World War II hero forced to sell medals

[leclerc]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...home-fees.html

I am not a fan of the Daily Mail whatsoever so clearly there is a back story that we are not being told but it does seem quite sad that the family are having to sell the medals won in a time of war of a decorated soldier to live out his final years in a place of security and regularity.

[wales01man]

Re: World War II hero forced to sell medals

A land fit for heroes?
Welcome to 21st century Britain a government that fights for bankers bonuses and dont give a stuff for those who fought for this country

[kanine]

Re: World War II hero forced to sell medals

here here !

[Eloise01]

Re: World War II hero forced to sell medals

I agree that this is a sad story. But according to the Telegraph (another paper I don't read, but Google is wonderful at saving me the bother), what the Mail fails to mention is that the family are selling the medals to fund his care in a private establishment of their choice. It is not because they do not have other choices, but because this is the best choice for them. Whilst I agree that state provided care should be of a very high standard, and I regret that it is not always, the choice to go private is a personal choice and it is your responsibility to fund that choice if you make it. No matter who you are.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/el...care-home.html

[leclerc]

Re: World War II hero forced to sell medals

I agree that this is a sad story. But according to the Telegraph (another paper I don't read, but Google is wonderful at saving me the bother), what the Mail fails to mention is that the family are selling the medals to fund his care in a private establishment of their choice. It is not because they do not have other choices, but because this is the best choice for them. Whilst I agree that state provided care should be of a very high standard, and I regret that it is not always, the choice to go private is a personal choice and it is your responsibility to fund that choice if you make it. No matter who you are.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/el...care-home.html

Actually, I think you missed the link to the story the following day:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/el...l-selling.html

[Eloise01]

Re: World War II hero forced to sell medals

I did miss that (told you I don't read the Telegraph!) but I still stand by what I said, and I think the family are correct in all respects. I do not think that a fighter pilot hero is any more important than someone who worked down the mines for 40 + years, or on the factory production line. Everyone should have the highest standard of care that we can afford to give them, regardless of who they are - but that is a different debate. It is still the case that if you want private treatment or facilities, you cannot expect others to pay for that, no matter who you are, and the family are quite correct that this was their decision. The original link on this thread did not mention that the care being talked about was private care, and I simply wanted to rebalance the story.

It is an entirely different matter to discuss why social care is not as good, whether it should be - and who is going to pay for that.