I read with interest Mark Garnier’s view that the answer to the A&E crisis is better linking of the various services (View from Westminster, January 15).

This is certainly important, but I would suggest that the most effective way of reducing the pressure on acute hospitals would be greater investment in community care. Many frail and elderly patients, who are well enough to leave hospital, cannot go home because of the cuts to council social care budgets. The care they do eventually receive at home is largely provided by poorly paid and overworked care workers who are only able to spend a limited time with each patient. There is a real need, therefore, not just to reverse the cuts in social care, but to significantly increase its budget.

Another measure would be to improve the funding of A&E departments themselves. At present, if more patients are treated than in 2009, the A&E department will only receive 30% of the cost of any extra patients. This measure was introduced by the coalition government in 2010. At the time it was the government’s belief that it would somehow limit A&E attendances. Clearly, it has been unsuccessful. Therefore, the original funding policy should be restored.

I am sure that most readers will agree that it is important that the NHS be kept in public hands, but it is also vital that it is adequately funded.

Otherwise it will continue to lurch from one crisis to another.

Yours faithfully Natalie McVey.

Parliamentary Candidate Wyre Forest Green Party.