue of who pays for Eve's care. We now find that the local authority has been acting unlawfully.

Our family has no political affiliations whatsoever - I believe this is a strength should my mothers case be chosen in any future campaign. I recognize that this whole subject is a political minefield, at both local and national level. Back-dated claims by the 360,000 old people who sold their homes to pay for nursing care must be in the £10 billion ballpark.

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours Sincerely,

Robin Lovelock

(son of Evelyn Lovelock)